Shopping in Paris

I never thought I would use a personal shopper. I like to think I know what looks good on me. And I’m very decisive. I’ll know right away if I want something or not. But what a dream to shop in Paris. Knowing I only had an afternoon to myself on a work trip to the “La Ville-Lumière,” I didn’t want to waste my time going to stores where I wouldn’t buy anything. My friend Daniel MacKinnon, the man behind the blog Jet Legs, suggested I make it a mission to buy a dress like no other – a frock you could only find in France.

After a phone consultation with Laetitia Roukbi of The Paris Shopper, I sent her some of my pins of gowns. And after Googling her name, I found out that not only is she gorgeous with impeccable taste, she’s also frequently photographed for her street style fashions. I loved that she went to stores ahead of time, put cocktail dresses and gowns in my size on hold, actually kept within my budget and had a schedule of where we would go. It was like shopping with a friend but better. Honestly, without Laetitia I would have never tried on these amazing dresses.

First, we went to Collette to try on Dior black and white cocktail number, Christopher Kane blue dress with feather trim, and a shape-shifter Simone Rocha pink frock.

Then we went to Dries Van Noten to see two dresses that really excited Laetitia. One was a shift with jewelled feathers, and the other was a backless dress with a feathered skirt (shown with pants and a blazer on the runway).

The fanciest dress was a gown from Alberto Ferretti.

Our last stop was at the French boutique Paule Ka, where I tried on red carpet gowns and glam cocktail dresses.      

Sorry, but I’m not showing the dress I bought. You’ll have to wait for another post.

I Said Yes To A Dress

I had some rules for wedding dress shopping. But it looks like I broke a few.

1. I don’t want to wear white.

I was leaning towards gold, red or brilliant shine, if you were to judge my pins on Pinterest. I did include a few white ones that I didn’t mind. But that’s just it I didn’t mind them, not in love with them.

Reality: I got a white dress. I know, I know. I was violently against white. I don’t know what to say. It’s just the one I liked the best.

2. I want red carpet glamour.

It had to be a gown. Because I wanted this dress to be something I would never normally buy for myself, I searched red-carpet pics. Why shouldn’t I get an award-worthy dress? I’m only doing this once, right?

Reality: My dress doesn’t reach the floor. I think it touches my knees though. The gowns that fit me made it impossible to eat and enjoy a bit of bubbly without looking like my belly popped. So instead of the focus being on a long, lean silhouette, it’s now on my legs. I’m good with that. My mom wore a mini dress on her wedding day. So I’m thinking it must be genetic. It’s not my fault, I just didn’t know.

3. I want architectural tailoring.

Because I don’t have an hourglass shape, I’m not interested in showing off any T&A silhouettes. I’m not against creating that shape though.

Reality: I tried on some gorgeous dresses with fantastic tailoring, like one with a hip bustle, another with a dropped ruffle in the back. But there was always something off about it, whether it was the colour or size. This dress does have a definite shape, but it’s more relaxed.

4. I want a designer name my 14-year-old, Vogue-loving self would recognize.

Wedding gown designers? Other than Vera Wang and Jenny Packham (thanks to Princess Kate), I’d never heard of any. Why would I drop that kind of money on a designer I’d never heard of.

Reality: After trying on and looking at Dior, Dries Van Noten and Carolina Herrera, I swallowed the hard fact that it’s not worth a designer’s name to just grab any ol’ dress. But that said I did get a designer dress, just not a name my younger self would recognize. I got a Paule Ka dress, which is a French brand known to dress JLo, Kristen Stewart, and a certain Kate.

5. I should buy it in Paris, France.

Reality: I did! I got it on Rue Saint-Honoré. And I love it. I don’t know that I would have enjoyed looking for dresses anywhere else. If it’s good enough for Cathy Horyn, it’s pretty effin fantastic for me.

When friends, family and acquaintances have asked me about what I’ll be wearing on the big day, I was a bit apprehensive to tell. I’ve never dreamed of wearing a big fluffy white gown. In fact, I’ve never dreamed of wearing a wedding dress. And when I would tell them this, I was always greeted with “You can get something simple – it’s your day.” Ummm… I’m not boring, but thanks. I’m not a typical bride, I would think to myself when pinning gowns to my Pinterest. Having been a bridesmaid seven times, I’ve seen friends go into the bridal store with strong ideas of what will look good on them and come out with something completely different. Turns out I am a regular bride after all.

Sorry, but you’ll have to wait to see the dress….