France, fashion, and design...oh my!

Where has my head been, you ask?

Not in the best of places, but not in the worst of places either. Paris. French. Minor. What?

When I think of France the first thing that comes to mind is the Eiffel Tower and the second is Fashion.

Obviously I am an interior design student and no, it doesn't have the word fashion in it, but I wholeheartedly believe that without fashion, there is no design.

There are a handful of Coco Chanel quotes that I personally really like. Why can't I form thoughts into words like this. I feel like people always have cooler things to say than me (does anyone else feel like that?).

Fashion fades, only style remains the same.

-Coco Chanel

Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions.

-Coco Chanel

...ok, coolest thought ever (well not the coolest, but you get the gist). So True. Her sentences are even architecture: they have structure and strength! Chanel: 1, Me: 0

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.
-Coco Chanel

Fashion is made to become unfashionable.
-Coco Chanel

Just something that popped into my head, but doesn't necessarily parallel this quote, not that it contradicts it either, is that when searching for pieces, whether that be at a vintage store/flea market or a way-too-expensive-for-my-wallet store, don't look for perfection. This was always my problem. I evaluate and analyze things to death. No, go with your gut and if it has personality, take the deal (hopefully it is a good deal), the perfection will come later when you pull everything together and break it in. No one wants a cookie cutter interior.

Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger.
-Coco Chanel

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.

-Coco Chanel

So these two quotes are thoughts I would like to live by, I think. You see, I am a born copier, and this can prove to be a small problem. I am hoping I can keep the copying to a minimum and change it into inspiration.

Now that you probably aren't here anymore unless you are my parents, I will say other things and beat around the bush some more.

I know French would compliment my major well and bring some life to my resume and all, but I also feel like it would significantly broaden my views. Not just knowing the history, but knowing the culture and experiencing it. The language barrier forces you to familiarize yourself with the things that aren't different. Art and design is a universal language and I could use that to my advantage. I am highly considering it (I am scared though because of the workload...and where oh where will those hours go?).  Plus I feel like it would be cool to think in French and actually have an in depth conversation in it without sounding mentally retarded or just knowing a few lines like:

Avez vous deja mange un crayon?

Qu'est-ce que tu as fais, ce weekend?

Parlez vous anglais?

...and sticking out like a sore American tourist thumb.

So here are some pictures from the latest issue of Lonny Mag of an interior in Manhattan of a Parisian inspired interior. I like how it was interpreted because to be quite honest, sometimes french style are a bit too frilly for my liking.

See. This. View. The architecture of the building across the way is the most related to Paris architecture I think, and I love how even when whoever lives here comes out, they can still feel like they are in Paris.

*Note to self: if you like the exterior so much, live across the street from it because then you can stare at it all day!