Buenos Aires, with its rollicking nightlife, artistic community, and well-earned “Paris of South America” reputation, has become the It-destination for today’s style set. Should you find yourself fantasizing about an Argentinian jaunt, here are a few worthy candidates for a high-design hotel backdrop:

Faena Hotel & Universe, complete with Philippe Stark-designed decor.

The Bo Bo Hotel borrows it’s name from the same, still-going-strong-in-suburbia fashion trend.

The Design Suites , which look plucked from a J.Crew resort wear catalog

Happy Traveling!

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Sofia Coppola at the Dior’s Versailles Couture bash this summer

Between her Parisian baby daddy, a 6th arrondissement address, and that little film called Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola might was well be French, right? That being true, I think it’s OK to indulge in a little ode-de-Coppola during my Paris fashion week coverage.

Last season, the highlight of the week was crossing paths with the APC-clad icon as she strolled her baby Romy down the street. Sofia was wearing black flats. So was I. We’re both brunettes. I’m pretty sure we bonded, silently, over our similarities. At least that’s what I like to tell myself.

Earlier this week I found myself in the same neighborhood (and no, I’m not stalking. I had an appointment there I swear!) and a store window full of engraving examples caught my eye. While American aesthetes are all about their letterpress, the French taste makers adore their engraveurs.

Lo and behold, what do I see but a letterhead for none other than Sofia’s pater familias, Francis Coppola. Immediately I think that the example of the engraveur’s work must have been a gift from Sofia to her father. (What else do you get for the man who has everything? She’s a genius! I think.) Then I remember that her pere has a house around here too, so perhaps he’s purchased them for himself, which takes the cards’ preciousness level down a notch or two.

Then I spot a blank calling card for un autre French style goddess, Charlotte Gainsbourg. I have a theory about why such a well-known figure would need a calling card, but I’ll save that for another reverential post and be a servant to you faithful readers instead. To track down some Coppola-approved stationery, try these two locales:

Olivier De Sercey

96 Rue du Bac, 75007 PARIS
www.olivierdesercey.com

Benneton Graveur

(Sofia’s graveur of choice as per the New York Times)
75 Boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 PARIS
www.bennetongraveur.com

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Starbucks on Avenue L’Opera

Undoubtedly it’s a bit of a faux-pas to start my coverage of Paris fashion week with a post about a non-fashion American institution, but no matter. After all, the Starbucks onParis’ s Avenue L’Opera is every US fashion editor’s guilty pleasure. Sure, everyone goes on and on about Laduree’s darling macaroons and the delectable café au lait at Café de Flore, but in between shows many Pierre Hardy-shod ladies dart into the SB for a jolt of high-octane caffeine to fend off jet-lag. Fortunately, for those who subscribe to the calories-in-another-country-don’t-count ideology, there’s hearty fresh-squeezed OJ and plenty of French-meets-Seattle style treats to choose from as well as fresh squeezed orange juice. Triste mais vrai; sad but true. What’s also a little scary? My morning mocha was 4.70 Euros, which thanks to our deflated American dollar, equals about $7.

Starbucks barista Amelie’s suggestions

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In honor of the season’s festivities, citizen of the world, Parisian turned New Yorker, Catherine Malandrino adds to our Listmaker series with her top 5 favorite places to have a holiday gathering:

In New York, I love to have dinner at the Rainbow Room; it has the best view of New York City and Central Park. In France, I love having holiday drinks at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. I love Megeve especially when it is cold and snowing outside. There, I go to this beautiful antique Chalet in La Ferme de Marie for the great food. I love sitting by the fire place that creates this sensual and warm atmosphere. Lastly, I love to be covered with orchids in Amanpuri, Thailand.

Images, clockwise from top: Bizbash, Studentlife, PlusMo, SmartTravel

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As you can imagine, there a few perks to being a fashion editor. For me, number one on that list is being able to spend time with—and get all kinds of sartorial insight from— talented designers. Not long ago, I dropped in on Ashleigh Verrier to catch up with one of my favorite young designers. As I was lamenting over the fact that the best vintage stores seem to be on the West Coast, Verrier—whose own collection draws on classically feminine shapes—generously shared the address of one of her favorite vintage emporiums in New York: Rare Vintage, 24 West 57th Street, Suite 501.

We then traveled uptown to Rare’s loft-like space where Verrier took me through the racks where she often finds inspiration for her collections. We pored over the tantalizing ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s couture-like pieces from YSL, Chloe, and Christian Dior that Rare’s owner, Juliana Cairone, has amassed, while Verrier pointed out well-crafted details that only a designer’s eye could see. For your own vintage lesson from Verrier, check out our field trip video, and for even more insight from the tasteful designer—without all the time-consuming trouble of becoming a fashion editor—check out her guide to creative gifts.

Rare Vintage

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Vivienne Westwood Spring 2008

Chances are when you look over images from Vivienne Westwood’s spring show, you’ll ask yourself—or anyone within earshot—“What IS that?,” “Is that a cape or a Granny blanket?”, “Who would be so deranged to wear a mesh body suit?” “Would someone pay money for that?” and so on and so forth until you talked yourself into a juvenile tizzy. For only kiddos with limited memory of fashion history be exempt from the “Must Appreciate Vivienne Westwood For What She’s Accomplished Even If That Means Not Totally Understanding Or Liking What She’s Doing,” Rule.

Sure, she’s concocted sand-colored gowns that jut out from the body in every which way, beaded fringe hot-pants, and sheet-like capes for spring—none of which are terribly trendy or wearable for every-day errand running—but that doesn’t matter. This is the woman who gave us punky plaids, safety-pins jewelry and rebellious high-fashion! So what if she’s dreaming up these kookily gathered gowns, ill-fitting bustiers, and layered-on looks with strange Colonial Imperialist undertones? The point of the matter is that the old gal continues to be subversive in her own kooky way, by designing what she likes—and not giving a hoot about any one else. And she’s having a damn good time doing so—see her runway strut for proof:

*Photos Wireimage

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Travel guides, as any globe-trotter knows, are a dime a dozen. There’s thousands of click’n’print websites, smart pocket-size books, fold-out contraptions that do triple-duty as maps, guides, phonebooks, and—when the traveler finally lands at home—doorstops. But a sourcebook that focuses on the what, where, and why for places that your average stylish gal would want to visit doesn’t seem to exist. (And by “average” I mean cool, savvy types prefer the unique people, places, and things over those who are ostentatious. You know who you are.) Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t find a quick go-to resource for some of my favorite fashion cities—Milan, Paris, New York, etc. (And as I’ve just landed in Milan for the shows and am departing to Paris next, such a thing would really come in handy right about now.)

But since such a thing doesn’t exist, I’m going to do what any self-respecting DIYer would do: I’m going to make one myself. I’ll update this with more places as I see, hear, and experience them. And if you have any suggestions, please pass them my way. Until then, take a look at a few of my favorite spots and be sure to bookmark the link to refer to when your travels take you to Milan.

10 Corso Como

What: 10 Corso Como
Why Visit: Because it’s the Barneys/Colette/Maxfields of Milan. Drool over all the Alaia, Dior Homme, and Lanvin, then buy some of the store’s own paper-goods as souvenirs for your stylish friends.
Where: 10, Corso Como
Helpful Hint: Unwind in the store’s courtyard café, but don’t leave without visiting the bookshop upstairs. Some say it rivals Karl Lagerfeld’s 7L shop in Paris, though Manhattanites might compare it to the Moma’s Soho store. Como’s outlet can be found a few streets over Via Tazzoli 3, where racks of discounted Galliano, Dries, and YSL await the patient shopper.

Agent Provocateur window displays at La Rinascente

What: La Rinascente
Why Visit: Because chances are you’ve forgotten one of your make-up must-haves during your packing hastes; The iconic Milan department store stocks all major cosmetic lines, as well as a tempting array of handbags, lingerie, homegoods, the works.
Helpful Hint: Set aside a decent amount of time to spend here; there’s lots to look at, and since the store is across the street from the storied D’uomo, tourists are a plenty too.
Where: Corso Vittorio Emanuele & Via Agnello

Target

What: Target
Why Visit: Because it’s not the Target you’re thinking of. The small shop is chock full of whimsical girly gifts from massage socks (printed with graph of acupuncture points) and retro Fiorrucci tees to blow-up punching bags meant for taking one’s boy-related wrath.
Helpful Hint: Plan on staying on that block for some time; two doors down from Target there’s a handful of good vintage shops to be found.
Where: Just south of Porta Ticinese & Via Santo Vito

Diesel advertisement on Ticinese piazza

What: Porta Ticinese, at night
Why Visit: Because at night, the crowd paints a pretty entertaining picture of what it means to be a young (read: high-school or college-age) resident of Milano. Groups of kids from every style tribe unite at night to crowd the small square, mill around for hours and imbibe from any of the many nearby bars. Relive your youth by camping out with a beer on the marble benches.
Helpful Hint: Plan on leaving at least ½ hour before bars close; taxi cabs are hard to find when 400 others are on the hunt for one too.
Where: Porta Ticinese, just off Via Molino

Piazza Ticinese

Marni outlet

What: Marni Outlet Store
Why Visit: To get major moula off the past 6+ seasons of Consuelo Castiglioni’s smart, quirky clothes and accessories. Your fashion-y girlfriends back home will get all insta-jealous upon seeing your spoils, but be warned that non-artsy boys may not fully appreciate Castiglioni’s off-kilter cuts and bold embellishments.
Where: Via Filippo Tajani 3
Helpful Hint: Ring buzzer to enter, walk down driveway enter at far door on right.

Technorati Tags: Milan Travel Guide, Fashion Milan, Milan Shopping, Milan Fashion Week

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Dear GlamChic Readers,
Greetings from the far-flung locale of Montana! No exactly known for it’s sartorial splendor–though it must be said that snazzy cowboy hats and stellar vintage finds abound–the Big Sky Country is one of favorite my get-away destinations. But while I’m escaping the urban jungle for a few days, my fellow fashion-blogging pal, Elisabeth Fourmont–she of the clever, award-winning La Coquette –reports in on her favorite Paris shops. The Chicago ex-pat turned Belleville resident knows a thing or two about the City of Light’s hotspots after having lived–and blogged from–the French capitol for over three years. If Miss Fourmont’s picturesque lifestyle doesn’t inspire jealousy, her weekend shopping itinerary surely will. xS.C.

Ten French Stores That Make Me Happy
by Elisabeth Fourmont

Inside French Trotters

French Trotters
This shop in the Bastille shares a similar concept with New York’s Opening Ceremony in that each season the owners voyage to a city they’re interested in, cherry-pick their favorite designers
and local artists of that city, and bring it all back to Paris for your shopping pleasure. Always an inspiring mix of fashion and art here. 30 rue de Charonne, 75011 www.frenchtrotters.fr

Another view of French Trotters

Chez Mamie
What I like about this vintage store is that it’s full of
the type of classic things you want to wear, thanks presumably, to the finely tuned aesthetic of its owners. My most recent purchase? A small black croc bag with two straps: a longer chain and a shorter leather clutch. “Ca fait très Hermès Kelly,” said the saleswoman. Agreed. 73, rue de Rochechouart, 75009
01 42 82 09 98

A.P.C. Surplus
If you had a store that sold a constantly changing stock of discounted A.P.C. in your neighborhood, wouldn’t you visit all the time I can’t overstate how often I would lurk here when I lived in the area (it’s located just next to the Jardin du Luxembourg). I stalk marked-down A.P.C., it’s true. 4 rue de Fleurus 75006 01 45 49 19 15

Cadolle Boutique

Alice Cadolle
What is Alice Cadolle the woman is known for? Inventing the bra. What is Alice Cadolle the modern day shop is known for? Outlandishly priced made-to-measure lingerie. What a lot of people don’t know? They also sell off-the-rack bras for under 100 euro. Still not cheap, but these bras are so flattering and shape-changing that you won’t mind.
14, Rue Cambon , 75001 01 42 60 94 22

Free ‘P’ Star
This is my kind of thrift store. There is minor editing by the proprietors (most of what you see is on trend), but it’s still crowded, disorganized, and pretty darn cheap. It’s right in the heart of the Marais and open late by Paris standards (until 11 pm), so you can even go here to kill time before dinner. 8 rue Ste Croix la Bretonnerie, 75004 01.42.76.03.72

Guerrisol
This is where I head for true, down and dirty thrift shopping. At the beginning of the summer I stocked up on cotton dresses here, three euros each. 29-31, avenue de Clichy, 75017

Monoprix

Monoprix
When I’m traveling back to the states, I buy French candy and crackers that aren’t available stateside as gifts for my friends (lighter, cheaper, and more fun than jam). My favorite grocery chain stocks Berlin pizza apéritif crackers, Smarties, and Lions bars. All delicious. www.monoprix.fr

Maje
There are a lot of stores in Paris doing seasonal trends in this price range: Et Vous, Les Prairies de Paris, and Sandro come to mind, but Maje seems to be particularly good at the moment. www.maje-paris.fr

A find at Marche aux Puces

Le Marché aux Puces de Vanves
So much more doable than the famous Puces de Clignacourt, this particular flea market is very good for jewelry, tchotckes, and fabric. I got a chandelier here at the end of a rainy day for a steal.
Along avenue Marc Sangnier, between avenue de la Porte de Vanves and Avenue Georges Lefenestre http://pucesdevanves.typepad.com/

Le Bon Marche

Le Bon Marché
In A Moveable Feast, Hemmingway talks about going to look at Cezanne paintings to feed his soul. In the same way, I go to Le Bon Marché, the department store where all the brands I care about are under one roof. Don’t judge me!
24, rue de Sevres, 75007 www.lebonmarche.fr

Le Bon Marche

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Fashion Finds:

Marni Outlet Store

Marni Outlet Store
Via Filippo Tajani 3
Ring Buzzer To Enter
Tip: Be sure to tell your taxi driver it’s Filippo Tajani, not just Via Tajani.
Also, walk all the way to the back of the driveway to enter the shop and be prepared to spend.

La Milanese
Via Santa Marta 11
02-8645-1991
Tip: Order the Osso Bucco and saffron risotto, both Milanese specialties and enjoy listening to locals who fill the intimate dining room. Don’t be put off if you’re told the wait will be long: Just a few moments after sitting and looking on with enthusiasm at the food passing by, we got a table in five minutes, not the 45 they had predicted.

Nhow Hotel

Nhow Hotel
Via Tortona 35
Tel. +39 02 4898861
Tip: If you’re not planning to walk around the city during your stay, try this high-design hotel. Located just outside the city center (ie a 7 euro, 10 minute cab ride) the new hotel boasts spacious rooms, helpful staff, and a delicious breakfast.

10 Corso Como’s restaurant & bookstore

10 Corso Como
10 Corso Como
Tip: Don’t miss the well-stocked bookstore upstairs from Italian Vogue editrix Carla Sozzani’s storied boutique. After perusing the shop’s tempting Alaia selection or taking in a strong coffee at the cozy garden café, waltz on over to shop’s outlet store (via tazzoli 3) where there’s plenty of Prada, Givenchy, YSL, and McQueen to be had for under 300 euros.

Via Spiga

Hotel Bulgari
Via Privata Fratelli Gabba 7/b
Tel: 39 28 058 051
Tip: Forget about getting a room here during fashion week as the international style set camps out in this 17th-century gem. Try going in spring, and book a room overlooking the gardens. Don’t forget to stroll on over to nearby Via Montenapoleone and Via Spiga where many of Italy’s top designers have an outpost.

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