As you might have seen on Instagram, a couple of weeks ago I went to Paris with my friend Meghan. Meghan and I met through mutual friends and our blogs, and within an hour of meeting felt like long-lost sisters! Since we sadly don’t live in the same city (she’s in New York, I’m in Cambridge) and she’s the only person I know who loves Paris with the same passion as I do, we knew we had to plan a trip together. Although I’ve been to Paris many times with my husband (and we always have a wonderful time), I think visiting with a like-minded girlfriend is my favourite (you might remember this post from my trip with Grace last February).
We’d both been to Paris more times than we could count by this point (she even studied abroad there), but no matter how many times you visit a city like Paris, there’s always something wonderful you haven’t done before. We both made a list of favourite things we always try to do, as well as new things we wanted to do, and luckily our lists were nearly identical. Top of mine was getting all dressed up and going to the newly-reopened Ritz for cocktails at the Bar Hemingway (I rarely drink, so when I do I like to do it in style).
Wearing: Dress // Shoes // Bag // Earrings // Sunglasses // Lipstick
So on Friday evening, after a day of park and museum-hopping, we went back to our hotel room to quickly change. Most days our outfits were perfectly coordinated completely by accident (other than the fact we like basically all the same things), but we definitely planned this one. We’re both unabashed Kate Spade enthusiasts, and it’s always my go-to label for evenings I want to remember, so we knew this had to be a ‘Kate’ moment. I love this dress so much that I know I’ll wear it for countless holiday parties and for years to come, but now every time I do I’ll always think of this first time I wore it in Paris.
All dressed up with somewhere to go, we got a car across the river to Place Vendome. The sky had just started to turn pink and the square was bathed in golden October light and it felt like one of those magical Parisian moments. We couldn’t help but do a twirl around the square (if there was ever a dress made for twirling, it was this one…), and count our blessings that we were there on that perfect evening.
We arrived just as they were opening at 6pm (places don’t get much more legendary than Bar Hemingway, so we knew the secret was to either arrive early or late), and were immediately seated at the best table in the back. The waiters – all so handsome in crisp white tie – were utterly charming, and brought us roses and snacks and the most exquisitely executed cocktails (I had the ‘Serendipity’, Meghan the ‘Clean Dirty Martini’) made by legendary barman Peter Field. Admittedly not cheap, but worth every penny for two of the best hours I’ve ever spent in Paris.
Although we could have happily sat there all night, we were craving something more substantial than liquid sustenance, so headed back to the Left Bank for supper. Two orders of the salad du chèvre (essentially just warm goats cheese on hot buttery Poilane bread – with a little guilt-reducing salad on the side) and tarte tartin at Les Deux Magots and our perfect Parisian evening was complete.
Oh Paris, you sure do know how to romance a girl!
Wearing: Kate Spade dress c/- // Kate Spade shoes (past season but similar style here + here) // CHANEL bag // J. CREW earrings // CELINE sunglasses // Charlotte Tilbury ‘Electric Poppy’ lipstick.
On Meghan: Kate Spade dress + shoes + bag.
What is your favourite way to spend a perfect evening in Paris?
Photos by Anna Lebedeva
Carly Heitlinger says
HI GIRLS!!!!
A Girl, A Style says
Come with us next time!!
Briony xox
Brenda McIntosh says
What a gorgeous post! I love both those Kate Spade dresses on you—it’s always such a playful and feminine brand!
I need to visit Paris again soon and my favorite way to spend the evening is a stroll along the river, looking at the Eiffel Tower twinkling.
x Brenda | Sundays and Somedays
A Girl, A Style says
Thank you so much! It’s definitely one of my favourite dresses I’ve ever owned; I love it so much!
And that sounds absolutely perfect to me (I wish I could be doing that right now!)
Briony xox
Shemara says
You look amazing!
A Girl, A Style says
Oh you’re so lovely, thank you!
Briony xx
Jess Zimlich says
You two are the absolute cutest! Dying to get that way next spring 🙂
A Girl, A Style says
Please come and visit London too!!
Briony xx
Meghan says
Loved, loved, loved our trip! Must do it again! You’re such a dear friend and so glad we got to enjoy our city “ensemble”!
A Girl, A Style says
Hands-down one of my favourite Paris trips ever and I loved all the new memories we made there together! Can’t wait for our next one!
Briony xox
Merritt Beck says
Sounds like such a fun time!! I love your dress, you look amazing!
xx, Merritt
The Style Scribe
A Girl, A Style says
Thank you darling Merritt! Come with us next time!
Briony xox