Experience PARISIENNE

PARISIENNE is the essence of a woman who knows how to love and how to live. At the heart of YSL’s DNA is the empowerment of women, and true to this we believe that any woman, anywhere, can adopt the values of being a PARISIENNE. To celebrate the launch of PARISIENNE, and to encourage women to find their “inner PARISIENNE”, we have created www.ExperienceParisienne.com, where the essence of a woman and her PARISIENNE experience is shared with other women.

In this spirit, YSL is sending five renowned bloggers on a journey around the country to discover and reveal their very own PARISIENNE experiences in New York City, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Yves Saint Laurent has chosen an ensemble of women with passions for beauty, art, design, music, fashion and food to create a travel diary of their trip. Stay tuned here to read articles, see photos and follow the women on their journey.

Meg Cuna

Meg’s style saavy comes from years in the industry, from launching Life & Style Weekly to her work as the market editor for Lucky Magazine. She currently works at StyleCaster.com as their Chief Content Office.

2009: 12/16
Meg Cuna
Category: Culture, Journey, Lifestyle
Tags: experience, miami, payphone

Highlights from The Journey | Mr. Telephone Man

Mr-Telephone-Man

I’m riding down Lincoln Road on my rental and I suddenly remember that now is the perfect time to pick up the Blackberry charger I forgot to pack. I’ve hijacked Anna’s charger on this trip and I’m sure she will soon notice that I’m holding it hostage. As I’m looking around, I barely notice that I’ve completely blocked the entire sidewalk and that there is man patiently waiting for me to move so he can walk by. But instead of getting angry, he asked me if I was lost and needed help. I smiled and remembered that I’m definitely not in New York right now.

2009: 12/07
Meg Cuna
Category: Food, Journey, Lifestyle
Tags: experience, Food, new york

Highlights from The Journey | The Chelsea Market – Just a little slice of heaven

The Chelsea Market is one of those places in New York that I can always escape to. This little gem is an indoor market on one entire city block right here in Chelsea. If you are a Francophile, this is near heaven. Everything from an enormous French wine selection to a very knowledgeable butcher. I spent an entire hour shopping for ingredients for the perfect impromptu cocktail party at my apartment this evening. I walked out with fresh bread, cheese and a gorgeous bottle of French wine. It was an extremely successful shopping trip to say the least.

2009: 11/24
Meg Cuna
Category: Drinks, Journey
Tags: chicago, experience, pops champagne

The Bubble Theory: My Top 5 Champagne Recommendations

Pops-1

I have a theory that drinking Champagne is for every occasion, not just the special ones. And since I can’t really tell one bubbly from the next, I decided to do a little Champagne tasting at Pops for Champagne while in Chicago. This is my list of a few I sampled and recommend the next time you want to toast for absolutely no reason at all. Turns out that every Champagne has a personality of it’s own.

#5. Krug Grand Cuvée – Rich and full-bodied, toasty and complex.

#4. Louis Roederer Brut Premier – Sophisticated richness and a glossy finish.

#3. Henriot Brut Souverain – Bright and developed with an acute personality.

#2. Grosset Grande Réserve – Bold with restraint and purity, nearly perfect.

#1. Ferrari Perle’ 2002 – Complex and forward, yet sleek, skillful in it’s creation.

Pops for Champagne, 601 N State St, Chicago IL 60610

2009: 11/18
Meg Cuna
Category: Culture, Fashion, Journey, Lifestyle, Shopping, YSL
Tags: guerlain; caudalie; biafine; ysl parisienne; l'occitane; makeup forever; cle de peau; roc; vichy; lancome; beat french beauty products; french beauty secrets; beauty counter; beauty products

What I Packed for Le Journey: Top 10 Beauty Secrets from the French

Yves Saint Laurent said: “The most beautiful make-up on a woman is passion, but cosmetics are easier to buy.”

It’s true about French women keeping their beauty secrets just that. After begging, pleading, and with some friends, bribing… I was finally able to gather enough secret products from the French beauties in my life to pack with me on my PARISIENNE journey. Here are the Top 10 things that I tested in the last 10 days that have cleansed, toned, lifted, exfoliated and brightened my traveled skin. Think of me when you pack for your holiday. I did all of the testing for you.

MakeUp Forever So Divine

2009: 11/17
Meg Cuna
Category: Culture, Drinks, Food, Journey, Lifestyle

Café Stella: Cut and Paste from Paris to Silverlake

Pot au Chocolat

Café Stella is a little bit of Paris tucked behind the red walls of historic Sunset Junction. I read that this was Silver Lake’s best kept secret but when we got there, the secret seemed to be out…and spreading! After a hilarious episode with the very dapper valet, we huddled together in the outdoor patio directly under the heat lamp (yes darlings, LA does get a bit chilly at night so pack accordingly) for our last LA meal. The problem was that I had no concept of time while on the West Coast and ate a pretty big meal before arriving to the restaurant. Oops. But this is moi and I always have room for Pot au Chocolat and a glass of Champers. The next time thou, I am coming very hungry. The Steak au Poivre looked amazing from afar.

Cafe Stella, 3932 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029

2009: 11/17
Meg Cuna
Category: Food, Journey, Shopping
Tags: french ingredients; fleur de sel; the best dijon mustard; swizzle sticks; boules de miel

Top 4 French Ingredients To Make Your Pantry Pop

#1. Fleur de Sel is hand harvested salt that is both rare and expensive. And totally worth it!

While exploring the charming South Pasadena neighborhood, I was lured into a French market by the yummy selection of cheese, fresh bread, pates, and all of the fancy condiments. I’ve been eating French food for days now and I’m starting to finally identify the specific things that I need in my pantry at home so that I can stay PARISIENNE well after my journey. These are the 4 ingredients I’m taking home with me.

Living and loving in the moment