A few weeks ago I finally switched everything in my closet from fall/winter to spring/summer because the weather has been so temperamental. I decided to leave one heavier coat out, just in case, and ended up using it this week. It definitely doesn’t feel like summer in Paris, although I’ll take these temperatures over heat any day. Five Friday Finds from France features a few things from Normandy like the new Dior en Roses exhibit at Musée Christian Dior Granville as well as some glimpses of summer in Paris, despite the temperatures, like the Fête des Tuileries 2021 and La French Seltzer by Setsun.
Dior en Roses Exhibit at Musée Christian Dior in Granville
No matter how short the trip, when I’m in the area I always have to visit Musée Christian Dior for at least a walk through the gardens. I was especially excited this trip to see the new Dior en Roses exhibit. Dior and Roses delves into one of Christian Dior’s favorite flowers, colors, and sources of inspiration. The exhibit showcases rose in Christian Dior’s creations as well as in pieces by his successors – Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and most recently Maria Grazia Chiuri. The items showcase are beyond stunning, as are the roses in the garden. Dior en Roses will be on display until October 31st – I highly recommend visiting if you can, and I would be happy to help you organize a visit.
If a visit isn’t in the cards, Dior released a book to accompany the exhibit, which I had to have. The book is available in French as Dior en Roses and in English as Dior and Roses for pre-order.
Fête des Tuileries 2021
I have a complicated relationship with summer in Paris. On one hand I like it, because it’s generally quieter…although we’ve just had a year plus of that. On the other hand, I usually spend most of the time wishing I was somewhere by the water (I like the Seine, but it doesn’t count). Something that I do really look forward to is the Fête des Tuileries. It’s basically like a mini fair (mini when compared to the State Fair of Texas) with rides, games, and bien sûr, food. Even if that doesn’t seem like your ‘thing,’ I highly recommend a ride on la grande roue (the ferris wheel) for the views. I’s a wonderful addition to the Jardin des Tuileries in the summer. The Fête des Tuileries opens July 3rd and goes through August 29th.
Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye Normandie Jean Moral Book
I definitely have a thing for coffee table books. One of my favorite series to collect is Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye. Each book highlights a country, city, or region through the eyes of a fashion photographer. One of the newest titles is Normandie by Jean Moral. The book features photographs Moral took of the Normandie liner from 1935 to 1939 and evoke a sense of lighthearted joie de vivre between the two wars. I can’t wait for the book to join my collection.
Lavender in Paris
While Provence is known for its lavender, it’s currently flowering throughout France including in Normandy and Paris. Last year I started keeping track of places to see lavender in Paris and already have some updates to make. I’m allergic to lavender, so while I won’t be in a field in Provence any time soon it sure is pretty to admire from a distance.
La French Seltzer by Setsun
I’ll admit, I’ve never tried a White Claw, but the hard seltzers seem to be very popular in the US. The trend seems to be catching on in France as well. Last week I saw Setsun’s La French Seltzer for the first time. It’s a hard seltzer that’s made with sparkling water and natural aromas of fruits, all 100% made in France. In honor of the Fourth of July I think I’ll try one. The Combava – Fleur de Sureau flavor caught my eye – it’s a kind of lime from Bali with elderflower. I’ll report back!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Five Friday Finds from France. I’ll be back tomorrow with Weekend Links!
This post includes affiliate links. I make a small commission from items purchased through my links at no additional cost to you. Merci for your support!