The Fine Art of Fashion in Paris

By Madelyn Miller, the Travellady

Think French fashion and chances are, you think Christian Lacroix. After 20 years in the fashion industry, Paris' Musée de la Mode et du Textile welcomes the world-famous master couturier to preside over Histoires de Mode, a fashion retrospective that takes the visitor on a journey through la mode Française, exploring changing fashions through the ages.

Lacroix was given a year's free reign to delve into the museum's glorious collection of gowns and outfits dating from the 18th century to the present day. The result is a subjective display of some 400 pieces, meticulously catalogued according to the designer's own themes and flanked by 80 or so of his own creations.

For fashionistas this is a unique perspective on the inspirations behind Lacroix's own work and the design values he holds dear.

Christian Lacroix Jean Dessès, Satin duchesse fuchsia. © Museé des Arts Décoratifs

When:
8 Nov 2007 - 6 Apr 2008; not Mon

Where:
Musee de la Mode et du Textile

Cost:
€8; concessions €6.50

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri 11am-6pm (until 9pm Thu); Sat & Sun 10am-6pm

MORE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PARIS

Most helpful websites

www.bonjourparis.com

www.parisrama.com

www.franceguide.com

The French Tourist Office in the USA http://www.francetourism.com/

GREAT GUIDEBOOKS

SIXTY MILLION FRENCHMEN CAN’T BE WRONG
Why we love France but not the French
By Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Jullie Barlow
Source Books, Inc.
www.sourcebooks.com

AA FRANCE TRAVELBOOK
www.aaa.com
1-877-AAA-BOOK

EYEWITNESS GUIDE TO FRANCE
DORLING KINDERSLEY
www.dk.com

CHATEAUX  & HOTELS DE FRANCE
532 Chateaux, Hotels and Restaurants
info@chateauxhotels.com

Romantik 2007
Romantik Hotels and Restaurants
info@ROMANTIKHOTELS.com
www.romantikhotels.com

How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names
By Dianna Bellucci
They also include a bonus of Austrian, Spanish and Portugese Wine Names
Luminosa Publishing
www.howtopronounce.com

Hello France
By Margo Classe
Wilson Publishing
www.helloeurope.com

HIDE THIS FRENCH BOOK
The book’s cover warns: Highly inflammatory text inside, do not open near French teachers, not for classroom  use. Suitable only for those who want to know the Real French.
Bertliz
www.Berlitzbooks.com/hidethisbook.htm

COOKBOOK THAT CAPTURES THE FLAVOR OF FRANCE

CARLOS
By Debbie and Carlos  Nieto
With Arlene Michlin Bronstein and Ken Bookman
Gibbs Smith, Publishers
www.Gibbssmith.com

TO GET A TASTE OF FRANCE AT HOME

Cooking at Home on Rue Tatin
By Susan Herman Loomis
William Morrow Cookbooks
www.harpercollins.com

MUSIC TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN FRANCE

French Café
From Putumayo World Music
www.putumayo.org
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will be contributed to the non-profit Putumayo Cross-Cultural initiative www.putumayo.org

Rumba Flamenco
The Passion of flamenco and Latin rhythms unite to create a sensual and soulful musical fusion which originated in the Catalan region of northeastern Spain and southwestern France.
www.putumayo.com

French Playground
From Putumayo World Music
www.putumayo.org

BACKGROUND READING TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD

Weekend in Paris
By Robyn Sisman
Plume Book
www.penguin.com

HOW TO SPEAK LIKE A FRENCH PERSON

Eyewitness Travel
15-Minute French
A complete Course with book and two 60 minute CD’s. This will help you order a meal, book a room, buy a ticket, ask directions, and even make conversation
DK Publishing
www.dk.com

IF YOU DON’T SPEAK FRENCH

The Franklin EuroInterpreter is the easiest way to communicate. It has over 400,000 words and phrases in 12 languages. It has a calculator with currency and units of measurement converter.
www.franklin.com

HOW TO LOOK LIKE A FRENCH PERSON

The French Diet: Secrets of why French Women Don’t get Fat
By Michel Montignac
DK Publishing
www.dk.com

FUN FRANCE FACTS

More tourists visit France each year than any other country in the world, with 67 million annual tourist arrivals (more than the country's population

FRANCE FOOD FACTS
Wine has been made in France since Roman times
France is the world's first producer of wine and liquors

There are over 300 kinds of cheese made in France

ACESS PARIS
Leads you street by street into the heart of the city
Harper Resource
www.harpercollins.com

PARIS
Knopf City Map Guides
www.aaknopf.com

GOURMET PARIS
By Emmanuel Rubin 

PARIS FOR DUMMIES
By Cheryl A. Pientka
www.dummies.com
The official French government tourist information website www.franceguide.com

BACKGROUND READING

A GOOD YEAR
By Peter Mayle
Alfred A. Knoph, Publisher
www.aaknopf.com

PARIS REVISTED..the guide for the Return Traveler
By Gary Lee Kraut
Words Travel International Press
www.parisrevisted.com
gary@parisrevisited.com

Wear your favorite city on a scarf! Tasaram's 100% silk Map Scarves feature detailed street plans of London, Paris, Rome, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. with more cities coming soon.  www.mapscarves.com 

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves shopping. She can save a lot of money by looking at things in museums, rather than in stores.

Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com