The word luxury is bandied about so much that it’s started to lose its meaning.  If there is one house that still typifies the word luxury, it’s Hermès.  It’s also synonymous with quality and craftsmanship.  While the Birkin bag may now be ubiquitous, the clothing will always hold down the fort on quiet yet interesting designs. Hermès unveiled […]

The best part of spring, besides the warmer weather, are all the new shows and exhibitions that are opening. One of the chicest is Dries Van Noten: Inspirations at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris on view until 31 August 2014.The first exhibition devoted to the Belgian designer “takes us on an intimate journey into his […]

There is nothing I love more than finding a photo that leads you down the rabbit hole of discovery.  I came across an image of a French room that turned out to be from a Vogue Living Australia feature on French entertaining tips from cook and author Jane Webster.  Jane is Australian and visited France […]

We all know decorators have beautiful homes but I think it’s the antique dealers who have the most interesting.  I recently came across the home of architect Philippe Thelin and decorator Thierry Gonzal who also own a showroom in Tours, France called Mis’en scène. I couldn’t find the original article from AD France where these photos […]

One of the biggest treats during my last trip to Paris was attending the preview of Cartier: Le Style et L’Histoire exhibition at the Grand Palais. I think we all know Cartier for their Love bracelets and chic watches but you will be amazed at the breadth of the 600 pieces of jewelry, objects, watches, […]

I hope you all had a great holiday. A great last minute Christmas present for me was finding the new January/February 2014 issue of Elle Decor on the newsstand.  It’s the International Issue and my favorite home featured was a 19th-century house in Normandy designed by Franz Potisek.  I won’t ruin it by posting photos […]

Christmas came early to Habitually Chic. Yesterday, I received a copy of the book Jacques Henri Lartigue: A Sporting Life.  In French, the title is Chic, le sport ! which obviously, I find amusing. I was first introduced to the book at a press preview at Hermès whose 2013 theme for the year was “a sporting life” which […]

Veranda posted pics of this apartment in the Saint Germain neighborhood of Paris on Instagram and now it has me even more excited to rent an apartment next year. It also makes me want to order a new sofa upholstered in a blue/black linen fabric.  I love how all the dark accents and gilt frames […]

I’ve been having serious post-Paris depression since returning from my trip.  While London was fun, Paris will always have my heart.   I’m more resolved than ever to spend a few months there next year, especially since it will mean having more time to explore.  I did however manage to see a lot on my […]

I will say that I was shocked at the size of my room at the Hotel Bourg Tibourg when I checked in but the point is that you’re in Paris and shouldn’t really be in your room anyway.  The hotel which is part of the Costes family of hotels, which means all the same amazing […]

While everyone in the US is gearing up for Thanksgiving, Europe is in full Christmas mode.  The decorations in Paris were particularly beautiful and I look forward to seeing more when I go back on Friday.  Ladurée on rue Bonaparte above just finished their decorations. I just arrived in London today and what I’ve seen […]

One of the things I will never become jaded or complacent about is traveling.  At its worst, it’s expensive and exhausting but at its best, it’s inspiring and invigorating. It opens you up new places, new experiences, new friends, and in the best of circumstance, new romances. Things have been a bit stressful lately and […]

Everyone is raving about the French apartment featured on the cover and inside the November 2013 issue of Elle Decor.  It’s the kind of apartment Americans dream of when they imagine moving to Paris. It was designed by a slightly new firm Champeau & Wilde but the founders Kelli Wilde and Laurent Champeau previously worked […]

Not sure if you all know but Domino magazine is back.  The New York Times referred to this newest incarnation as Domino 3.0 and it looks like the third time is the charm.  It’s no wonder though with Michelle Adams, the founder of Lonny, at the helm. I loved the new holiday issue on newsstands […]

I thought about titling this post The Deyrolle Hotel but thought it might be a little confusing.  The Château de la Bourdaisière hotel is however owned by Prince Louis Albert de Broglie, the man who resuscitated Deyrolle in Paris twice. Once in 2001, when he bought it and again in 2008 after a fire ravaged most of the shop […]

I always love special men’s issues of magazine because they are usually less full of fluff.  They are also often full of new names and faces in art and design.  The men’s issue of T magazine this weekend is no exception.  I especially loved the feature on furniture designer André Dubreuil in his family’s 18th-century home, Château […]

I was walking down Madison Avenue Thursday afternoon and saw the chicest woman.  Based on the necklace, I had a feeling it was French jewelry designer Aurelie Bidermann.  I’m not one to approach strangers on the street though so I just kept walking.  But after a few glasses of champagne at the WSJ Magazine five […]