-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Agnès b. is a clothing brand launched by fashion designer Agnès Troublé. The b. of the brand comes from the initial of the surname of her former husband, the publisher Christian Bourgois. The brand is operated by CMC for Comptoir mondial de la création, the… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Agnès b.”
In my recent post about France’s oldest business, I referenced the family’s connection to LU, formerly Lefèvre-Utile, a French biscuit brand emblematic of the city of Nantes which, thanks to the importance of its port, had long been home to artisanal and then industrial… Continue Reading “French Fancies: LU”
Cirque d’hiver Bouglione is a French circus company based at the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris’ 11th arrondissement, which the Bouglione family acquired in 1934. A true family business, it was managed successively by the two brothers Sampion and Émilien Bouglione (sons of Joseph and… Continue Reading “French fancies: Cirque Bouglione”
Allegedly the Château de Goulaine founded in 1000 is France’s oldest family-run business. The castle, still owned by the Goulaine family, houses a rare butterfly collection in addition to a museum. It hosts various functions, including weddings. Wine is available for sale at the… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Château de Goulaine”
I may have recently covered Louis Vuitton but the story isn’t complete unless I also go into the change of ownership and subsequent development of holding company LVMH. How it all began In 1984, Bernard Arnault learned that Christian Dior was for sale. Its… Continue Reading “French Fancies: LVMH”
My local cheese shop stocks (among other things) crème fraîche and butter from Brittany. In the case of the latter, specifically the truly magnificent and wholly divine Bordier butter. At once sweet, salty, and smoky, Beurre Bordier is one of Brittany’s most famous products.… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Beurre Bordier”
Often hailed as the world’s most valuable luxury brand, Louis Vuitton needs no introduction. Yet, its hallowed stature in the world of fashion and humongous business enterprise demands a retelling of the glorious history of Louis Vuitton. It is, after all, built on the… Continue Reading “French fancies: Louis Vuitton”
Who doesn’t love jeans? Most of my (French) girlfriends have multiple pairs. In the heart of the Cévennes, Julien Tuffery carries on a grand family tradition. His great-grandfather created work trousers 130 years ago using the famous ‘de Nîmes’ fabric. Today, Julien and his… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Atelier Tuffery”
I love classic, comfortable, timeless, well-made shoes and these totally fit the bill. “Hype” and “classic” are two words that rarely feature in the same sentence, but when discussing Paraboot, the forward-thinking French shoemaker founded in 1908, they’re justifiable. In regards to the former,… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Paraboot”
To conclude my series of posts on French run hotels, I have a single, third generation, family-run hotel, rather than another luxury group. NUAGE is located in the heart of the city, in the upscale 8th arrondissement, near the Champs-Elysées and the Faubourg Saint-Honoré,… Continue Reading “French Fancies: NUAGE”
View from the Back 