One Of My Favorite Perfumes

One can enjoy a little Paris, everyday, simply by dabbing a little French perfume on your neck, wrists, and décolletage. In fact, it is one of my 25 suggestions in an earlier post, Finding Your Frenchness. Have a signature perfume. If one signature scent is not enough for you, have one for daytime and one for evening, or one for spring/summer and one for fall/winter.

Miss Dior was my signature perfume in high school that I loved to wear. I loved the fresh floral scent, yet never knew all of the fascinating history behind this fragrance. Rekindling my love for this fragrance came from two recent events. The first, was watching the Apple TV+ series, The New Look (2024), which tells the story of Christian Dior’s couture journey during Nazi Paris, opening his own couture house, and his famous debut of “The New Look” his ultra-feminine collection for women in 1947 that gave hope, beauty, and spirit once again to the world. The second, was reading the book, Miss Dior (2021) by Justine Picardie, specifically about Christian Dior’s younger sister, Catherine.

Catherine Dior’s story is fascinating. Christian and Catherine Dior were always very close. Catherine Dior was Christian Dior’s muse, and whom the fragrance, Miss Dior, is named after. She was the only member of their family to be at his couture house the day his “The New Look” collection was presented to Paris and the world. The fragrance of Miss Dior had been created, but not released yet on the market. His couture house was filled with a preview of Miss Dior fragrance scent wafting in the air that momentous day.

Christian Dior’s inspiration for his fragrance, “Miss Dior” was remembering his mother’s garden full of roses and exactly how it smelled. Lily of the Valley scent is prominent in the fragrance too, as he thought of it as his “good luck” flower. Each of his designs had a small Lily of the Valley discreetly sewn into the garment.

Christian Dior and his couture designs became world famous virtually overnight. At one point in his career, he was responsible for 50% of France’s exports. Catherine Dior’s life was humble, courageous, and always tied to flowers. She joined the French Resistance during World War II, was captured by the Nazi’s, tortured, and survived years in a concentration camp. She was honored and recognized by France for her service and bravery. After the war ended, and after she had time to heal physically, socially, and spiritually, for a few years she had a cut flower business in Paris. Preferring to be a rose cultivator, she moved to South France near Grasse, Provence, and lived in the rustic family home she inherited from her father, where he had lived later in his life. She helped Christian Dior cultivate the specific roses he needed for his fragrance. She still tended her beloved roses, close to age 90, and up until shortly before her death.

Christian Dior had an untimely death of heart failure in Italy at age 52. He left everything to Catherine Dior. Although Christian Dior was very successful, he employed 1,000 people at that time and was one million “1957” dollars in debt. He had bought a lovely huge estate in Provence he was renovating, as well as a new apartment in the Paris 16th arrondissement. Catherine Dior took on the task of selling the properties to pay off his debts, ensure his name and business would endure, and started the first Christian Dior museum in Normandy on the property where the entire Dior family had once lived and prospered before their father went bankrupt and fell onto hard times.

There is a Christian Dior museum in Paris called La Galerie Dior, at 11 Rue François 1er, Paris France. It is part history, and part testament, to Christian Dior and his six successors, and their visionary Parisian haute couture. It is closed on Tuesdays, and you must get tickets in advance. It is on my list for next time I am in Paris.

With all of the incredible history behind the Miss Dior fragrance, it makes it so much more special wearing it. I love knowing that it is so garden-oriented, so rose-oriented, and really so love-oriented.

---

“MON PETIT CHOU” CORNER

Two Of The Three, Clear Stain Glass Windows

I am selling three clear stained glass windows and a glass etching. These were in our home when we bought our property, and probably from a previous owner’s remodel in the 1980’s. They would be perfect for someone’s garden shed or a “she” shed. The clear stained glass have wood frames, which would probably have to be re-framed. The etching below is glass with no frame. Pick up only, no shipping.

Stained Glass Windows Dimensions are 62.5” long x 26.5” wide. Price is $75.00 for each window.

Etching is 32” high x 24” wide. Price is $75.00

If you have an interest in any of these, please email or call me at (tel) (760) 402-7600. Thank you.

Glass Etching With Woodland & Deer Setting

Wishing You A Great Week & Bastille Day July 14….Bonnie

On a Mission, Walking in Paris. Photo Compliments of Stephen Caldwell

This fall I spent a glorious week in Paris with a dear friend. I had wanted to do that for a while, spend a week just enjoying everyday Paris. We did a lot of walking in Paris, which I highly recommend. One can really take in the details of Parisian everyday life, study the architecture, smell the croissants, and enjoy the razzle dazzle of this great city. So often, a view, or a scene is like a real life picture perfect postcard. No editing or enhancing needed. Everyday Paris is amazing.

Walking so much in Paris, I had an “aha” moment where all of my past trips to Paris came together. I really got a grasp of the layout of Paris, and now it seems very personal and familiar to me.

Of course, if you are walking, it helps to have a plan. Last June, The New York Times published A Walk in Paris: Gardens, Greenery, and Flower Shops by Christine Chitnis, which was curated by Sandra Sigman. Sigman has had a long time love affair with Paris, recently bought an apartment there, and has a popular floral business in Massachusetts specializing in French floral design. Her delightful new book, French Blooms highlights the celebrated florist and her distinctive French style of flower arrangements. In The New York Times article Sigman tastefully guides you on a short three mile walk through the 6th and 7th arrondissements. You can stop and start whenever you like. If walking is not your preference, you can get to these places in your preferred mode of transportation.

Sigman highlights her favorite florists, eateries, green spaces, and specialty shops such as Barthelemy, an incredible cheese shop that has been in the neighborhood for more than 40 years.

One of the Neighborhood’s Most Charming Cheese Shop. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

These two neighborhoods, the 6th and 7th arrondissements, have an abundance of incredible flower shops. I can see why Sigman especially loves this area. This neighborhood also boasts Cafe Varenne, one of my favorite (and Ina Garten—Barefoot Contessa) casual spots for people watching and delicious lunch.

Inside the Flower Shop, 69 Bac

Each flower shop is different from the next, in what they carry, how they display, what they specialize in, and their locations. Flower shops and flowers are very popular and well supported in the Parisian community. It is not uncommon to see an armful of beautiful flowers heading to someone’s nearby home.

Jardin de Luxembourg, A Perfect Spot to End Your Walk

Sigman ends her walk at the Jardin de Luxembourg, a classic Parisian park, usually filled with relaxing Parisians strolling about, lounging in a chair by the Grand Bassin, or contemplating by the magnificent Medici Fountain. In October, the gardens were still bursting with color for all to enjoy.

Started in 1611 by Marie de’ Medici originally, Jardin de Luxembourg has seen many transitions. Thank goodness Jardin de Luxembourg was saved from the mammoth Haussmann urban redevelopment happening in Paris in the 19th century. Slated for demolition and development, 12,000 Parisians petitioned to keep the garden, ensuring its glorious permanence.

The Magical Setting of the Seine at Dusk. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

Not on Sigman’s curated walk, but a “must to do” sometime while you are in Paris. Stroll the Seine at dusk and sunset with a friend or a loved one. It is breathtaking, and postcard picture perfect. One really feels the essence of Paris and the amazing beauty that abounds.

Paris has recently made strides to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Roads down to the Seine have been blocked from cars, encouraging you to stroll, meet up with friends, or perhaps stop at one of the riverfront cafes. Allons y!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie