Francophile Friday: Shoes Afoot

ink & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

In winter, I don't think a glass slipper would cut it for me.  But spring, summer ~ those are indubitably glass slipper seasons.  I wonder if some part of our collective shoe obsession is deeply seated in Cinderella. {We can call it Cendrillon or La Petite Pantoufle de Verre for an extra dusting of magic.}  The speed of my circulation emulates that of the tortoise, not the hare, so winter finds my feet more closely aligned with another charming tail, Puss in Boots.  Whatever your story, the quest to be beautifully shod must be even more enchanted in Paris, and the atelier of this Japanese artisan, Tamano Merci, thank you to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for the lovely photo inspiration.  I'll rustle up some gowns and bubbly and meet you all outside.  If you arrive to find a pumpkin and some mice, you'll know the party has already moved upstairs.  And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

25 comments

  1. Gowns and bubbly to try on shoes! How girly and fun. I don't think we'd even invite Hugh to that. Someone will tell me I'm wrong for saying so. Maybe he'll serve the champagne.

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  2. Tres charmante and indeed very exquisite as well. I'm rummaging through my extensive collection of gowns here to find one in your palette - I'm thinking palest lavender many-layered skirt with an ivory bodice and rose pink wrap lest I feel the night air. Would you fax ahead details of your own ensemble to make sure we don't clash?

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  3. I guess this means I can't wear my Uggs.

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  4. Paris, gowns, AND shoes? I am so there.

    You know where my brother was last week? Paris, Nice and Monaco. I saw some of his photos yesterday and thought, "These look like Shell's illos!"

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  5. I guess this means I'm left with one question: what is your favorite colour?

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  6. Petrea ~ at the moment, our Hugh is just as likely to try and spike our bubbly with iced tea, but I'd forgive him pretty much anything.

    Mise ~ ever the organised and thoughtful one. I was thinking of one quarter tint chartreuse, myself, so we shall be complementary.

    Hiker ~ genuine Australian uggies will be considered...

    Oh, how lovely, PopCultureNerd! I'd love to see some of his Shell-like piccies sometime.

    Aqua, dear puppy, though many others come close.

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  7. It would also be lovely to have someone like Vidal Sassoon come do our hair :)

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  8. I'm just going to let you choose a gown for me, Coco Sherree. Better make it a long one, to hide my feet—my desire to be beautifully shod is surpassed only by my desire to be comfortable! BTW, Hugh can spike my bubbly with Lipton if he'll also do his cute little dance. :~}

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  9. Shell I can just picture you arriving at this shop on your pink scooter with boxes of dresses and a few bottles of bubbly hidden away. We'll all be there to greet you and pick out our gowns and then go inside Tamano to choose shoes then a big limo (driven by Hugh?) will pick us up and drive us to a delightful dinner somewhere (as I doubt we could walk far in these shoes). Great way to imagine starting the weekend. See where your great drawings take us!!

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  10. Ms M ~ I'm sure that can be arranged. Good thinking.

    Alexa ~ "Coco Sherree". I love it! And a long gown was precisely what I had in mind for you, my sweet. I'm seeing off-the-shoulder with an elbow-length sleeve...

    Katie ~ I love where your mind goes. Boxes lined with scented tissue paper, tied onto the scooter with damask-patterned grosgrain ribbons. Hugh gently revving his engine... my.

    Petrea ~ a popular decision. I'll get the letterpress cranking straight away.

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  11. Encore une très jolie illustration, j'aime toujours la petite touche en plus (so lovely) les petites fleurs en forme de coeur et surtout le Micio derrière sa fenêtre, c'est là que je veux habiter !!!
    bisous
    Bon week-end
    Danielle

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  12. When I dream of Paris (not often. Just. Every. Minute. Of. Every. Day.) these are the colors I envision. La vie en pastel! C’est génial!

    Whose engine is Hugh gently revving? MY!

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  13. VenetiaMicio ~ merci, Danielle! Ce n'est pas une surprise que tu aies vu Micio derrière la fenêtre. ;) You did well to spy the little kitty up there. Bisous...

    Cali ~ I thought about it after Cafe asked which colour is my favourite. Though aqua has a nose clearly ahead, pastels in general are next! As for Hugh, that's a collective revving. ;)

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  14. Fabulous! I like signage especially of shoes. Have a beautiful week ahead, Kellie xx

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  15. Oh, I could use a girly-girl outing, especially one that involves shoe shopping in Paris. Can I invite Puss in Boots (aka Antonio Banderas) to the party upstairs? He seems like the kind of guy that might offer a lady a foot massage, which I will need after wearing those heels. A champagne toast to you and Virginia for the delightful illo and photo!

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  16. I'm late as ever but to make it up to you all I've brought my cases of baubles and sparkles. Diamonds on the left, pearls to the right, and assorted colours to match all the dresses in the middle. (and corn pads for all those not used to heels).

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  17. Susan ~ absolutely, definitely, for sure. Puss in Boots must be there! I'm guessing his foot rubs are something else.

    Debs ~ from the looks of your cases, you're fashionably late. {And practically late in the case of the corn pads!}

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  18. Magical and delightful as only you can be! I love the drawing and also the prose!!

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  19. Thanks, Shanna. I'm glad to sprinkle magic and delight where I can.

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  20. your blog and your posts are simply fabulous!!!!!! Iam so inlove with your place!
    ...I loveeeee Paris too!!
    xox
    lila

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  21. Welcome, lilabraga ~ I'm very happy to meet you and you'll find plenty of Paris lovers over here. Your blog is gentle and delightful.

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  22. WEll I"m late and hope there is bubbly galore left pour moi!!! I loved this store although I didn't step inside. THe outside did it for me. You make it more magical sweet Shell.
    xx
    V

    My WV is ANITYME. You may use my ptotographs ANITYME! :)

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  23. V ~ just gently easing the cork out of another bottle, especially for you. You're more than welcome. And thank you.

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Merci, grazie, thank you for joining our conversation lounge. Your smile lights up the room. Even more beautifully than our crystal chandelier. x

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