The City of Lights.

my thoughts as we were on the plane coming back from Paris. (only 3 days late)

Being in Paris the last 5 days has been a truly life-changing experience. It was more incredible than I ever could have anticipated. I am returning to Florence more inspired, more driven & more wonder-filled. I think I'm starting to feel the gravity of my semester in Europe; how truly blessed I am to have this opportunity. I am choosing to humbly call myself one of the fortunate few. I don't want to take any of this for granted, I don't want to waste a single moment. I am so grateful for our trip to Paris.

I think the biggest take-away from this trip has been inspiration. I am learning to look at everything as potential. Seeing all of the different facets of the world with open eyes and remembering to take it all in. Take notes, take pictures. Capture everything that captivates you.

All of the different things we did contribute to my new awe-filled perspective. Premiere Vision & Trend Union were obviously astounding and gave me more information than I can even hope to process. Being able to see & touch the fabrics and colors and trends for Autumn/Winter 2014/15 was a treat, and seeing the images that reflect where style is heading in Spring 2015 was just freaking awesome.The exhibit of discovering the inner parts of costume & textiles was fascinating and it was so amazing to see the way current designers are portraying the inspiration. The demonstration on Grès technique was not only informative, but flooring. The true talent that goes into the art of fashion is quite incredible.

Outside of the group visits, I am also blessed to have been able to take in so many other bits & pieces unique to this magnificent city. People-watching and taking street-style photos was more satisfying than anywhere else I've ever been. Seeing the way people interact & express themselves is quite wonderful in Paris. Musèe Branly provoked me to think about textiles as a craft; something that is not new but merely redeveloped. Seeing the unique African antiques was a privilege. The boat tour we took on the first day we got there prompted me to think about the strong ties between a city's architecture & the culture of its people. Parisian facades are more astounding that any picture could dare to reproduce. Then being able to actually walk around Champs Elysèes and climb the Arc de Triomphe gave me an entirely new prospective. What a view! Picnicking at the park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower was so sweet! Then experiencing the City of Lights in the night hours was phenomenal. I absolutely adore city lights in the evening and that was the icing on the cake of a very long, yet worthwhile, second day! Figuring out the metro system on my own fills me with contentment. Very simple for the most part, with some patience-testing moments here and there, I feel like I definitely refined my directional skills. I am accomplished! Being able to briskly walk through the Louvre was nice. I was on my own schedule, I saw what I went there to see. Honestly, sitting on a bench across from the seated scribe was one of my favorite moments. One of the most prominent & influential Egyptian sculptures (and my personal favorite) left me so fulfilled. My heart was an overflow of joy and contentment. However, it's definitely necessary to plan another trip here someday. It would have been nice to take my time the Italian Renaissance paintings. And finally, Versailles. The Palace is immensely ornate. And oh, how I do love floral prints! Seeing the Queen's room was the ultimate for fellow lovers of intricate, delicate floral tapestry. The gardens were stunning! And the light pale blue & white color scheme of Marie Antoinette's cottage inspired me so much. I was awestruck at the attention to detail - especially when thinking about the preservation. The mere fact that these works were up kept for me to experience is something I marvel at.

In short, I could not have dreamt up a better way to spend these past 5 days in Paris! I am truly looking forward to sketching new ideas & dreaming bigger dreams upon my return to Florence. Bonsoir, au revoir!!!

Of course, I've been flooded with school work since returning to Florence. I haven't posted any pictures yet, but keep refreshing Facebook for a new album! (it's gonna be big guys... I took SO MANY pictures!)

xox