This afternoon Mr M, Daisy and I arrived back from a quick, overnight jaunt to England to collect a friend and her puppy who are making their way to Greece for the summer. To travel between England and France, with pets, the most simplest and quickest way is taking the Eurotunnel, which connects Calais and Folkestone. We three did this trip back in January when we dropped the same friend to London to live, and I filmed it, which I thought fitting to share here today as it was fun to revisit and relive the journey. 

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The 'Tour' finale at the Arc de Triomphe (video)

After chasing the Tour for the better part of Sunday afternoon, Mr M and I headed home to feed the dog and watch the Arc de Triomphe be "lit yellow" - as we'd all been told would happen - from the comfort of the couch. I was not prepared for the light show performance that was actually presented - it. blew. my. mind...

Le Tour de France 100th edition Closing Ceremony (recap)
Concept and production: Auditoire (for A.S.O.)
Graphics: Les Vandales
Projection: Cofely Ineo GDF SUEZ
Sound: startrec

Since witnessing the 3D mapping light show on the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims in May I've been somewhat obsessed with the process of this specialised art form. It literally leaves me speechless. The way it brings an inanimate object to life so captivatingly and so unpredictably with such precision renders you spellbound. It's definitely the new "fireworks spectacular". I just wish I had an indication that this was what they were referring to when they promoted that the Arc de Triomphe was going to be lit up yellow, I would have stayed at on the Champs for sure!

I love that some of the day-before prep is included at the beginning of this video . I would love to see an entire "behind the scenes" film on this performance - being the events-nerd that I am, behind the scenes/ construction/ installation footage is just as interesting, if not more so, that the final product - to me anyway!

(Thanks to my Mumma for emailing me a link to this video: I was on the phone to her during the ceremony while I was desperately trying to find out who was responsible for the display. My Googling skills are usually above par but it took my Tour-fanatic Mum coming across this presentation for me to be able to share - even 17,000 kms away she's still helping out her eldest kid. Merci Maman!)

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Chanel Première, a fun fashion film

Sometime late last year, as the last of the suns rays warmed the city before retiring to hibernate for the winter, I took Daisy for our usual weekend stroll from Opéra to the Carousel du Louvre, which takes us through Place Vendome.

As we walked into the open place there was some commotion towards the left and I saw camera dollies and umbrella lights set up in the usual style for a small film shoot. I stuck around to take some pictures and as they commenced filming it dawned on me that the shoot was for Chanel and more than likely its jewellery collection.

Since then I've been waiting to come across the completed version, and months later, I finally have! And it's adorable! (I've embedded the film below; if it has been removed please notify me and you can watch it here).

The film was made for the relaunch of Chanel's 80-year-old 'Première' watch line, the most elegant and understated in its collection, and the first ever to launch under the Chanel label.

The level of detail in this Chanel film is mind-blowing and I can understand now how it took so long to be released; this would have been a huge project to edit.
I love how the faces of the models are for the most part hidden, as opposed to staring wistfully with a blank gaze into the lens as seen so often in fashion commercials (for a hilarious and brilliant parody of this ridiculous trend watch Matthew Frost's 'Fashion Film' featuring Lizzy Caplan).

The interaction between the models and the music is a sweet, unexpected touch and I just love how relatable this is; girls can watch this and think "Oh, yeah, I do that, and I have headphones just like that, oh, so I need this watch" - Mr M take note, hunh? The birthday is in three months...
I especially love the short grab of the girl trying to push the heavy Parisian apartment building door open with her back while clutching groceries and saying "Bonjour" to probably the building's grumpy old Gardienne - add a retractable dog leash to this picture, minus the beautiful watch, and that could be me on a daily basis.

Enjoy...

For a brilliant interactive experience before watching it in full-screen you can head to the watch's dedicated site and start scrolling down.
xx