Filling In!

WEEK ONE!

Day 5: Manic Monday

Ah, a reminder we're here for school: a class, and at 9a! Current Trends and Forecasting, with Christopher, my History of Fashion Teacher in the Spring. I found out afterwards that it is an  ELECTIVE, so there goes one of my two, oops. Oh well. Should be fun, it's about reading the market and following predictions and making some of your own, which adds up to how designers seem to have consistent themes when they present their runway shows, or how certain colors magically appear on every runway. Good stuff. I'm out of class by noon, and, wonderfully, Christopher announces the class will be moved to the 1-4p slot, AKA 13:00-16:00 here in Lacoste. As far as I remember, I did nothing else all day. Haha

Day 6: Two-Class Tuesday

Day two of classes, one at 9:00, one at 13:00. The first, also with Christopher, is Business of Fashion, about the moneys and ...well, business of the apparel industry. After lunch is Treasures of Provence with Daves (yes, as in plural, but it's one guy). He talks too much and repeats himself a lot, but he's very knowledgeable. SO...that's good? Afterwards, a lot of frantic running around as a good half-dozen of the Fashion kids packed together, but in their separate rooms in their separate dorms and one after the other. Crazy and hilarious.

Day 7: To the TGV! [Wednesday]

Off to Paris! Up at FIVE am. Which is still 5:00 in France, yes. and it feels like it, in our little village without the sun up. THREE minutes for all 60 of us to board the TGV at 7:20 (which turned out to be plenty of time to get on, but oh well), and in PARIS by 10:00! We walked to the Hotel, got some lunch (picture to follow), and then came back to check in. Then, Fashion (as opposed to Photo or Illustration, the other two majors) went off on our merry way with Christopher at 9:30. We headed off to Yves Saint Laurent's original showroom house, now a museum for him...that was closed because most of the exhibit was out getting ready for a shipping to New York. Christopher knew about this and was assured he had another week before they'd close down the building. Oops. Off to Museum two! ......also closed. Poor Christopher. "That's Paris," he said [with humour]. On the way to the Louvre's Decorative Arts addition wing, we passed the Toyota dealership with some fascinating models (i.e. Gold Leather Hybrid car? Pictures coming soon), and saw the Champs Elysée, with the Ferris Wheel and Arc de Triomphe--but we didn't get up close to it. :( The Louvre addition was lovely, though, with a Gaultier costume exhibit and some of the most beautiful jewelry I have seen in my entire life. Exploring Paris for the evening was nice, but lots of big days to follow means early to bed.  OH and in the hustle, I didn't pack my shampoo. I THINK it was intentional, to save room...? Either way, a mistake. Five days to come...

Day 8: And we're off...on our own. [Thursday]

Fashion followed the herd today to the Louvre itself, which was spectacular. I saw the Mona Lisa, Delacroix's Scenes from the Massacre of Chios, The Grande Odalisque, The Crowning of Napoleon, The Raft of the Medusa, and some other great classic paintings (but unfortunately nothing Flemish, or Reubens or anything as the second floor was CLOSED!). I also saw some great sculpture pieces, like the Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, AKA the Winged Nike, and other classic Greek goodies. NO PICTURES THOUGH, as I was told we weren't allowed to take photos in the Louvre. Luckily, I bumped into Nick who snapped a statue for me that I loved, and I can get Mona Lisa from Kate, since we saw it together. We had a great shot too. Everything is pretty much memory-only, but that's why you have Google. :)

After three? hours there, Fashion took off to a long square that was lovely, but whose name escapes me, to see John Paul Gaultier's big store and the new Marc Jacobs. After a ride on the Metro, we were at the Avenue, Montagne, or Money Row in Paris. Virtually EVERY name in Fashion was there, and in such large buildings! Lots of pictures and a video at Dior. :) No, I didn't buy anything, Mom--WANTED TO, but didn't. I should've priced that silver necklace though at Dior Homme. There's no picture of that, but it was a bee silhouette. Afterwards, we went to La Marais, a newly trendy old neighborhood with the gorgeous Place des Vosges Park. I bought two ties, both 100% silk, one for 10 Euro, one for 20 Euro. Not bad, and the color of the plush 20 Euro one is such a vibrant turquoise--I literally saw it from across the street and had to go in to see it. It was 25 Euro, but the whole "I only have a twenty" worked fine. I mean, it was true, but still. 

Then, we split up, but Jason, Fatima and I followed Christopher to La Gallerie Lafayette, a GIANT Designer Department store, although many of the prices were the same. Pierre Cardin NICE dress shirts for 60 Euro though? I almost got out the credit card for two. Oh well. Again, I bought nothing, Mom. Finally, back to the hotel, some misunderstandings and paths that DIDN'T cross in the lobby led to two seperate dinners, but oh well. After twelve hours on our feet, bedtime, because tomorrow...