George Whitman

I have always been mad about books and bookstores. While I am posting this morning,  I receive  a newsletter article  from Flavorwire with an yellowish vintage picture capturing my attention. It ‘s a small room packed with piled books in wood shelves and a small text below:

”  George Whitman, the owner of Shakespeare & Company, the legendary English-language bookstore on the Left Bank in Paris, died last week at age 98. A patron of the arts as well as a visionary bookseller, writers flocked to his shop to browse, mingle, and even spend the night.

I decide to stop writing a little and research more on the internet  about George’s life and philosophy. Among the many interesting angles of his devotion for reading , sharing and lending books, I found the text below that most identifies with my personal connection with books and bookshelves.

‘ Whitman didn’t just want to open up a simple bookshop—he wanted to create a “sanctuary for writers, aspiring writers and artists,” and that he did.  For over 50 years, Shakespeare and Company has been a temple of books and hosting readings by published and unpublished authors, including Henry Miller, Anäis Nin and Alan Ginsberg. What Mother Goose is to nursery rhymes, Whitman and his shop are to the Parisian literary scene. It even looks like it could be part of a fairy tale: wishing well, creaking wooden steps, a slanting roof and all.’

Whitman and his shop are to the Parisian literary scene. It even looks like it could be part of a fairy tale: wishing well, creaking wooden steps, a slanting roof and all.While at the Université Sorbonne, American George Whitman managed to amass a rather large collection of English books that he would sometimes lend or even sell to friends. Soon Whitman turned his hobby into something more tangible, acquiring the perfect location for his adventurous business endeavor right across from Notre Dame in 1951.

You can go on George’s lovely vintage-loolinkg website and read more about his life, events and bookstore as  this post , originally   named  Livraria Da Vila , could not have a  better  introduction .

Nestled in the heart of chic Sao Paulo, in a neighborhood called  Jardins  the legendary bookstore,  Livraria da Vila  was designed  in 2003 by internationally renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. Like Gerorge Whitman ’s Shakespeare & Company in Paris,  Samuel Seibel in Sao Paulo,

” Charming,  receptive, democratic and  as Seibel describes, Livraria da Vila opened 25 years ago in a small shop where  children  storytelling  took place welcoming whoever liked to listen and read,  hosted with a warm cafezinho.

With the time , the small bookstore locally called  a queridinha  ( darling  ) acquired  the love and care of the old neighborhood (Vila)  whose adopted initial vision  for storytelling became a meeting point  to  buy and explore all sorts of books spending time meeting people  discussing amicably about almost anything over pastries and Pao de Queijo.

One day it flew higher, to the mind and hands of the one who transformed  a small dream  with wings into an ever thought magnificent almost unreal reality .

Without loosing it’s attribute and character, in the last 7 years, The vila established  in a  comfortable , highly  and unpaired contemporary environment ,. an  in-house venue for conferences, lectures, courses, debates, pocket shows story telling. and goes without saying  the launching of boots with autographs sessions.

Seibel is now constantly thinking about  new ventures and unimaginable destinations his initial dream can take him.

After all Wihtman was right, hotting strangers of so many years some winged angels must have passed by .

 Joelle’s tips:

The bookstores:

The Shakespeare & Company
37 rue de la Bûcherie  75005 Paris
Tel : 00 33 (0) 1 43 25 40 93  news@shakespeareandcompany.com   Open every day 10am – 11pm except for Saturday and Sunday when we open at 11am.

Livraria da Vila

You grew up in the middle of France, in Clermont-Ferrand. Did you have a strong fashion point of view early on?
When I was a teenager, you could be a skater and listen to rock or a bad boy and listen to rap. If you were out of those two groups you were considered a dork. Outside of Paris, it’s hard to find cool clothes and there are almost no vintage stores. I found my own style when I moved to Paris. Now I know where to find clothes I like, but I want to create pieces that are different.

Who inspires you, in real life or in cinema?
My collections are constructed like tales. I create my own characters, but I’m truly inspired by the universe depicted in Tim Burton films. That universe, tinged with darkness, also represents my creative vision.

Tell me about your experiences at Jeremy Scott in Los Angeles.
Jeremy is an amazing character with a superb energy. Sometimes, to reenergize us as we worked hard in his atelier, he’d come and sing and do a few dance moves. It forced us to smile. Or occasionally, when we were working late hours, he’d tell us stories about living in Paris, which I loved.

What did you think of L.A. fashion?
People really dress up there, they have fun. But of course I’m speaking of the crowd I was hanging out with, not the Hollywood crowd, who dress up only in designer clothes. It was interesting for me to start from zero in a city I didn’t know anything about. Normally I love to wear layers, but it was so hot there that I had to find another way to show off my style.

Your clothes are made at Patrick Lestarquit’s workshop. What is that like?
It’s amazing. I’m surrounded by fur. It feels like an older era with all the handcrafted work. I choose the skins, staple them, try out some mixes. Patrick Lestarquit teaches me techniques and how to choose my skins. He’s like my mentor. Then I have two people working for me.

One is a Greek man, a specialist of minks. He’s been working with fur for at least 40 years, since he was 13. The other is a woman who takes care of all the linings, and she sews everything by hand. It’s going back to basics. It’s not like you just make a drawing and send it to the other side of the world to be made.

Is it true you only got into fur about two years ago?
Yes, but I always wore and liked fur. When I finished school, I asked Patrick if I could come to his workshop. I became a kind of apprentice and fell in love with the craft. Touching fur everyday reminds me of my childhood. My father is a professional horse rider, and I loved working with him.

You’ve said “fur always existed and human beings always wore it.” Okay, it’s natural, but it’s also controversial. Why fur?
The smell, the feel, the way it looks and moves. I mean, fur is like a diamond. It’s unique, beautiful and makes women feel pretty.

What do you think of PETA protesters? They make me laugh!

Have you ever been confronted by anti-fur people?  Nope.

Where do you get your furs? Have you ever hunted?
I only use farm-raised furs, animals that are specifically raised to be fur, not wild animals. I don’t think anyone would go hunt a cow to have their steak.

Could you envision yourself designing pieces in other materials, or is it fur forever?
I have a fashion designer background, I’m not just a furrier. In fact, for my next collection, I’m starting to add other materials. But fur will always be the center of my collections.

Tell me about your experiences at Jeremy Scott in Los Angeles.

Jeremy is an amazing character with a superb energy. Sometimes, to reenergize us as we worked hard in his atelier, he’d come and sing and do a few dance moves. It forced us to smile. Or occasionally, when we were working late hours, he’d tell us stories about living in Paris, which I loved

Joelle’s Tips:

The Furrier: Quentin Veron

The source: via Hint Fashion Magazine

Photos Credits: Courtesy  Jenny Lexander for Quentin Vernon

Derriere is a fairly unique restaurant concept in the heart of Paris. It offers its guests the qualities of a gourmet restaurant dinner with the comfort and warmth of eating in a traditional Parisian home. The basic idea behind this concept was to make guests feel as though they are welcomed into a friend’s house – a concept that has recently become more and more popular amongst Parisian restaurants, bars and even clubs.

Starting with the site of the venue, Derriere is located in the 3rd district of Paris amongst numerous area bars and restaurants. Its name (derriere = behind) originates from its exact location, which is right behind 404 Restaurant and the Andy Wahloo cocktail bar on la rue des Gravilliers. As you walk on, hidden in a rather exclusive spot on the street, Derriere appears as a surprise offering amongst the options of Le Marrais.

What distinguishes this restaurant is its atmosphere, which again provides its focal point. With the decor of a French baroque house, Derriere is equipped with numerous little touches that make the visitor feel as if they are having a family dinner, or one amongst friends – so that they feel comfortable behaving likewise. Little wooden chairs, messy bookshelves loaded with huge piles of books, an old ‘baignoire’, a bed placed in the middle of the room, a ping-pong table and lots of other objects add that little something to make Derriere feel like home.

Upon their arrival, restaurant guests are welcomed by the staff and are asked to choose their seating according to their mood. Guests choose between sitting in the traditional yet cozy dining room, playing ping-pong in the homey salon, watching a film in the designated ‘movie’ area or having a cocktail with their friends in the boudoir.

The venue also offers a quieter area upstairs, which functions as a bedroom, and guests can go there to relax.

What one should not forget to mention is Derriere’s famous ‘secret room’. This refers to a delicately discrete fumoir (smoking room). With its entrance door looking like an old baroque wardrobe no one expects that opening it will lead you to a private room where smoking is allowed ‘off-the record’.

Regarding the cuisine and menu options offered by Derriere, it could be said that the proposals are more or less similar to most hype restaurants of its genre, offering the typical ‘revised’ French cuisine. What is rather interesting is the menu itself. Derriere has commissioned the design and graphics of the menus from Ich&Kar, also responsible for the graphic design of the famous Momo in London.

The menus are printed in thick paper illustrating vintage images such as the ones shown, whereas each dish carried in the menu is accompanied by its dictionary definition.

Regarding drink choices, being a French restaurant Derriere offers a large variety of wines, and cocktails and champagne are also available upon request.

Derriere is open for lunch weekdays from 12.00 to 2.30 and for dinner all week except Monday from 20.00 to midnight. As we all seek warmth and comfort, it is better to book at least five days in advance…

So secretly  Chic!

Joelle’s Tips:

The Restaurant: Derriere 69, rue des Gravilliers 75003 Paris + 33 1 44 61 91 95
info@derriere-resto.com

Photo Courtesy: Andrea Ferrari and Owen Franken

Production: Studio Pepe Milan

Source: Via Yatzer