Whether you’re after an amazing burger, a late night cocktail or you simply want to get lost in the city, Marc Leblond shares his recommendations.

Favourite Places to Visit

I love to have Japanese food at Taeko in the Marais, nothing fancy but super fresh.

When in the mood for meat, not far away is Robert & Louise. Make sure you order ‘une entrecôte pour deux’.

If you can make it to Frenchie, trust me, you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the most infamous restaurants in Paris.

The most amazing gourmet burgers in Paris are from a food bus called Le camion qui fume. You have to get one!

 

Best Bars and Clubs

Candelaria is always a great place to catch a few cocktails and tacos, on your way catch a beer at La Perle.

You can guarantee nice drinks and dinner at La Fidélité, where you can smoke downstairs and finish the evening at Silencio, where they make great cocktails.

Where to Shop

I love bookshops & vintage shops and one of my favourite is Chez Mme Iglaïne in Chatelet and for books Comptoir de l’image in Le Marais.

On the other end there is Journal Standard Luxe in the galerie Valois of the Palais Royal, one of Paris’ most beautiful places. I love their eclectic & edgy selection and of course L’éclaireur who always stay on top.

Leblond’s Paris Tip’s

My advice is to get lost and you’ll see the most amazing things. Don’t stick to the tourist places, go east to see Ménilmontant and Belleville.

Bike the city it’s so much easier and will get you anywhere, quick. Just add a few French words and you will have an amazing experience. And be patient with cabs, you must already know its hell here!

www.noirbasic.com

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?

I am 30 years old and was born and raised in Paris. I am the director and co-founder of MAN trade show in Paris and NYC, with my partners Romain Bernardie James and Olivier Migda from The Imaginers. I’m also representing a skincare line from Vermont USA called Ursa Major. Finally, I am in love with NYC and burgers.

Can you tell us about your show MAN and what you have in store with WOMAN?

MAN is a small trade show, presenting during men’s market week in NYC and fashion week in Paris. The idea is to keep it small and curated and put special attention on the brands by helping them to build their business. We were supposed to wait a bit before launching WOMAN but we finally decided to try it now and develop it slowly for next season.

Which collections are you’re excited to see this season?

The brands that are showing at WOMAN are brands that are close to me and that I want to support. I hope they will have a nice experience and continue to do what they do and stay true to themselves, like Steve Mono with his amazing leather goods, the very nice collection from Folk or the sweet sunglasses from Waiting for the Sun.

What is your thought on the fashion industry’s obsession with social media?

Every morning or evening I read 10 to 15 blogs and websites as it has become essential in the business. Social media is a great tool for everybody in the business, from stores to brands to magazines to artists. But it doesn’t have to make you lose time so you can’t do better things, like creating, for example.

Where in Paris do you hang out during fashion week?

I happen to be working at a new club called L’Inconnu on the 10th as a bartender. Fashion during the day, drinks at night. Come and check it out.

Tell us what you’ve been listening to recently?

Recently I have been listening to a lot of Desert Blues while working and 50’s rock n roll to make me smile or to relax. And of course the beautiful Swedish/ Paris based singer and musician, MAI, who will be playing in NYC soon.

Anything random you’d like to share with us?

Sorry about the cab situation in Paris, it’s not easy to get around but Paris is still a fun city to be in. If you’re looking for a nice burger and good margaritas, Joe Allen is always a good place to go…

www.man-shows.com
www.theimaginers.fr

Favourite Places to Visit

La Maison Champs Elysees

This is the hotel I like to stay in whilst visiting Paris, and it’s where I have most of my meetings. Martin Margiela decorated it, so needless to say it strikes a nice balance between being sophisticated and chic yet cool and kinda off beat, not taking itself too seriously. There’s also a flamingo in a glass case in the lobby!

Le Meurice

Le Meurice defines opulence. I occasionally have meetings here, but it’s too overbearing during fashion week – great to stop in for a coffee or glass of champagne and people watch, though.

Café Coutume

This is a really charming little café with delicious coffee. It feels a bit like a coffee laboratory, which is cool with me because I love science. Friends of a friend from Australia opened it.

Café Charlot

The quintessential spot for a scenery weekend brunch.

Fashion Week Schedule

During the day, I’ll be mainly having one-on-one meetings with designers, shopping, doing market research (mainly in the majors stores like L’Eclaireur, Colette, Merci and Le Bon Marché), and attending trade shows like Tranoï and Premiere Classe. The evening is obviously for ‘relaxing’ with friends.

Designers to See

 

“For me, it’s most exciting to watch a brand reinvention — the somewhat miraculous facelift that can happen when the right Creative Director is paired with the right fashion house.”

Phoebe Philo joining Celine, with free reign to transform the brand is of course a great example. I also love what Opening Ceremony’s Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are doing with KENZO (and working with my talented friend Risto Bimbiloski, who also has his own line, Risto), as well as what Guillaume Henry is doing at Carven. This type of transformation in the hands of the right Artistic Director is super exciting to me – not to mention that it’s the type of project I work on for a living!

In terms of the Paris shows that I anticipate the most, Celine is obviously near the top of my list, but I’m always especially excited for Haider Ackermann. His work has a strange way of transcending fashion and people get emotional! It’s pretty remarkable.

I’m always on the look out for up-and-coming collections, but I’m also particularly interested in the design talent working behind the scenes at well-established fashion houses, maybe as a number two or even three under the current Creative Director. This is where the emerging talent lies before it actually emerges. But in terms of up-and-coming collections in Paris, I’ve got my eye on a few designers, like Anthony Vacarello, who won the ANDAM prize last year.

Fashion Week Outfit

I’ve been wearing my Celine Faux Leather Crombie coat, Graeme Armour leather skirt with fringe, Robert Clergerie ankle boots and my black leather Balenciaga round tube bag.

Maia Wojcik at Paris Fashion Week

www.twitter.com/iammaia

Which are you up to this season?

We do our runway show in New York, and bring the clothes over to exhibit in Paris – we show at Stealthprojekt, which is less of a

showroom and more of a curated gallery. We’re very fortunate to show

with some great designers in Paris.

What is the current collection about?

Silent Soil is about a space that the city cannot possess – the

forest and the secrets within.

Who is the ‘Katie Gallagher’ girl?

A girl that knows garments, knows the unknown, and knows herself.

How do you try and stay true to your style but still appeal to buyers?

The core of my label is the patternmaking, which lives on its own regardless of the season and the inspiration. This season I’ve focused a little more on pieces that are easy to throw on, whilst still very unique in their construction. I’ve also put an increased focus on textiles; I considered fabrics and leathers that can help tell the story of the garment as previously the story was primarily in the cut.

What do you think is the difference between the New York and Paris markets?

New York is fantastic for simple, easy pieces, and great as a more populist market; it helps me tell the story I want to tell to more people, with simpler pieces. Paris brings in more European and Asian buyers who are more considerate of the quality and uniqueness of custom garments. Both compliment my line, and give it a nice balance; it helps not to teeter too much on either edge.

What are you most looking forward to once Paris fashion week is over?

Snacks, escaping, catching a few breaths, and the next season of course!

www.katiegallagher.com

www.Stealthprojekt.com

Tell us a bit about CA Creative…

CA Creative is a digital creative agency that produces unique editorial content and social media strategy for brands. We have backgrounds in fashion editorial and global marketing, so we apply our skills to assist brands produce captivating content across their sites and social media outlets, so they can communicate their brand messages in really effective, aesthetically striking ways. We have a lot of fun with it.

Which brands do you work with?

We’re currently working with Kanon Organic Vodka, and some fantastic clothing brands like Joie, Equipment and Paige Denim. We’ve also done some fun projects with brands like David Yurman, Mikimoto, and the W Hotels. We’ve been really lucky with our client list so far, and it’s still growing!

Which designers are you most excited about seeing this season?

We’re always excited to see Givenchy and Balenciaga. Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, and Celine are also favorites.

Where have you been hanging out whilst in Paris?

Ferdi, because they make amazing burgers. Derriere, Dave, Le Stella, Hotel Amour, and Thoumieux are always great places to eat. And we always make a pilgrimage to L’Ami Louis for a roast chicken lunch. La Perle and Le Baron for perfect spots for dancing with friends.

Favorite places to shop during Paris Fashion Week?

L’Ecume des Pages in St. Germain for great books. Merci is good for a delicious lunch and some relaxing shopping. The Isabel Marant boutique is a must to snatch up the pieces that don’t make it stateside. L’Eclaireur for beautiful pieces from a variety of amazing designers. And we always raid one of the ubiquitous French pharmacies that are on every corner for a basketful of new beauty products.

www.cacreativeonline.com

Djing for this season: 

Tuesday djing at Le Montana

Wenesday djing at Le Montana

Thursday djing for Carven after party

Friday djing at Le Montana

Saturday djing at Le Montana

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – Le Montana!

 

www.jeremiekhlat.com

Favourite Places to Visit

The Rue Vieille du Temple is the hub for shopping. Around the North East part of the Marais has some of the best shops. Isabel Marant is probably my go-to brand for dresses and sweaters and I always head to Surface to Air to pick up a pair of amazing shoes. If my wallet is looking slim, I like to head to Guerrisol, a thrift store great denim pieces and slip dresses.

I love having coffee in the Tuilerie Gardens during fashion week and checking out all the street style. Its like a live fashion show over there for me.

For dinner, you can’t go wrong with Le Dauphin or Le Verre Volé for great wine and organic food. Café de Flore is also a must for afternoon coffee or a 5am Croque monsieur.

Fashion Week Schedule

I’m always working full time on our own events and press appointments, so making it to shows is a challenge. Right now we’re working on our upcoming event with Kim Gordon to celebrate a collaboration we just did with her. She’s performing which is a huge honor. It’s going to be madness.

Designers to See

I’m really looking forward to the Louis Vuitton show (which is always a spectacle) as well as seeing newcomer, Anthony Vacarello, who sticks to a limited color palette but sends sexy goddesses down the runway without making it vulgar.

You can’t go wrong with Celine or Stella McCartney, but I am really into small designers right now like Camilla & Marc or Tibi who are making great clothes.

Fashion Week Outfit

I’ll be wearing my Kim Gordon x Surface to Air butter soft leather jacket and large fisherman sweaters to wear over a pencil skirt or jeans. Thick high heels are more suitable than stilettos because they’re fatal when walking on cobblestones. And you can’t go wrong with a small Alexander Wang clutch bag.

www.surfacetoair.com

Djing for this season:

DAMIR DOMA official after party 

‘This is New York’ party
 
 

www.twitter.com/mikenouveau

Favourite Places to Visit

I always make sure to visit Pierre Herme when I am in Paris. I cant live without his amazing macaroons. The flavours are so unusual and they are so light and rich at the same time.

I love to grab a quick breakfast or lunch at Gosselin, which is a Boulangerie and Patisserie within walking distance of the Tuileries. They do the most delicious salads and sandwiches and their pistachio eclairs are to die for.

The Crillon does the best croque monsieur in Paris, plus there is always delicious fashion people watching to be had. I like to go and grab lunch at a corner table, allowing for the best viewing platform!

I’m a really enthusiastic cook, so I make sure to visit the wonderfully old-fashioned catering and cooking shop E.Dehilerin. It sells every imaginable cooking implement and is filled with incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff. If you need it, they will find it for you.

After shows at Grand Palais I will wander over to the corner of Rue des Saussaies and Place Beauvau to the Caron Boutique to marvel at the fabulous scents and powders. They are from another time.

Fashion Week Schedule

For me Paris Fashion Week is always the most fun. Everyone is more relaxed as fashion month is nearly over, the city is so beautiful and Paris just encourages you to sit at a café and watch the world go by.

Whilst in Paris I attend shows, go shopping, see old friends and hang out with fashion week friends and colleagues that I may not see until the next season.

In the summer the city is slow and calm, the cafés are full and I love the romance of an evening walk along the Seine. In winter you just want to nest inside with a rich hot chocolate and a view of the street.

Designers To See

I love to see what happens at the Hermes show each season. They are masters at reinventing and recreating their own classics. Issey Miyake is always more than a show, it is art. Chanel is the same only it is theatre. I always look forward to seeing both.

I am interested in what Balmain and Celine do each season, being so popular it is great to seem them remain authentic and create new images for their brand.

Rue du Mail is my French brand to watch. Candice Lake (a streetstlye photographer and friend) wears a lot of their pieces and she really has sold them to me. The pieces are interesting and classic, which is very much my taste.

Fashion Week Outfit

I don’t think I have a perfect fashion week outfit. I like to be as comfortable as possible, and generally my rule is the bigger the bag the better, just because tickets and other fashion week must-haves take up a lot of space! This season I have loved wearing some new designers I support. I have worn Isolda London and Patricia Chang, both who are in their first few seasons. I find their work really exciting and it feels great to support a young designer who you can help.

www.peonylim.blogspot.com