Houston weather often “forgets” that there are seasons, especially when it comes to fall and winter, so the recent chilly days over here have been true breaths of fresh air. It actually feels like fall today. It’s definitely putting me in a Paris state of mind (I’m always partly in a Paris state of mind, though) because coupled with the amazing, breezy, fall weather, I’ve been getting into Garance Doré’s fairly recent “Pardon my French” videos about her time at Paris’ Fashion Week this fall (fall in Paris is what I wish on Houston everyday..). Her site is a treat: a visual diary of her weekend inspirations, things she likes at the moment, interviews she conducts with fashion greats.

The nature of her videos is unreal: I feel like I’m looking into someone’s life, yet as a friend, and as if I’m laughing right alongside her to her jokes. Her videos aren’t pretentious in any way (I think her simplicity and down-to-earth style is what surprises me the most in her videos) — and that’s surely easy to do when talking about anything concerning Paris, as in, “Look at me! I’m in Paris and doing beautiful things, which automatically makes me a very sophisticated person.”  But in fact, I think they’re richer in content with the clips of her enjoying her home doing simple things, such as having a coffee late at night, or her laughing and walking in the Jardin des Tuileries with her peers for work. Images are that of someone who knows Paris through and through; she doesn’t stop in at touristy areas, but has lunch after a fashion show at a quaint cafe, sitting close to the street in typical Parisian, blatant-people-watching style.

Garance’s site reminds me of the many reasons why I love Paris and can’t wait to return. It’s not because of the many glaring attractions available for perusal, though I certainly will not turn down an afternoon gazing out at the city from the steps of the Sacre Coeur when I return or an opportunity for an evening show at the Opèra Garnier coupled with a late night stroll along Boulevard Haussmann. But even though these are fantastic parts of Parisian adventures, that’s not what Paris is about. To me, I miss the times of walking up the three blocks toward Place de Clichy from my apartment, and stopping in the boulangerie just a few hundred feet away for a warm croissant chocolat aux amandes before getting on the metro for class. I miss those Sundays of sitting on my bed in my room and staring at the Hotel Apolla Opera’s windows across the street while taking in the soft light of the sun in the afternoon. Simple moments, like enjoying the fall air in the park or hilarious dinners with my host family are the things that I hold dear the most. It’s what comes to mind when I sit on my bed at school now, and similarly stare out my windows watching the beauty of rain as it falls, or when I saunter outside and marvel at the contrasting colors of the clouds, sky, and trees for a short study break. Maybe that’s why Paris is so appealing to me: it’s not that Parisians constantly partake in grand schemes, but rather that the vigor and light-heartedness with which they approach their everyday activities is contagious. Sure, the grand adventures are not to be missed; yet it’s as Garance reminds me as I “pardon her french” — enjoying life and the myriad moments that people can easily and quickly mark off as mundane are what truly evoke the cultural richness of a city loved by many.