Rose bakery, Merci Paris

I Can't believe that it has taken me up until now to visit

MERCI Paris

I was pretty sure I was going to love it 

and guess what 

I did 

I was in Paris for Maison et Objet 

as were the rest of the design world 

and Merci was teaming with japanese, Americans, Northern Europeans 

This is where the inspirers go to get inspired 

After a spot of shopping 

We made our way to Le Bon Marche 

and the highlight here was I also finally got to eat lunch at a Rose Bakery outpost

Amazing

simplicity 

taste

texture

perfection

and the cakes......

I purchased the cook book 

and I have already begun working my way through it 

Highly recommended 

 

 

Smarten up

I am about to embark on a new and very exciting project

I am beyond excited at the opportunity 

A side affect is that I will have to smarten up my wardrobe

I have been looking for inspiration

First stop J Crew

a bit bland but a really good basic, 

could be brightened with statement jewelry

or a more colourful or patterned blouse, 

perhaps this one

Love these pants and the teeny polka dot shirt

I already own this blazer in blue 

and it is one of my favourites 

may have to add the red in wool for Winter

I also checked out BODEN

I have always been a fan of their kids stuff

but this season they seem to be shaking off the 

yummy mummy persona for something a little bit edgier, I like it

The cords are a little casual but I like the colours and the jacket is a great cut

These pants also look like a great cut may have to get a few different colours

This Jacket and this skirt are both currently on sale over at 

Margaret Howell

Love the simplicity of this outfit from COS

Also the essence of simplicity 

-this look from

Net-A-Porter

magazine

 and while we are at Net-a-porter

why not pick up this Johnathan Saunders jacket

LOVE  IT

So wish me luck 

and I will let you all know the details as soon as I can 

x

Rosnaree Vintage Fair

Yesterday we had a fabulous day out at 

The Rosnaree Vintage Fair In Slane co Meath 

Many Country Houses attempt different this kind of event

Some are more successful than others

Rosnaree hit the nail on the head

This was a great family day out 

Admission was reasonable €10 for a family

Food was great 

There was wood oven pizza

and the most incredible spread from 

The Brown Hound Bakery 

It is definitely on my To Do list to pay them a visit in Drogheda 

Baxter You are coming home with ME!

As well as great food, there were lots of activities for the kids 

Piles of Hay to throw about (a simple but genius idea that the kids loved)

and

A gypsy caravan

Shetland Pony rides

Pony and Trap rides

So the kids were busy while Mum looked at 

fantastic vintage clothing

and it must be noted that this really was VINTAGE

NOT a bring and buy sale and NOT new and NOT rubbish 

A friend nabbed an incredible silk printed Jean Muir dress

for €70

there were also great paintings, furniture, china

This Victorian tea set really pulled at my purse strings 

I loved this guy who greeted us on the way in to the house 

I also met many, many old friends 

Including the Indomitable Emily from Loughcrew 

If you haven't been to the Loughcrew  Opera 

It is on this July 20th and 21st

I highly recommend it 

a great evening out ! 

Also ran into Petria from Dolls (one of my favourite Dublin shops and cafes) 

Petria (left) and friend looking incredibly dapper

and I had serious Wisteria envy 

It's becoming a problem 

Horticulturalenvyitis

is I think the Latin name 

I purchased this adorable shirt for my smallest of men 

when we arrived home the same little man ate 2 boiled eggs in a row with his new friend

...... he has Never eaten a boiled egg before !

vintage egg cup €2

So well done Rosnaree ! 

All in all a perfect day out 

well planned and reasonably priced

I look forward to next year 

x

Merci Paris, Egg London and shopping

installation at Merci by Li Edelkoort

I don't need to tell you about

MERCI

The inspirational retail experience founded by

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen

The people behind childrens label

BONPONT

Tapping in to the belief that the customer who goes to a store wants an experience.

This is a place you can buy clothes for yourself, your kids

flowers
 and items for your home
 a second hand book and you can eat!

In this day when everything you could desire is a click away

Sit curled on your own sofa steaming mug of tea in hand and purchase a book,

a nail polish, a dress, a meal

So why would you bother to go to an actual store

Why would you jump on a plane and FLY to Paris ?

Because this store like a handful of others in the world

Is not just offering product

They have delved into something deeper

They have delved into your emotions

EGG,
 London

images from Accessorator

When I visited EGG in london for the first time I had such an overpowering feeling

I did not want to leave

I wanted to sleep there

There, it seemed everything would be perfect

 in a pale chalk and indigo blue wash of inspiration

Maureen Doherty has also, through a curated focus and impeccable eye

managed to create a shop that offers more than just a quick fix of retail therapy. 

Retail giants in an attempt

(some more successful than others )

 to capture a little of this magic are collaborating with smaller

and more exclusive brands

A recent example is the

Missoni for Target

launching Sept 13th in the US

An ambitious project of 400 items from suitcases to bicycles

It's fun and true to the brand

The reality is most of America is unaware of Missoni

But I am sure there will be a rush on these items

personally I have my eye on the bike



Darr, Hollander & Lexer

Another great store further down Atlantic is 

DARR

I love the wooden table set with wooden dinnerware

I would think it too much but actually it is really beautiful, it has a simplicity and purity.

I did purchase a beautiful Horn bangle for $30

(will post it later)

They stock the incredible 

Cote de Bastide 

line of fragrance and candles which I have loved ever since I bought 

my first Fig room scent from 

The Cross

10 years ago

The same owners also have a store across the street 

Hollander & Lexer

Where they sell their own line of locally made menswear, 

although when I dropped in there were quite a few items I coveted for my own wardrobe,

along with a few selected labels.

love this image of old shoe lasts from their site

so enjoy shopping 

and buy local whatever that locale may be

x

COS

Can anyone tell me why there are no COS stores in the US?

Basically it is one of the few high street shops that I go into and want everything in there
They also do a great kids line
and they have a great site which features amazing artists, designers and generally interesting people like

Kaat Debo
Fashion Director of
MOMU
in Antwerp

follow this link to read the article

http://www.cosstores.com/gb/site/home__start.nhtml#BLOG-1676f84b-e0d9-4c3d-8191-4928aeaa65ab

I loved these shots of the accessories

Still lives with shadows