Paris, the cultural home of artists, designers, haute-cuisine, couture and luxury is renowned for good hotels..some like The Ritz or the George V are a byword for luxury and sophistication but Hotel Chavanel, a new hotel, based in the historic Madeleine quarter has just taken the boutique hotel to a new design level.

From the moment Cecil Beaton turned Ascot black-and-white in My Fair Lady, monochrome has been synonymous with dramatic statement styling.

The color of intrigue, vivid emerald forest green is given extra richness when dyed onto Sophie Hallette’s sumptuous lace and tulle. It’s a real head-turner, with implications of danger, extravagance and strength of character.

A man drinking his coffee in a Chantilly lace T-shirt ? Or going out for the evening in re-embroidered tulle pants? The idea does intrique us.

Hissez haut les cols, déployez les grands jupons, sortez les manches bouffantes : la mode victorienne fait son come-back !

As an important moment for contemporary creation that captures what’s “in the air” as much as it invents the future, the Maison & Objet trade fair on January 22 to 26 north of Paris will welcome, as it does each year, thousands of professionals and individuals looking to discover trends and innovations for wall coverings, lighting, curtains and furniture.

Lace is not only eternal, it has been around for ages …