Friday, December 5, 2014

It's a Doll's World!!!


There's nothing like Christmas to bring out the child in all of us! In Paris, there is much to see and do at the end of the year as it relates to dolls. Quite naturally, a visit to the doll museum (Musee de la Poupee-impasse Berthaud 75003 Paris--behind the George Pomidour Centre) is a must. Not that you have to see the exhibit, but the gift shop is definitely worth the trip. New on the shelves this year....formally owned Fashion Royalty dolls (male and female)! Of course they still sell, Tonner dolls, vintage Barbies and an assortment of other types of dolls and accessories.

Another major must-see are the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann (behind the opera) at Christmas. Paris' premiere stores traditionally fill their windows with animated toys and dolls. While Galeries Lafayette entertained tiny tots with stuffed animals, Printemps department store used rag dolls to help hawk Burberry products.





Sophie Hong, a superstar Taiwanese fashion designer with a store in the prestigious Palais Royal arcade (3 Galerie de Montpensier, 75001 Paris) , uses dolls(all year long, actually)  instead of full size mannequins to show off her luxurious line of jackets and coats cut from shellacked, texturized silks resembling more like distressed leather. Below are the dolls that reside on the shelf and desktop, but you can see more of Sophie's work on her website.



On the 224, rue de Rivoli next to the Hotel Bristol is the Librarie Galignani 75001, Paris. For the moment, in the windows are 1/3 scale reproductions of Christian Dior couture garments. It's all about promoting a new book on the iconic French designer. One word: AMAZING!!!!!



We also visited "Paris Creation," a doll event organized by Dollexpo. For one day at the Novetel hotel just outside Paris in Bagnolet, you turn back into a kid again as you stroll through aisle after aisle of artists' dolls, teddy bears, miniatures anddoll making supplies. I do wish it lasted a tad bit longer. Incidentally, they also organize a fashion doll fair which, next year, takes place at the same hotel on March 15.


The girls and I also enjoyed watching Barbie and friends make an appearance on France 2 TV's "C'est au programme" starring Sophie Davant. The discussion was centered around the worth of vintage Barbies and their clothes.
And so, our trip has come to an end. But before me and the girls board our plane back to the U.S. to join the rest of the doll family for the holidays, we'd like to share you with a few addresses, should you visit Paris anytime soon:
 
Haute Couture fabrics at reasonable prices:
Au Bonheur des Dames 8, rue Pierre Picard, 75018 Paris (Metro: Anvers) at the Marche Saint Pierre. There's another in the neighborhood at 1, rue Charles Nordier, 75018. Minimum purchase is 50 cm.
 
Fabrics:
There are lots of fabric stores around Marche Saint Pierre (metro Anvers). The two largest stores are: Dreyfus (2, rue Charles Nordier) and Tissus Reine (5, place Saint Pierre 75018 Paris), both of which are five stories tall. Dreyfus also has a separate trims store just next door.
 
Leather scraps:
Gentleman des Cuirs 4 bis, rue d'Orsel 75018, Paris. (Metro Anvers). This is also situated in the Marche Saint Pierre.
BHV-Marais: 52, rue de Rivoli. 75001 Paris. (Metro Hotel de Ville). Downstairs of this department store on the basement level near the Metro exit and the shoe repair supplies, you'll find a small corner hung with fancy leathers. Underneath is a bin with scraps priced at rock bottom prices.

 
 

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18 comments:

  1. Hi April, this is such a great post, it really seems to me Paris is not only the undisputed capital of fashion but also of dolls! I'd love to shop for fabrics at Marche Saint Pierre!
    By the way, I see a new gorgeous FR guy! he has got a wonderful suit!
    Kisses Billa

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    1. Thank you, Billa. It was so wonderful to be in a city where you not only have a good fabric store, but an entire fabric district! Instead of hoarding fabric, you simply take the Metro and buy whatever you need! The hardest part, however, was trying to decide what to buy!!! And yes, there is a new gorgeous FR guy. I knew Xavier would be overwhelmed by my girls, so I decided to give his friend, Loic a new home as well. He came already dressed in the original suit which is incredibly made. It affords me the opportunity to examine the details (pockets, belt loops, tie, belt) carefully so that I might carry this into my own work. I will need to make suits for my guys for all the holiday parties ahead!! Big hugs!

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  2. Oh, the miniature clothes are so beautiful! This is a great tour through Paris! Thanks so much for the addresses, when we visit Paris again I'm definitely taking your list and go visit the stores :-)! xx

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    1. You will definitely want to visit the Marche St. Pierre on your next trip to Paris. And a trip to the doll museum is another must because there are too few places of its kind in the world. It is so wonderful that Paris is so "doll friendly!" Big hugs.

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  3. Hello from Spain: fabulous photos. Paris is a great city. Great event. Keep in touch

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    1. Thank you Marta. Indeed, Paris is my favorite city! A bientot!!!

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  4. I used to shop au" Marche st Pierre" and the fabric of my own wedding dress came from "Tissus Reine" ( some 40+ years ago) and do I miss those places !! hours of wandering in heaven :)

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  5. Dominique, each time I go to Paris, the Marche Saint Pierre is one of the FIRST places I visit. Tissue Reine, as well as Dreyfus (next door) are still going strong. The only difference between now and 4 decades ago is that you don't see the bourgeois women there with their dressmakers at their side! But there still are lots of gorgeous fabrics, galore!

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  6. Thanks for the addresses! I'll try to check out some of them next time I go there, and I plan to see the museum too; I knew about it, but it was closed when I could to visit. I'm more eager to go now that it's "recommended by April" :)

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    1. LOL!! BlackKitty, you have a great time at all of those places. You can check the doll museum's itinerary on line to see what, other than the permanent exhibition of French dolls, is on display. Still...a trip to their "gift" store is worthwhile.

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    2. I'm definitely looking forward to visiting the "gift" shop!

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  8. hello
    I want to purchase one of Sophie Hong's dolls so bad! I emailed the office and was told that neither the Paris boutique or boutique in Taiwan sells them. I asked which boutique sells them and the woman replied "nobody"....ugh..can someone help? I thought Paris boutique had these? can someone confirm?

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    1. Hi Jr. Wish I could help but since the Sophie Hong store is so tiny, she uses the dolls only to show off the styles she creates for her adult size clothes. But what I will do for you is to contact a friend who works for the Paris boutique (& is in contact with the designer from time to time) and ask if she could find out where Ms. Hong originally found her dolls.

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  9. thank u so much
    i contacted paris boutique today and they do not sell!! :(

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  10. any other good dolls artists in paris that you know of? (for adult collector) of course :)

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    1. There are two doll fairs in Paris, annually. One takes place next week (March 13), but unfortunately I cannot attend that one. But I do attend a fair put on by "DollExpo" at the end of November. I did see independent doll designers there...and some were quite interesting. I'm not sure what I did with the few cards that I took, so I don't think I can help you there. Nonetheless..here is the link to the site that sponsors the Paris doll fairs. They are situated outside of Paris and also have a boutique/museum. http://dollexpo.wordpress.com

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