Welcome to my 3rd edition of Le Journal where I discuss French style and fashion, along with sharing a New York Minute.
This week has been cold, damp, and rainy – typical weather this time of year in either Paris or NYC. I am one of the rare people who actually enjoys the gray. I always have. I think it is because life slows down just a bit, and when you live in metropolitan cities, it’s nice to have a little lull. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the sunshine, but cloudy days never seem to sway my mood.
Valentine’s Day was the only sunny day of the week, with rain scheduled for the weekend. I enjoyed lunch with a dear friend and then went to the market to pick up dinner. When I was in my 20s, going out for Valentine’s Day was something I would look forward to; however, I now prefer to stay home and prepare a lovely dinner. Do you prefer to go out or stay in?
My husband loves filet mignon, so I decided to make this with some bernaise sauce, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. Dessert was chocolate-covered strawberries served with a glass of champagne. It was certainly decadent and not our usual type of meal. But we did enjoy it1
If you have feared making bernaise sauce, fear not, because I have the most foolproof recipe, and it doesn’t require a double boiler. Granted, it does require a microwave. And I am sure someone out there is reading this and scowling at the thought of preparing a French sauce in the microwave…oh mon dieu!
I do make it the traditional way also, but sometimes I am short on time, and a shortcut here and there goes a long way.
Here is the recipe for the microwave version.
New York Minute | Your Questions Answered
I love to answer your questions as part of my Le Journal series. So please keep them coming.
A reader reached out this past week and asked me where I love to shop for French clothing. There are a few stores that I routinely shop because I love their quality and price point. Every now and then, I will purchase something on Amazon. There are 4-5 brands on Amazon whose quality is incredibly good for the price point; however, I typically prefer to shop off Amazon for high-quality staples. I tend to shop Amazon more for trendier items or to fill in, but this is limited to about 15% of my purchases.
The top 3 stores I routinely shop for French-inspired clothing are Reiss, Sézane, and Kule. Worth noting: Reiss is not a French brand; they are based in the UK. But I find that they have some of the best high-quality staples for less than some of the French brands. So, I would definitely check them out if you are unfamiliar with them. Nordstrom also carries some Reiss products, and I love to shop at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s for denim, shoes, tops, and sweaters.
Another question I received this week has to do with champagne.
I love champagne, always have. I typically enjoy a glass while cooking dinner and listening to French music. It’s my happy place. The most affordable bottle I have found is Piper-Heidsieck, which you can typically find for $35-45 per bottle. If that is over your price point (you won’t find champagne for much less), I would suggest sparkling wine. I have to go to bottles that I enjoy – Chandon Brut and Mumm Prestige Brut, both of which cover around $20 per bottle.
Weekly Highlight!
In case you didn’t know, my heart has belonged to bulldogs for over 20 years. My first bulldog, Jake, was English. And he was a pistol. And stubborn, as they are known to be. But equally loving. Last March, we lost our Frenchie, Luna Belle, unexpectedly, and our hearts were just broken. We brought Stella home on April 27, 2024, and we just celebrated her first birthday in January! This little nugget is over-the-moon precious and loves to be with you, kissing you or snuggling up next to you. She is, for sure, my little sidekick, and I thought she deserved the weekly spotlight. She has brought such joy into our lives.
New York Minute | What to Wear
Because it has been rainy and damp here this week, I feel like we are still a bit away from Spring knocking on our door. So, my New York Minute weekly French inpired look seemed appropriate for where I am but is also a great winter-to-spring transition outfit. Pair a navy blazer with a short-sleeved cashmere sweater and wide-leg denim. Add a fun leopard ballet flat, a caramel handbag, and a gold bangle.
SHOP THIS LOOK
I hope you all enjoyed this week’s Le Journal and I wish you all a beautiful weekend, my friends. Please leave comments if you have questions, and I will do my best to answer.
