17 October, 2019
Paris-based
label Ernest Leoty – originally a 19th-century corset
designer – gets a refashioning from founding designer Marion
Rabate.
Dressed in corset-inspired activewear – think light, supple and
chic designs – we’re stretching it out ahead of a day of pavement
hitting in the City of Light with Ernest Leoty founder, Marion
Rabate.
With no set plan – everyone is a flâneur here, non? – we take
comfort in the knowledge that our coordinating Ernest Leoty sets
will take us seamlessly from barre class to le actual bar.
I would say a weekday for sure… perhaps a Thursday.
Smart, casual, simple lines, elegant and high quality.
The Hoxton Paris or Le Pigalle Paris. I love the
vibe at Le Pigalle – its lobby is a great place to hang out.
The classics,
Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Près, but it’s also worth going
off the tourist track, venturing to bars and restaurants in the
ninth for example, which is now my favourite area in Paris.
Spend the day at the Fondation Louis Vuitton or go out of town to
Versailles.
Walking definitely, the city is not as big as London
and you can take the bus if you need to.
My favourites are Dynamo for cardio (a spin class),
Reformation Pilates and Le Tigre
Yoga Club & Spa.
Season, an amazing health-concept foodstore. I also
love Wild & the Moon and Café
Pinson.
Le Richer; it’s super casual but serves excellent
bistro-style food.
It’s a bit cheesy but Chez Julien.
Frenchie, Septime, Café Philippe and Nanashi on Rue
Charlot.
A Tata Harper massage at the Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie.
Rosa Bonheur for something casual or Silencio for a real club – although I don’t really go
out much anymore.
Your best friend’s house for an out-of-hours afterparty.
That people and waiters are rude and service levels are poor.
This was ages ago, now standards have changed.
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Musée
Rodin, Musée Bourdelle and Musée de la Vie Romantique.
Coffee at Café Philippe or Season, then a stroll in Le Marais.
After stopping at The Broken Arm boutique go to a
class at Reformation Pilates. Then, meet some friends for early
drinks on the terrace of Le Perchoir.
Mathilde Lacombe’s book Une Question d’Équilibre [A Question of
Balance]; it explores how French women balance life and work.
Another book – my favourite growing up – Au Bonheur des Dames [The
Ladies’ Paradise] by Émile Zola, retraces the rise of department
stores in 19th-century Paris.
The
Musée des Arts Décoratifs; Jardin des Tuileries; Parc des
Buttes Chaumont; Boulevard Barbès.
Food! I always go to La Maison Plisson before I take the Eurostar and bring
back charcuterie, cheese, wine and other items. They present them
beautifully and they make for great gifts.
I like going to Deauville; it’s next to the sea, and quite close
to Paris. Otherwise a nice place to go for lunch is the Trianon Palace in Versailles,
where I used to live.
My Leoty Bertille trousers (our knitwear is made in the same
factory as Hermès), the corset leggings in black (very chic and can
be worn with anything), a leather jacket and a white shirt.