Isabel Wolf is an English author, writing from London. Her genre could be somewhat a chick lit – entertaining novels for single, working women in their 20s and 30s – yet she’s much more. Humorous and lighthearted, yes, reflective and touching… that too! A Vintage Affair is about a 34-year old Londoner, Phoebe who owns a vintage clothing store and struggles with something painful in her past. Beautiful apparel and heart-trembling human tales weave together an exquisite garment.

This coffee shop is one of my fav’ hangouts in the genteel 16th district of Paris. Just a hop away from the Eiffel Tower buzz. Phoebe’s adventures and I spent some wondrous times in the candy-colored decor. I love how the city life intertwines with the story I’m devouring. A whiff of the fresh coffee attains my nose, I close my eyes for a slit of a second.. could life get any better!

I peel, and I enter into a vast space where Matisse’s Danse de Paris, a magnificent mural, occupies nobly the entire hall. I stand admiration.

Munching on more, I penetrate deeper into the permanent collections, letting the eras of modern art – Picasso, de Kooning and Klein – lull me. I ponder on the fact that art lets me live. It inspires and boosts. I love to see the world through these glasses. I juxtapose the safe museum inside, and the somewhat chaotic outer world. They mix into a nice cocktail – full of peps and punch.

The bookstore also beguiles me. And why resist?

Colorful images, of my like, blow into my mind. Luscious eye-candy. Fashion and all sort.

I decide on an espresso and savor it in a content cloud. The art dose is gently paying its dues.

The majestic settings prolong the pleasure.

Art rises up to the skies – my thoughts adjourn on the beauties of this world, and more.

Of course I was intrigued by the zesty pink. As you can see, the light-hued wood floors give a nice and not too overtaking of a frame to the pieces.

More space. Lots of it. And in the artwork this spring’s hit color yellow pointing its peppy nose in the most charming way. I enjoy the combination. Soothing yet energetic.

To me this piece is the zippiest. On canvas the colors seem to please my eye. In clothing I wouldn’t couple them up. Would I…? Hmm.

This is just the beginning of my London story. More is on the way my dear friends!

I have a project. I’m visiting the museum room by room. As the entrance to the permanent collections if free, I can afford taking my time. I usually have lunch at a nearby riverboat, or at the museum cafeteria before the visit. Then I hit some rooms and wonder amongst the stimulating images. I sit down, and maybe even write something in my notebook. Little haiku inspired poems – minimalist pictures of the passing life.

What is it about this museum that captivates me? First of all, I adore its location at the Seine riverbanks, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Paris would be nothing without its cherished waterflow gently freshening the grayish city skyline. Secondly, I enjoy the atmosphere around the museum. Outside there are always a lot of young folks skateboarding or breakdancing. The museum visitors are a bit different, but this creates a nice contrast and an unusual, thus welcome cohabitation.

The building also hosts, at its other wing, The Tokyo Palace, a Japanese inspired cultural center. This makes it exiting being able to choose on the spot if one wants to emerge into this or that kind of atmosphere today. Both the Museum of Modern Art and the Tokyo Palace have a bookstore with some rare-to-find artsy books and magazines. I love dipping into all that overflow of pictorial impulses – all at once – and then escaping, discretely, into the outward world, carrying that something very special inside of me. Until I come back again. My sweet little getaway. Do you have one?

…at the Chanel mobile art exhibit in central park, the handsome usher there dressed in a karl lagerfeld jumper explained that there is a standby line, and currently it looks like the wait is about 4 hours. i looked at the line, a long line, and thought ‘let’s see what happens..’ maybe it won’t be quite 4 hours. some other folk came in line behind me. we all looked at one another, we looked at the architecture of the exhibit space. it was tempting… the pavilion, a white curved fluid ‘star trek’ looking labyrinth, and we thought…let’s try.

now the evening and quest for art seems to be taking on a whole life of it’s own. i’d explained that i’ve a friend in Paris, Susu, who sent me, Audrey, on this journey, and i’d like to make good of it. i felt like a journalist sent on assignment…

it turns out the wait was just about 4 hours. sounds crazy right? but in the end it was really quite lovely. we were lucky, the weather was nice, and 6 of us waiting in the same area on line formed a little group, striking up interesting ideas for conversation and laughing along the way. one girl even went for snacks and brought them back for us to enjoy. towards the end of the wait the usher comes over to us and says… ‘i think you have a pretty good chance of making it in.’

inside there is a presentation of 20 art exhibits, all inspired by Chanel’s classic 2.55 quilted-style chain hand bag. on top of that it is also an experience, unlike anything i have ever attended before. sure, it’s all a bit kooky between the videos and film and interactive and still arts, one has to be prepared to let go, meander around, allow your imagination to go free and be inspired…

there is help letting go as well. when you walk in you are asked to leave all you ‘stuff’ at this fancy coat check area, cute girls in cool Chanel outfits sit you down for a little instructional tutorial. i thought ‘all this for an exhibit.’ but i was in, i was curious and excited. you are given head phones to guide you all through the exhibit and when the voice says… ‘stand up, turn left.’ …you’re on your way for an exciting and original experience… but remember, just let go and go with the flow. much like in life…

Written by Audrey, New York