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Happy Belated Canada Day folks! What perfect timing to arrive from Paris back in Toronto yesterday on our nation’s birthday. Between exploding bottle rockets and music blasting from Eglinton West Avenue I knew I was very pleased to be back after a month of traveling about Europe.
This trip marked my first time in Paris, and I got to see many beautiful historical sites that I had only witnessed in textbooks and romantic movies. La Seine (river) has 37 bridges that span it across the city and after work people gather along its banks for a picnic, drink or lazy chat with friends. Parks adorn the city with green and intricately crafted fountains, and draw the most interesting characters out of the Parisian wood work. However tourist cliche it is, I have to say that the Eiffel Tower was amazing in person. What a feat of technology and engineering understood while walking under the tower’s criss crossing iron trusses. The food in Paris is very good, particularly the bakeries and pastries. I could seriously eat fruit flans and apple tarts all day on cobble stoned corners with my creme cafe (I don’t drink coffee but my Manager T and the overproof Parisian coffee has me started).
The heat when we arrived maintained at a steady 35C (I swear I’m back from Paris looking like I just got off the plane from Jamaica). Although unbearable at times through certain junctures of the old city that smelled like hot pee and getting armpits full of B.O. on the subway at rush hour, it made each rest stop at a cafe, under the shade of a tree or along a shaded promenade that much sweeter.
Of course it was incredibly inspiring to be in Paris with fashion in mind, considering the detail put into the embroidery of a sock, or the cut of a suit. Just to put it out there, European men have a much more adventurous and better fashion sense then their North American counterparts. What’s up Yankee boys? Step your game up! Leave the logo’d New Eras at home somedays and wear a pale blue button up accented by lilac underlays ya dig?
With all these amazing new perspectives, ideas and images in mind, it’s back to work for me. I’ve been on the road for 8 months now and it’s time to buckle down and re-emerge with new projects to share with you guys. My sketchbooks are full, I carried 10 lbs of Euro magazine clippings and flyers back and my brain is dancing with dreams of 2011 Louis the 14th style opulence. It’s going to be a great summer.
Special thank you to Nicolas Lenshot that gave us such a proper tour of Paris. He is an amazing photographer and talent. Check out his work here: www.lenshot.fr
First night in Paris and my manager Tamara is already looking more Parisian.
Our first night and I looked up from my dinner to see what looks like a “Masia” tag. I believe in fate, i do.
Notre Dame Cathedral and its flying buttresses
It gets HOT walking Paris in 35 degree heat!
Shopping along L’Avenue des Champs-Elysees too baller for me til I get my Kops & Robbers advance!
Just another day at Louis Vuitton
Things you might purchase when window shopping along L’Avenue des Champs-Elysees
Canuck and Yankee boys…put away the LRG and pick up the Stefano Ricci.
The Louvre
European beer standards concern me.
A street of just gardening and pet stores. I met these 2 cuties there…
Beautiful flower stores throughout Paris, vigilantly fighting the smell of pee from the sewers
Nothing good must go down here.
Ghetto birds are gangster world wide
The hotdogs in Paris ain’t no joke
Beauty in the quirky details
Men in suits on bikes, BAM BAM LIKASHOT!
Parisian peeps don’t play when it comes to their original style Jordans
Stickers and street art everywhere in the city.
Had to Masia One sticker some spots after peer pressure from my friend Nic Lenshot!
Paris Hiphop festival, Graffiti showcase. Banga’s characters and can control so impressive! Big up to Native as well!
The gates of Versailles. Louis IVX was big pimpin’ out of control!
Ladies of leisure represent
Swans at Versailles
My new favorite past time…napping on the grass at Versailles
History at every corner, humans at every square inch
In New York they use fire hydrants, in Paris…fountains
Bread is everything. I missed rice
Best drink in the world when it’s hot outside…Perri-Menthe (Perrier and Mint Syrup), I call it Hulk Juice
I have a friend in yard named Pompidou…little does he know this is what he shares his name with
Even the cats are ballin’ out of control
Stumbled on an art gallery showcasing JonOne’s paintings. BIG UP!
Le Petit Canard gets the thumbs up…I need to do a separate food blog for this trip!
Creme Brulee is out of control in these here parts!
Doin’ it how the Parisian’s do along La Seine. (Don’t worry mom, it’s 2% alcohol cider I promise lol)
Bye bye Paris. Tu vas me manquer
