Picture this: I’m in a second-hand store with my Paris shopping guide, Clara, trying on a very cute LBD. But the dress isn’t fitting quite right in the bust. The saleswoman who is assisting us whispers something to Clara in French. “What did she say?” I asked. Clara translates: “She says you’re not wearing a…

As I researched how to cultivate a Parisienne state of mind, that effortless confidence, the assurance in her stride, the sense of self that I wanted to emulate, one thing kept coming up over and over: lingerie. Brand boutiques are around every corner in Paris, and the intimates section in Department Stores take up half…

I was ready. For months before I embarked on my first trip to the Paris in my dreams, I had thoroughly researched what to wear in Paris, purchased items that copied the looks, and carefully packed more options than needed. The trench, the smart jackets and cardigans, the white button-down, the cool jeans, and the…

Yep! Just me! I encountered lots of interesting, enlightening, and confidence-building experiences on my first solo trip. But I was unprepared for the sheer number of times I had to reaffirm that I was indeed solo. Not from Parisians. But other Americans around my age. Although, I should say that those who questioned my singleness…

By myself? As I wrote in my intro story, embarking on a solo journey to Paris at 50 wasn’t the original plan. Not even something I wanted. Definitely not what I had envisioned. Determined to fulfill my dream of Paris, I resolved to go anyway. Solo. As a woman at a certain age. Bon voyage!…