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.
