Hello Everyone!
Today was the ultimate girls day because we only had two things on our list of to-dos, shopping and visiting the Dior Gallery. We started breakfast at this really cute spot called Nesle that had a bunch of purple flowers overhanging the patio and of course had our usual cappuccinos and croissants.
Mom and I then walked the Champs-Elysees, which is basically like the Rodeo Drive of Beverly Hills. You can take me to the fanciest places but I'll always be a practical city girl at heart. I was not about to carry all the souvenirs and chocolates we got in bags all day so I packed a foldable $5 backpack and window shopped designer stores without a second thought. Apparently my choices got me a lot of looks from the staff, but I was totally oblivious to the fashion faux pas stir I caused. You should see how some of the millionaire tiktokers dress today! If only Paris knew. Dior was not impressed at all by my outfit but I was too excited about the gallery to care.
This was an exceptionally well done gallery, and as soon as you walked in you could see all the accessories and miniatures of the dresses they've designed on this wall. There were almost 2,000 pieces, all color coded, that covered three stories of wall from floor to ceiling. It was stunning.
Christian Dior actually had a really fascinating story. He was actually an art gallery manager and sold fashion sketches on the side for 10 cents a piece. From there he jumped into the fashion world but actually paused his career to fulfill his military service duty. He loved flowers, especially lilies, and took a lot of inspiration from his childhood gardens, so that's why his dresses are so feminine and florally. But my all time favorite fact, was that the perfume Miss Dior (which I've been wearing since I was 18) was created as a tribute to his sister Catherine Dior, who joined the French Resistance in WWII and was actually captured and sent to a concentration camp. She survived, was released after the war ended, and she raised the very roses and jasmine that were used in the first Miss Dior. It just figures that I'd pick a revolutionary woman's perfume lol.
Looks like I got the Dior memo because I totally matched his offices! The gallery was well done in that they even preserved some of the original workstations and staged them as they would have been used back in the 1940s. I can't imagine how many hours it must have taken to embroider and sew his clothes, especially since he had 30 pieces in a collection!
Mom and I ordered a The Gourmand which basically was basically a plate of mini versions of the desserts on the menu with either a tea or coffee. I wish all places did this because I love trying everything!
I can't believe we have one more day left here in Paris.
Sending love to you all,
Carolyn
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