Fashion designer Vera Wang may live in New York, but her heart is in Paris. And Paris loves her back. The legendary designer – best known for her bridal gowns – was recently awarded the prestigious Légion d’Honneur on the opening of day of the Paris fashion shows. Here is her Paris Blackbook:
FAVORITE HOTELS:
I always stay at the Plaza Athénée or the Shangri-La as they are right by my old hood in the 16th arrondisement and both have superb views of the Eiffel Tower!
FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP:
Furniture shopping on the Quai, my favorite umbrella store in the 6th. Also Montaigne Market, L’Eclaireur, Alaia, Rick Owens, Givenchy, Margiela, Comme des Garcons and the Y3/Adidas concept store in the Marais.
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FOR LUNCH:
Café de l’Homme is so chic with its deco interior and Café de Flore and Brasserie Lipp for real French bistro dishes…
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FOR DINNER:
Dinner is easy… La Stresa for Italian. Voltaire for the mushroom salad. Monsieur Bleu and La Société for a sexy vibe. Ralph for a burger. L’ami Louis for paté and escargots and steak frites. The Chinese downstairs at the Shangri-La and the Relais at the Plaza Athénée are both my home away from home. There’s also Pizza Pino for the Vesuvius pizza and bowls of ice cream sundaes, Caviar Kaspia for caviar, Maison du Caviar for the beef stroganoff.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE – WHEN I GO TO PARIS, I ALWAYS TRY TO GO TO…
Castel for a dance.
The bois for a stroll or a run.
Jardin du Luxembourg to sit.
Palais Royal for its beauty.
Les Invalides for its sheer magnificence.
FAVORITE MUSEUMS:
LVMH Foundation, The Beaubourg, Musée de la Légion d’honneur, Musée d’Orsay, Louvre.
BEST PLACE TO GET A NIGHTCAP:
Bar des Théâtres is a nice little intimate spot for a nightcap or the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz.
FAVORITE PASTRY SHOP:
I always eat pastries… the gateau aux pistaches at Angelina….the Mont Blanc at Ladurée… and the honoree at Carette, my old haunt.
TOUR EIFFEL OR ARC DE TRIOMPHE?
Tour Eiffel.
AVENUE MONTAIGNE OR RUE DE GRENELLE?
Avenue Montaigne.
PICASSO OR RODIN?
Picasso AND Rodin.
Plaza Athenee | 25 Avenue Montaigne | +33 1 53 67 66 65
Shangri-La | 10 Avenue d’Iéna | +33 1 53 67 19 98
Café de l’Homme | 17 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre | +33 1 44 05 30 15
Café de Flore | 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain | +33 1 45 48 55 26
Brasserie Lipp | 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain | +33 1 45 48 53 91
La Stresa | 7 Rue Chambiges | +33 1 47 23 51 62
Le Voltaire | 27 Quai Voltaire | +33 1 42 61 17 49
Monsieur Bleu | 20 Avenue de New York | +33 1 47 20 90 47
La Société | 4 Place Saint-Germain des Prés | +33 1 53 63 60 60
Caviar Kaspia | 17 Place de la Madeleine | +33 1 42 65 33 32
Maison du Caviar | 21 Rue Quentin-Bauchart | +33 1 47 23 53 43
LVMH Foundation | Bois de Boulogne, 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi | +33 1 40 69 96 00
Musée de la Légion d’honneur | 2 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur | +33 1 40 62 84 25
Bar des Théâtres | 44 Rue Jean Goujon | +33 1 45 62 04 91
Hemingway Bar | in Hotel Ritz at 15 Place Vendôme | +33 1 43 16 30 30
Angelina | 226 Rue de Rivoli | +33 1 42 60 82 00
Carette | 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre | +33 1 47 27 98 85