LIFE & STYLE

A PERFECT PARISIAN DAY By

Sophie Spirit

An ideal day out in Paris could only start with a true continental breakfast of typical French pastries whether that involves a croissant or a pain au chocolat or both! To truly blend into the Parisian way of life, breakfast should be eaten on the go. A morning of shopping at the Galleries Lafayette can be followed with lunch at Montmartre by the Sacré Coeur, the highest point in Paris overlooking the city. Best known for its arty background with the likes of Dali, Picasso and Van Gogh having spent most of their artistic career within the area, plenty of small, cosy and candle-lit cafés can be found which are perfect for a light lunch.

QU’EST-CE QUE C’EST, LA MODE FRANÇAISE?

By Jake Hall

The most common misconception is that French fashion consists solely of berets and Breton stripes – however, one look at the emerging trends from Paris Fashion Week shows that les femmes françaises will be more likely to be wearing masculine suits and brogues, as shown by famous French fashion house Lanvin. Yves Saint Laurent has also opted for the classic look, pairing tailored shirts with floaty maxis to create the elegant look that the French women are renowned for.

In addition, many French fashion houses have subtly introduced the pastel colours which are slowly becoming one of the most popular trends. However, in Paris, the colours (lemon, mint), were seen applied to timeless pieces such as pencil skirts and tailored jackets in order to appeal to the classic minimalist attitude of the French woman..

Not far away from the Sacré Coeur is the Champs-Elysées. Getting off at the metro stop ‘Charles de Gaulle Etoile’ and you will find yourself standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe. The walk along the Champs-Elysées is certainly an intriguing one; whether you have the money to spend or not. Off a road at the end of the Champs-Elysées down towards Place de la Concorde, is an Italian restaurant called Pasta PaPa. Not only is it delicious, but the portions are extremely generous and the pricing is definitely affordable! The way Pasta PaPa works is that on their menu there’s a choice of pasta types, with a list of 30 plus sauces. You choose your pasta type, and sauce, and it is brought out in a family-sized dish all for you!

FROM RUSSIA WITH (HETEROSEXUAL) LOVE

St.Petersburg. Cultural capital of the Russian Federation, founded by Peter the Great of Russia, now the most homophobic city in the West? In November 2011 the world famous hot spot for Western travellers passed a bill on its first reading banning all homosexual, bisexual, transsexual and paedophilic propaganda in Russia. The ban prevents education to Russia’s younger generations that homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality are normal in everyday life, condemns and compares the lifestyles of homosexuals to those of paedophiles, and breaches the Russian Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by taking the right to Freedom of Speech from LGBT Russians – similar to the Thatcher’s infamous Section 28 some thirty years ago. But how has Medvedev’s (or rather Putin’s) Russia got to the point of condemning homosexuality when so many famous Russian figureheads of the past were indeed homosexual? Legends like Tchaikovsky, the world famous classical composer, Peter the Great, Russian Tsar and founder of Russia as we know it today, and the famous ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev. Should these people be criticised and “removed” from Russian history so that this “disgusting” propaganda doesn’t influence the Russian youth of today? If Russia wants to be incorporated into the West, would it not be in its best interests to shirk its Stalinist past and finally enter the 21st Century?

By Dale Lewis

Harry Frost Editor

THÉODORE, PAUL & GABRIEL

Silent

–

VEIL

BY AIMEE OLIVER

The sound of this Parisian girl group is nothing new, but their image offers something more interesting than most.

Théodora Delilez, Pauline Thomson and Clemence Gabriel present themselves as their androgynous alter-egos for no real political reason, but to destroy the various preconceptions surrounding girl bands. Though Théodore, Paul & Gabriel have only been together for little over a year after a chance meeting at a university café, they have already been showcased on ‘Tarantata,’ a live music show on television channel France 2 which has supported such artists as Christophe Maé, Skunk Anansie and Boy George. Singing in English adds an interesting twang to Gabriel’s ethereal voice and their mix of hard and soft sounds combines beautifully with the José Gonzalez-esque guitar work on ‘Slow Sunday’. Yet it is the title track ‘Silent Veil’ which truly grabs the listener’s attention; its memorable chorus will stay with you long after you have finished listening to it. Even if this type of music isn’t for you, these women must be saluted for their work in blurring gender boundaries.