I love cake. It is as simple as that. I cannot tell you how happy I was last weekend when I stumbled upon Sugarplum, an amazingly creative cake shop in the 5th. If you are dreaming about Pollyanna-style cakes for your next special occasion, then this is a shop you do not want to miss out on.

Sugarplum is headed by three women, two Americans and one Canadian. I had the opportunity to sit down with Krista Juracek, the head decorator at Sugarplum, who was so enthusiastic about what she does as a designer. Their concept was born where they initially met and worked together at a cake shop in Aulnay-sous-Bois. And as good things come to those who wait, it took them about a year to get the project off the ground, and opened their first storefront in March 2010.

They specialize in cakes for all types of events, from weddings to birthdays to baptisms. As for the design, feel free to come with your own ideas, or better yet let their inspiration run wild! I mean, who would not want a one-of-a-kind stylist cake at their next special occasion?

As would be expected, everything is made from scratch, and all frostings have been toned down to appeal to the local palette. Not such a bad thing in my books. And the two most popular flavors right now? Carrot and chocolate. I was really surprised to discover that carrot cake is a top-seller. I guess that is where my palette differs from the French: I prefer the traditional chocolate and vanilla cakes I grew up with and that to me defines cake.

If you do check out Sugarplum, know there are a bunch of goodies you can indulge in on the spot or to go: cookies, squares, apple pie, scones, brownies, carrot cake and even rice crispie squares. Oh that rice crispie square was so good! The space is open and airy, and seats about 20 people. So, next time you are in the 5th, think about stopping by Sugarplum where you can have your cake and eat it too.

Sugarplum Cake Shop
68 rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005 Paris
www.sugarplumcakeshop.com

Tues-Sat 9am-7pm
Sun 10am-5pm

Also, check out their Facebook page where they have posted more pictures of their masterpieces!

Well, this seems to be the multi-brand boutique week, as I visited Jüli, a local clothing store just off busy rue de Rennes in the 6th. This boutique houses a lot of Danish brands, as well as some French and British ones. The owner’s motto is to bring forth niche brands that you won’t find everywhere in this city. And that she does! There was not one brand that I knew or had even heard of in this store, which I found most intriguing about this place.

At Jüli, which has been around for about a year now, you will find everything from tops, dresses, pants and skirts to jewelry, purses and shoes. Upon entering the boutique, expect to be greeted in friendly Parisian fashion and be faced with an impressive amount of trendy, flirty and unique clothing. Some of the talent to be found here includes French designers Anse, Sessun, and Le Mont St Michel, Danish designers Rützou, and D.Co Copenhagen, among MANY others. They even carry a small selection of Un Jour Un Sac’s purses and handles.

My fave item at Jüli was definitely the trench coat by Designers Remix Collection, another Danish designer. Its simple lines accentuated by the girly ruffles are a match made in heaven! If you are looking for a unique item for your upcoming night out on the town, consider passing by Jüli cause you never know what you might find!

Jüli
20 rue d’Assas
75006 Paris
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30am-7pm

Happy shopping!

Having spent a lot of time walking around Paris, I’ve come to know a lot of the boutiques in my neighborhood. Or so I thought until a couple of weeks ago. As I was strolling along, I was happy to see a new kid on the block. To my surprise, this latest boutique find has been around for the last 4 years! How come I had never seen it before?

Hidden on rue Condé in the 6th, boutique Binôme is owned by two creative “Delphine’s”: one an inspired jewelry designer, the other a talented purse designer. And you will naturally find both collections, B1 delphine bijoux and Delphine Conty Sacs, in store. Since Binôme is also a multi-brand boutique, expect to find a selection of goodies from Hartford, Bella Jones, Des Petits Hauts, among other brands.

Casual chic clothing is what you will find at Binôme and in an array of colors: strawberry colored tops and dresses, bright yellow cardigans, as well as your basic blacks, whites, and blues. You will find a large selection of Delphine Conty purses, as well as some really cute ballerinas and boots by this same designer in black, moka and taupe – perfect colors for any spring wardrobe!

Happy shopping!

During Paris Fashion Week AW 2010, I had the opportunity to not only meet, but also preview Aruna Seth’s beautiful AW 2010 shoe collection.

Simply put, these shoes are stunning. Adorned with Swarovski crystals, beautiful bows and glittery butterflies, I’m sure all of womankind would not disagree with the fact that these shoes are elegant and feminine. And I can definitely say that these two words are synonymous with this brand.

The details alone are incredible! I particularly loved the Orfea black leather peep-toes with a simple yet tasteful button in the front. But it’s the back of the shoe that caught my attention: lined with buttons, the back of the shoe reveals a certain je ne sais quoi. Just love these shoes!

Designed in the UK, and made in Northern Italy, these shoes can be incorporated into your daily wardrobe quite effortlessly. Take the Josie black patent heels, another one of my faves, which can easily go from day to night. How great would these look with this season’s must-have pencil skirts? Everyone at the office will be oohing-and-ahhing over them! And for your night out on the town, why not pair them with your favorite jeans? They would be the perfect final touch to glam up any outfit.

Aruna Seth has a wide selection of shoes and a must-stop for brides-to-be. You’ll find everything from ballerinas, pumps, and wedges, to boots and booties – in leather, patent, satin and lace. And maybe you will find a pair in my closet soon!

Happy shopping!

Maki Aminaka Löfvander and Marcus Wilmontmake are the two designers behind Aminaka Wilmont, the second show I saw on the first day. Taking place at Victoria House as part of the On|Off shows, I was eager to see what they had in store for their AW2010 collection.

The collection consisted of a lot of graphic print dresses in varying lengths (mid-thigh, knee and mid-calf), and different sleeves (sleeveless, cap, long and combo of cap and long). Necklines were kept simple and to a minimum, as the focus was on the shoulders. Draping was a strong theme up around the shoulders, as well as down the front of some dresses, ultimately creating a beautiful and flowing silhouette.

Leggings were paired with oversized tops and/or sweaters, again creating a strong shoulder and drawing the focus here. I loved the hair accessories used in the second half of the show. These  feathery accessories would sure make a statement should someone be bold enough to wear one in public!

How exciting coming to London Fashion Week! My first day started off with the Caroline Charles show. Showing a lot of tweed (black, brown and green), all suits were quite traditional in style. Jackets were cinched at the waist, with a close-to-the-body cut and all were paired with waist belts. What I loved most were the black tweeds paired with splashes of green accessories giving this classic fabric a more modern look and feel.

Caroline Charles’s evening wear collection consisted of dresses, jackets and tops adorned with beaded embellishments – a little too glittery for me, but appealing nonetheless. Here are a couple of pics, unfortunately not that great.

Lastly, here’s a short video of the last couple of minutes of the show.