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I kicked off my European summer vacation in 2016 with Paris, and what better place to help me christen my new blog! I hope you like the work I’ve done to missgunner.com, it’s the new home for my life, my love of fashion and tales of my travels – enjoy!
So first let’s talk about the pros and cons of going to Paris in August. Many of you may know that Europeans religiously vacate their hometowns and holiday throughout the month of August, so you will notice that some shops either shut their doors or renovate during this month. While there may be quite a few restaurants and boulangeries that are closed in Paris during this time, there’s one massive bonus if you’re a blogger with outfits and cameras to lug around – the streets are almost completely free of traffic and a lack of crowds will give you great opportunities to shoot! Combined with the popularity of Uber in Paris, getting around to your favourite sites and shops is an absolute breeze in August. For this reason, it was an incredibly easy visit.
I stayed at a wonderful hotel for a shop-a-holic, the Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg. Due to its location among the many boutiques around Faubourg Saint-Honoré, it labels itself a fashion hotel and is a favourite of Paris Fashion Week regulars. So I felt pretty happy there! The rooms and suites there are very roomy for Paris and I had plenty of space to store luggage, clothes, shopping etc. And the breakfasts at Sofitel are always amazing – more of that later!
Here are a few of my Paris tips and highlights:
- My home at Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg was a really good base from which to explore Parisian neighbourhoods, with it being so central and easy to get to the most vibrant arrondissements – Louvre, Marais, Saint Germain, Champs Elysees, Pigalle and the Latin Quarter are all within a few minutes’ Uber ride.
- As well as avoiding the crowds and traffic, August temperatures in Paris are around low 20 degrees Centigrade (around 70 Fahrenheit) – the skies were clear and blue and it was warm enough to shoot summer outfits, while being cool enough in the evenings to layer up a little.
- If you’re an early riser, you can get sites like the Eiffel Tower to yourself (well, almost) – Parisians are not early risers! Hit the streets at 7-7:30am and you’ll be able to comfortably stand in the middle of the Champs Elysees and shoot to your heart’s content!
- While there are many beautiful spots to eat, drink and take selfies (think Café Angelina or the original Café Laduree at rue Royale), make sure you grab a picnic basket and buy some local bread, cheese, red wine and chocolate and hit one of the many parks in Paris so you can take time to absorb the local vibe. One of my favourite days was spent people watching and grazing on local delicacies at Place des Vosges.
- When you’re done roughing it on the grass, consider something a little more upmarket – I had one of my favourite lunches ever at Le George restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Paris, but I’ll be blogging about that a little later – it was too delicious to fit into just one bullet point!
- Another tip is to not try and do everything. Paris is THE most popular tourist destination in the world, and therefore you’ll get tips from everyone about what to do there. I usually find my best restaurant, bar and people-watching experiences simply by exploring and just stumbling across the most popular places for locals.
- And last but definitely not least, don’t be shy when visiting all the big name boutiques! The vast majority of assistants at iconic stores of Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Isabel Marant etc. are absolutely lovely and just dying for a fun conversation!
I hope you enjoyed my first instalment of my Europe 2016 adventure – there’s much more to come!
Les Deux Plateaux in the Palais Royal – great spot for detail shots.
My view of the cute inner courtyard at the Sofitel Le Faubourg Paris
Luckily Parisians in general are not early risers, so it’s much easier to get this shot than you might think! Just get to Trocadero early!
No bridge in the world’s most romantic city is safe from the Padlock Mafia!!!
The lobby at the Sofitel Le Faubourg Paris
Our suite at Sofitel Le Faubourg Paris
I feel like every time I stopped and sat down in Europe there was an Aperol Spritz waiting for me!!! How did that happen?!?!
People-watching at Palais Royal
The fun bit ; )
Sofitel never gets breakfast wrong…
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25 Comments
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on October 15, 2016 at 10:06 am
Yasss! Very beautiful new look to your blog. Love the large photo view features. Just absolutely lovely! 🙂
Have a fabulous weekend mademoiselle Beautiful! 🙂-
on October 15, 2016 at 11:25 am
Aww Thank you so much beautiful Mia!! its taken a while but happy its up!! Missing Paris!
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on October 15, 2016 at 3:14 pm
What a lovely post! Paris has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I am so obsessed with all your photos. I also love all your shoes in these posts, such great style 🙂
Kathy x
http://www.alongcamekathy.blogspot.co.nz -
on October 15, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Such beautiful captures, Ashley! You look stunning! Loving your new site!
xo, Jennifer
http://www.publicsitinpearls.com -
on October 15, 2016 at 4:24 pm
omgggg so many amazing pictures here and make me just want to fly to Paris right now! Your looks are all so pretty! Love the white laced dress which perfectly blends in this romantic city. Cannot wait to see more of your travel adventure posts babe! lots of love~ xx
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:08 pm
heheh yes!! lets go to Paris now!! hehehe.Thank you so much beautiful!! xxx
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on October 15, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Ah these images are so beautiful babe! Wow I didn’t know that about August, and I would definitely have picked this time too haha!
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:08 pm
J!! like your Paris and Milan trip looked sooo amazing babe! ps, loving your new hair too!!! lots of love and hope to see you soon!! xxx
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on October 15, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Great post Ashley!!! I loved following your trip on InstaStories and it’s great to see all the amazing pics together! Looking forward to the next installment! Judith xx
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:20 pm
J!! thank you so much babe!!! I cant wait to see more of your amazing autumn outfits!! xxx
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on October 15, 2016 at 11:28 pm
Congrats on your new site!! Love this post and the pics are amazing! ??? Faye xo
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:21 pm
My beautiful Faye!! thank you so much for visiting my love. so much love for you and your style! xxx
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on October 15, 2016 at 11:54 pm
Babe! Love every bit. The new layout is amazing and yes, I am now craving a Parisian escape! Xxx
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Awww love you babe!! congrats on coming 2nd for best dressed!! i dont expect anything less from my super stylish babe!! yay!! celebrate when i see you next time please!! xxx
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on October 16, 2016 at 3:25 am
Sis!! Next time we have to meet in Paris! This looks soooo amazing! Love your new blog and what better way to introduce it then with these gorgeous pics!
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on October 16, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Britta We totally need to do Paris together!!! thank you so much for all your love and support girl!
xxx
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on October 16, 2016 at 7:11 am
Hey darling!!!!! As I said, came check your new look on the blog!!!! Congrats and looking soooo good!!!!!! I know exactly how you feel RN! lol
Didn’t know that Parisians aren’t early risers, glad to hear that cuz I am not, neither!
Thanks for the last recommendation, I would definitely wanna hop in those iconic big name brands’ stores, but I bet I will be so shy or hesitate to since I am always even in the US!It would be dream and fun to travel around the world with ya, my lovely ash! hehe :-*
xo from Seattle,
AikA❤︎-
on October 16, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Aika my love!! Thank you so so for visiting.!! I need to visit you soon!!! One day hopefully we will get to do something together my beautiful mermaid princess!!! lots of love always. xxx Ash
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on October 17, 2016 at 7:03 pm
wow wow wow….these pictures are amazing
Love,
Cherifa
http://www.curlsallover.com -
on October 20, 2016 at 9:42 pm
babe I love your new website look!!!! and your trip to europe looks incred !!!!!
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on October 27, 2016 at 12:05 pm
WOWWWWWW.. Beautiful photos babe!!! I can’t wait to visit Paris. 🙂 I love your new website look. Outstanding!!
Xx, Raysa