A trip down memory lane: Paris

For those of you that don't know I studied a printed textile design degree and because of this when I first started my journey with Beyond Retro I worked for their Textile Print Archive.

I used to have to go twice a year with them to the Premiere Vision textile show in Paris and those trips have given me some of my fondest memorys.

Back then I didn't have a blog and the reason I started in the first place was to share some of the wonderful adventures I have been on. So here we are on a trip down memory lane to some of my favourite sights and moments in Paris.

Most of these pictures were taken between 2007-2009 and I didn't have a snazzy camera back then so please excuse the quality of some of them.

This is my beautiful friend Coralie working on the Beyond Retro stand at Premiere vision.

Sadly the archive doesn't visit the show anymore and is mostly based in London. You can read more about it here.

If you can imagine the most amazing collection of unusual and special Vintage, times that my Ten and you are getting close to what the Archive is like. I dream that if I won the lottery I would make it my wardrobe.

The gardens at the Palace of Versailles.

Shell grotto and waterfall at the Palace Versailles.

This is Hannah she is one of my best friends in the whole world. On one of the work trips to Paris we decided to stay a on a few more days to explore the City. We are both Marie Antoinette obsessives and so had to visit Versailles. It is here that I had one of the most special days of my life and couldn't have imagined spending it with anyone else. Thank you HMS.

Here I am posing by the window ( couldn't have passed off an opportunity like that). This photo was taken in 2008, black hair and my old lip piercing ( one of many), If you hadn't guessed I am a real rock chic at heart. My dress is a Chinese Silk 1950's gown that I also wore to my University graduation. I still have it as it holds so many special memories.

This picture of Hannah has to be one of my all time favourites, isn't she beautiful!

This is Marie Antoinettes private theatre, we were squealing with excitment as it is breathtakingly beautiful, but you have to be oh so quiet in there.

This is Marie Antionettes farm. It looked like it was a film set and we just couldn't believe how well they had preserved it. It is so serene and still has animals living there, such a special place.

One of my favourite paintings from The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs and Hannah posing with George. George now resides on the staircase at our Soho store. He travelled back with me on the Eurostar from Paris in a huge suitcase. No joke, true story!

The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs

Coralie and Bettina outside a Brasserie where the inside is decorated like a train carriage.

The suitcases were at a flea market.

The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs

I can't express how much I love Art Nouveau. The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs is full of rooms and rooms of it, I was over whelmed to say the least

Beautiful Coralie again at the hotel Amore.

Amazing butterfly bell jar at Porte De Clignancourt.

The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs

Beautiful counter at shop Merci

More from Porte De Clignancourt my favourite place for Vintage and Antique shopping.

Art Deco toilet doors in a Brasserie.

This lady was a stall holder at Porte De Clignancourt, I had to stop and take a picture of her.

She told me she thought I was beautiful and I was so happy because look at how wonderful SHE is.


If you have made it this far thank you for sharing my Paris journey with me. I am really hoping that I can go back again soon. Craig and I are planning a trip to Barcelona ( another love of mine) so I doubt it will happen this year but who knows.

You can also see pictures from another work adventure to India here, three words Art Deco Palace.

I am behind on all my blog reading but hoping to catch up this evening. Excited to see what you have all been up to.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Kelly-Marie xxx