A Force: We'll Always Have Paris

They say you can add just three letters to Paris and you have paradise, or at least that's what my Instagram caption said. Paris was always a dream, a goal as a fashion major. France has given creation to some of the most important and influential designers we will ever have, from Coco Chanel and Christian Dior to Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy, Paris is a playground for fashion; and it's easy to see why. From historic figures in France like Marie Antoinette (who I will get to in another post) to architecture like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. I never wanted to leave. Walking around the Louvre and finally seeing Liberty Leading the People brought chills to every single hair in my body, turning a corner and seeing the Eiffel tower greet me as it towered in front of me, and walking down the Champs-Élysées as I snacked on a macaroon, Paris exceeded my expectations time and time again during the week. Although my face is a little swollen because I got sick the day right before we left so my nose grew like three times its normal size.

The first day in Paris we went to the Christian Dior exhibit which I posted photos from in the last post because it was so incredible it needed its own showcase. Following lunch we headed to Notre Dame Cathedral. In high school I had some of the most incredible history teachers who showed me history is not just learning about wars or who signed what treaty (even though those facts are very important). My teachers gave an emphasis that art, architecture and music, all of these factors are equally as important to our understanding of history. With this in mind, I'll never forget learning about the flying buttress and Gothic architecture seen in Notre Dame.

Thursday was one of the more exciting days. With our school we were able to attend, Premiere Vision, a trade show for the upcoming seasons, with an emphasis on fabrics and textiles. PV was amazing and I loved being able to attend events real professionals in the fashion industry go to.

At the Musée d'Art Moderne we saw an exhibition titled Medusa which was all about jewelry throughout the ages and in different countries and cultures.

In case you were wondering, yes that is Michael Jackson's glove. After we were done at Medusa we were free to explore Paris on our own. I had planned on using my free afternoon on Friday to go to Versailles with some friends so I decided this would be my one chance to make it to the Louvre. Our school gave us a two day museum pass which gave you access to over 50 museums in Paris and the adjacent cities such as the entrance to Versailles. I highly recommend getting this pass because in the long run it can save you a lot of money going from one museum to the next.

I've always dreamt about seeing Liberty Leading the People and it did not disappoint one bit in person.

Outside of the Palais de Tokyo which is where the Musée d'Art Moderne is located there were two pieces previewing an exhibit about refugees that caught my attention. Even though I wasn't able to see the exhibit I feel like these two posts speak volumes to the world we live in today.