First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Papadakis Publisher An imprint of New Architecture Group Limited HEAD OFFICE: Kimber Studio, Winterbourne, Berkshire, RG20 8AN DESIGN STUDIO & RETAIL: 11 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, W1J 7PG Tel +44 (0) 1635 24 88 33 Fax +44 (0) 1635 24 85 95 info@papadakis net www papadakis net Translated from the French by Victor Arwas Publishing Director: Alexandra Papadakis Design Director: Aldo Sampieri Design by: Shirlynn Chui Editor: Sheila de Vallée Editorial Assistant: Sarah Roberts ISBN 978 1 901092 653 Copyright © 2010 Papadakis Publisher Text © 2010 Victor Arwas All rights reserved Victor Arwas hereby asserts his moral rights to be identified as author of this work No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Publisher A CIP catalogue of this book is available from the British Library Printed and bound in China
C o n t e n t s
1 2 A t t h e S e a s i d e
3 2 W i n t e r S p o r t s
3 8 C o u n t r y P u r s u i t s
4 6 T h r o u g h t h e S e a s o n s
5 8 P e t s a n d t h e i r M i s t r e s s e s
6 4 T h e S o u b r e t t e
9 2 F a s h i o n
1 0 8 M e n a n d W o m e n
1 3 2 M o d e r n M y t h s
1 4 6 T h e a t r e a n d L i t e r a t u r e
Please don’t come in yet, I’m not decent I haven’t put on my bathing suit
La Vie Parisienne 24
La Vie Parisienne 25
How Mimi uses a screen, a tub and her Siren bathing suit to experience the seaside without leaving Paris
C o u n t r y P u r s u i t s
La Vie Parisienne 48
Spring flowers: Lily of the valley
La Vie Parisienne 49
La Vie Parisienne 62
Parrots and parakeets
La Vie Parisienne 63
Cats and kittens
“What a strange artist He spends all his time kissing me while I’m posing ”
La Vie Parisienne 70
La Vie Parisienne 71
Girl in a hurry or an improvised slide
La Vie Parisienne 82
PARISIAN BIRDS
The chick
La Vie Parisienne 83
SYMPHONY IN WHITE MAJOR
La Vie Parisienne 90
New Year’s Day surprise – a naughty Jill-in-a-box
La Vie Parisienne 91
FASHION AND MANNERS – SIMPLE COMPARISONS
(From the top)
Then
1 The dress had to fit perfectly
2 Undressing a pretty woman was extraordinarily complicated
3 The hat provided a harmonious frame for the face
4 Fashionable young women were tightly corseted
(From the top)
Nowadays
1 The less coordinated the better
2 It takes no time at all
3 It looks like a candle snuffer
4 Do you prefer today’s excesses?
La Vie Parisienne 96
La Vie Parisienne 97 A love offering
5
I know! A smoking jacket combines fashion with superb comfort
Dammit, it’s her What will she think of my 1
6
There’s a ring
Don’t come in Another ring
La Vie Parisienne 112
is too formal
gown
very elegant
“I’ll be with you at five I’ll be yours ” 3 Evening dress
4 A dressing
isn’t
2
What shall I wear? Pyjamas are too intimate
La Vie Parisienne 113
Dreams of the future: “Well, my dear, what would you say to a pretty little house where I could come and visit you three times a week?”
La Vie Parisienne 136 Tripping up
La Vie Parisienne 137
Butterflies
