Fashion Makes Me Horny

Special thanks to fashionmakesmehorny for the shout out in regards to my Stardust Summer Lounger. Check out her sweet little write-up, as well as the rest of her inspirational posts!

Great Euroventure:::Take Two:::France

If there is anything for Americans to learn from Europe, it is indeed the great art of relaxation. I mention this because I have decided to blame such blog delay on European jet lag and a new found respect for self preservation. I’ve been working steadily on inspired samples and custom items, sure, but let’s stick to blaming Europe.

A very French Dog watches over a very French street from his very French Bouchon Restaurant!

 Aforementioned was the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano which cost us a brief flight and some carefully laid travel plans. I would like to formally resign my complaint against this volcano and thank it for a lovely bus ride through the Spanish and French countryside during which I had the pleasure of enjoying one of Steven Segal’s finest new films and caught up on some reading. Also worthwhile were the breathtaking views seen throughout these countries. I fell in love with dozens of small towns scattered on hillsides, surrounding modestly beautiful churches.

First: A giant wooden 2 dimensional Bull on the Spanish plains

Second: The sun rising over misty French farmlands

We ended up in Marseille, a gorgeous port city on the French Mediterranean. After a tired walkabout and a few Cure Royals, we caught a delightful train through the French countryside to Lyon where we would spend the remainder of our French vacation. On the way, we happened to pass about 5 castles/estates and some miraculously intact remnants of the Roman Aquaducts. America is just so young!

Top: The Port of Marseille, France

Second: Cliffside Castle overlooking eastern France

Last: Roman Aquaduct Ruins running along the train tracks outside Lyon.

The sights in Lyon will blow your mind. Atop its highest hill sits the Forviere Basilica, a glorious church so intricate that it holds two prayer halls atop one another. From there, the view of Lyon is untouchable-within a mile are at least 3 other cathedrals and some mindblowing Roman amphitheatre ruins. What’s even better than gorgeous and well preserved Roman Amphitheatre ruins? They host an epic concert series there each summer, this year featuring Iggy Pop and none other than the legendary Lou Reed. All these ruins, Cathedral, and surrounding gorgeous buildings sit atop a hill that is also an historic battle ground.

Top: The Forviere Basilica

Second: Roman Amphitheatre Ruins in Lyon

Lyon boasts hundreds of amazing structures but even more amazing is the fact that once a year they host a city wide psychedelic light show, where they decorate these cathedrals and buildings so intricately that the photos look like a cartoon. Due to proximity, we frequented Old Town and even caught a small Renaissance Faire complete with ensemble dances and stories, and the perfect use of a 1970s men’s wig.

Top: Trams weave through lovely neighborhoods, up Lyon's steeper hill

Second: The Cathedral lit up with neon

Last: Small Rennaissance Faire in Old Lyon

THE FOOD! Apart from a strict time-appropriate-meal-serving policy, French food is AMAZINGGGGG! First of all, I would like to publicly announce that small portions in French cooking are an absolute myth (suck on that, overly pricey fusion restaurants!). The generous portions of rich and saucy food will fill your belly and then some. We enjoyed all the local staples; both savory and sweet crepes, the best kabob in the entire world (which I should mention is NOT meat on a stick), gelatos, candies, literally the best pizza I have ever eaten, and a traditional French 3 course meal. This ridiculously filling and inexpensive steal of a meal is called Bouchon Lyonnaise and it is city specific. Some of us walked away from it hurting less than others. I must give a shout out to the cheeseburgers at St. James Pub in Old Town, Lyon. I’m not sure what special kind of grease they pour all over it, but I’d like to order a gallon vat, please.

And then there was shopping. Though the French tend to be a bit conservative, I think that the main style difference betwixt them and Californians would be seasonal awareness. If it’s winter time, you wear a wool coat with leather boots, scarf, and hat. Even if it is the end of April and it’s sort of grey out, but basically as warm as California, you still leave these items on and stare blankly at silly Americans sporting the likes of denim cut offs and flip flops. By the third sunny day I spotted another person in shorts without tight underneath.( Thankfully. There were a lot of cut off shorts with sheer or even nude tights underneath, and sneakers. Recognizing that I am merely a beginner in the world of fashion, I respectfully disagree with this practice). By the fourth day, there were even some shoulders bared! There is very little cleavage in France, overall. I found their barely-peeking collar bones and soft but skinny arms to be incredibly sexy as I pulled my American Apparel ultra-deep v neck higher on my sun-kissed chest. Here are some styling tips from French Fashion mags, since I was too blown away by everyone's confident gait to act like a paprazzo.

The style difference reflects in their marketing. H&M, a company notorious for individualizing each store to its surrounding demographic, was filled with extremely bland business apparel and very little reference to bohemia, which is over-saturating the rest of the universe. It could be the distaste towards the beautiful and mysterious Gypsies who are known for pick pocketing and causing general malaise, or the fact that the French are so classically stylish that they don’t need the world’s silly trends. Either way, check out some funny street side adverts that caught my attention.

It would be silly to attempt to recount every little detail of our trip. Since our theme was reconnecting with long lost loves and indulging in every way possible, the where’s and why’s tend to be a blur. Some amazingly fun and simple things to do in Lyon include antique book faires (yay!) and going dancing on the boat clubs. Yes I said boat clubs. It was a complete blast and in retrospect, the boat clubs were quite like a National Geographic episode focusing on the mating dance of Lyonnaise subcultures. With four girls to look after, my poor boyfriend had his hands entirely full that night (so to speak).

We were concerned for our typical American ignorance of the local language, but we got by. With an incredibly gifted translator and a large amount of Irish-run pubs in the neighborhood, one could have easily forgotten the language barrier. Plus, anything is fun with good wine! Bonsiour for now...JG