February Highlights in Paris
Hi friends,
Since things have slowed down a bit lately. I wanted to take some time to write about last month’s highlights. For the month of February, I had two weeks of school, one major photoshoot, a couple of sick days, and a very busy schedule. The weather last month was a mix of grey skies with the occasional pop of sunshine. Spring feels so close yet so far.
Two of the biggest things I prioritized last month was learning French and expanding my social circle. After having a few momentary lapses of homesickness, I wanted to try to develop a strong sense of community around my life here in Paris. Overall, I think I may have gone a bit overboard with how crammed my schedule was last month but as of now I have no regrets. I feel endlessly grateful for the loyal friends and mentors I’ve made so far.
Here are the highlights:
Social Events:
Galentine’s Day Cookie Swap: A sweet way to celebrate friendship on a budget. The amount of leftover brownies, cookies, and chocolate I had leftover was unreal. I still have a drawer of leftover sweets that are stashed away like a squirel hides its acorns for the winter. Read the full blog post from my little Galentine’s Day party here.
Girl Nights Out (GNO) became a weekly ritual with some of my dear expat friends. As content creators and lovers of the perfect photo op, my friends are always down to try a new bar or experience something new. I consider myself lucky to have such kind content creator friends who love taking pictures as much as I do. Here are some recs for the perfect GNO:
For the photo op: Maison Russe, a decadent setting not for those on a budget, but if you happen to be, have no fear. There is a mocktail menu along with a caviar menu (*sigh one day…). Perfect for photos in your favorite little black dress.
For the lounge: Verde, trendy and lively this is the perfect place to sit on something sweet in a tropical themed setting.
For a chill evening: Bachaumont Bar, a chill hotel bar near many nightclubs and other restaurants. Service is friendly and there is a small snack menu in case you need a late night bite before dancing the night away.
For something experimental: Bisou, a tiny bar that makes cocktails based on your preferences. Be warned the place is small so its not ideal for hanging out all night but a nice place to change up your evening.
Food and Drink:
Hot chocolate at Laudureé. Pro tip if you go to the location near the Champs Elysées. Instead of waiting in the long line outside, if you don’t mind sitting inside the enclosed outdoor seating, the queue is significantly shorter. Service and menu selection are all the same.
Brunch and Cafe Spots:
Braun Notes: Serves cute yogurt parfaits in coconuts with fresh juice and brunch toasts.
Seasons: Multiple locations all throughout Paris. Delicious breakfast pancakes and more.
La Creperie: For sweet and savory crepes in a cozy atmosphere near Sorbonne.
Starbucks at the Opera: Crowded but worth the visit. You have to kill for a spot to sit or study so come early!
Fika: a cute Scandinavian cafe and mini museum. Serves delicious Swedish cardamom buns and warm drinks.
Maison Fleuret Paris: A cute lofted cafe decorated in warm orange tones and lined with books. The perfect winter hideaway.
Cuppa Cafe: My favorite cafe for warm scones and the perfect matcha latte. They always do the prettiest latte art as well.
Clint: If Glossier had a cafe in Paris, it would look a lot like Clint. Wavy furnishings with minimalist design. The staff is friendly and the food is delicious. I recommend the Brioche Pain Perdu. I would absolutely lick all the caramel off my plate.
Bouillon République: A delicious French meal on a budget, Boullion Republique is a foodie haven for French and expats alike.
Sapporo: My favorite ramen place in Paris. Though I haven’t tried many other ramen places, this one does a very rich and wholesome tonkatsu ramen that fills my heart with joy every time.
Places:
Musée Carnavalet: Free for visitors and a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. With a beautiful courtyard in the heart of Paris and many rooms to discover, this museum is a charming place to discover.
Parc Monceau: A lovely park with sculptures, Roman-inspired columns, and a reflection pond. During a briefly sunny afternoon, a friend and I took a stroll here to bask in the sun and the painting-like atmosphere of the park.
Le Salon International de l’Agriculture: Part agricultural event, part animal competition, part food expo, the International Agricultural Exposition of France is annual event where farmers from all around France gather to show their best cows, chickens, rabbits, goats, and more. There are free samples to try, bottles of wine from every region of France to discover, and start-up companies changing the future of agriculture for generations to come.
School:
French classes: I absolutely loved taking French classes in person at my school. My teacher was incredibly patient yet strict about only allowing French spoken in class. As a result, I realize that my biggest hinderance blocking me from speaking French is simply my overall confidence. By speaking and writing in French more often, I can get past my insecurity and improve faster over time. Maintenent, je voudrais parle Français plus souvent, allors je peux apprender quelque chose nouveau chaque jour.
Visual Merchandising Project: One of the group projects I’m most proud of is my group’s presentation on a mock pop-up store and window display created for Schiaparelli. I learned Figma in a weekend to teach myself how to create a digital rendering of the window display and I’m very proud of our initial results.
Raphael De Lacroix:
Last month was filled with various fittings and meetings for Raphaël De Lacroix. We shot the latest collection which will be launching within the next month or so. Shooting with a new team is always exciting and a little bit nerve-wracking, so I was really impressed with our team’s coordination and execution. I can’t wait to share with you the official website which is launching soon.
Miscellaneous things:
DIY Quiche: Filled with bacon, broccoli, and fried onions, my homemade quiche is the perfect snack for a busy week.
DIY Poached Pears: Made for my friend’s going away party, I served poached pears over caramel ice cream. An easy and simple dessert for any student hosting on a budget.
Flowers blooming on my balcony: Many more flowers have blossomed since I took this photo. Now that it’s going to rain soon, I’m not sure if they’ll survive but I’m hoping the rains will bring new spring flowers.
Spring trim: A friend from school was kind enough to offer to cut my hair at home. I love having short hair and it has been six months since my last haircut.
For March, my new focus is making some significance progress on my thesis and job hunt. My current research question is exploring luxury brand strategy amongst the Asian market but lately I’m working with my professor to make some adjustments. As for my job hunt, I’m incredibly stressed about the possibility of working in France after my studies. I find the job application process to be challenging to navigate as it is let alone in a foreign country, but if I am to stay in Paris I need to work, so I’m hopeful something will work out in the comping months.
As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and if you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to let me know in the comments section down below!
xx
Kiana