#MDVPParis: Travel Diary & Places To Visit In Paris

Okay friends, I am finally gathering my composure to put together this blog post. Firstly, because I’m in withdrawal from Paris and secondly, because… well, I’m in withdrawal from Paris. This was my first time visiting the city of love, the city that inspired so much in me without me having even visited it. And now that I’ve been, my heart honestly aches for it. Besides New York City, Paris is probably the only city in the world I’ve been to that’s had this effect on me. 

Between the sights, the food, and the endless amounts of Instagrammable locations, Paris has this infectious energy that I just can’t put into words… but I’m going to try.

This magical area surrounding the Panthéon in Paris is perfected by cobblestone steps and the most incredible old architecture nestled in the heart of modern commercialism. A short walk away is a couple of cute cafes (although, this seems to be just about everywhere in Paris) that are almost mandatory to shoot at. Sunset hits the back of these buildings and it’s truly magical.

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What is a more whimsical way of spending a day than prancing through the most beautiful of gardens with your best friend and sharing romantic moments with your partner in the infamous quarter of Palais Royale? Topped off with picking up some fresh fleures from the most artisanal corner florist, and I’d call it a perfect day. 

Outfit Details

By far one of the most fun things about being in Paris, was unintentionally coordinating with Vic on almost everyday. Before we left, we went together on a little shopping spree at one of our favourite stores, Evernew. We picked up some of the most Paris-perfect outfits to wear on our trip, including the red outfits from Day 1, but also these gorgeous floral floor-length dresses (that may have turned a few heads) as we ran through the gardens in them. 

When we saw these adorable yellow tops at Evernew, we knew we both had to have them (and that it was perfect for Paris). We styled them differently, but this stretchy little guy will have you vibing on summer all season long. I paired it with the most gorgeous lace and pom-pom-adorned skirt from Evernew and some feminine accessories that had me feeling like a Parisian before we even picked up any peonies.

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Day Three was all about her. The beauty that has inspired so many hearts and romances, and remains the (albeit cheesy) landmark of Paris – Tour Eiffel. We woke up to get her all to ourselves at 5AM and as I pulled myself out of the bed, I must say I wasn’t initially for it. But once I got there, well, her presence amidst the sunrise says it all. 

We ended up being up and out for 12 hours on Day 3, stopping at every vantage point around the Eiffel Tower and getting lost in the streets that surround her. When I got home, I expected myself (and especially my make up) to be melted off my face and utterly horrendous. I knew I was wearing my favourite foundation, Estee Lauder Doublewear, that normally stays on without faltering when I’m out and about at home; but I figured the day was just too long for it to truly last. When I arrived back at the Air BNB and looked in the mirror, it was like that moment when I was 14 and first got introduced to Doublewear for the first time all over again. Love at first sight. My make up. did. not. budge. Bless up to the foundations that have our back when we travel (and who keep us from looking like hot messes)!

I’ve also been trying out the Doublwear Concealer and it definitely hid those 5AM start times, I can tell you that much. I wear the Doublewear shade Tawny. I try a lot of make up, but if you’re traveling and you want something trusted and true, there is no better foundation to bring along with you than this one. 

By Day Four, we had definitely slowed down a bit. We had a better idea of the different areas in Paris, so we began doing what I personally love most about Paris… getting lost in all of it. We ventured over to area surrounding Notre Dame and just wandered. There’s nothing like exploring the mini alley ways of Paris, hearing the sounds of the city that inspired so much romance in the world. 

The amount of exploring we did on the daily made wearing heavy make up a no-go. That said, I definitely still had multiple outfits every day (one must match the scenery, right?). For each location, instead of changing up my entire make up look, I brought along some of my favourite new Rouge Unlimited lippies from the Shu Uemura Yazbukey Mattitude collaboration. 

It was so fitting, as Yazbukey herself is actually a Paris based designer. Her signature acrylic lips and boldly effortless style is such a representation of Paris. Each of the products include Yazbukey’s iconic lips and the packaging is so cute, I almost want to carry it around as an accessory. The collection boasts 4 key themes and 32 shades that are equally as fitting for just about everything in Paris – Sexy Red (think sunset kisses over the Pont Alexandra), Lovely Nude (think cafe hopping), Quirky Pink (think dancing by the Eiffel Tower), and Edgy Berry (think hitting up fashion district for some shopping). So for each outing, you know I had a different lippie. 

I’ve been a long time lover of the Rouge Unlimited lipsticks from Shu Uemura. They go on so smooth, it almost feels like a lip balm, but are so pigmented, you hardly have to reapply. They’re also the perfect matte lipstick that somehow doesn’t crack or dry out your lips (a key when you’re traveling). My new favourite is definitely the shade “Rose Flows”. It’s the perfect pink that matches just about everything. 

There’s no better pinnacle of a trip to Paris than visiting Versailles. It’s a full day event, so you’ll want to make sure you block off a good amount of time for yourself to enjoy it. It’s quite a bit out of the city. We took a cab out there since the trains were on strike, but boy was every penny we spent getting there worth it. It was like being transported back into the time of Marie Antoinette. We could not have had a better day to get lost in the gardens and soak in every last bit of glittering gold that is the beautiful Palace of Versailles. Clichés and all. 

The taste of Paris was addicting. The energy was intoxicating. And now that I’m home, it’s certainly calling me back. À la prochaine, Paris. 

Have you ever been to Paris? What was your favourite part? Would you want to go/go back?