FLORIAN DENICOURT

The Parisian leather designer, Florian Denicourt focused on leather goods as designer of accessories from Vanessa Bruno from 2001 to 2003 after graduating from the Duperré School in 1999. His first men's collection was launched in 2004, with hold-alls designed specifically for men, oversized masculine belt packs and rectangular pieces in canvas or leather that made perfect traveling bags. 

A few years later he added shoes to his collection, classical in their design and manufacture, for both men and women. For Florian Denicourt everything is about androgyny. However, after having met with the backing of the more demanding stores, Florian Denicourt continues his work at the cutting edge of the avant-garde. 

Denicourt's men's and women's bags are laid out like chic bonbons on the shelves, each model sporting different minimalist forms and trimmings. This French-made, couture leatherwork; worth every penny of it!

These python bucket bags are simple, sophisticated and perfect for every day. Though they came in two different designs but they are equally roomy inside and have a handy (adjustable) shoulder strap. They simply emphasise the clean lines with neatly tailored separates.

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ESTELLE DÉVÉ

Estelle Dévé jewellery was established in December 2008. Since its debut collection, Estelle has garnered the support of Australia's most progressive fashion magazines. The brand has built an impressive editorial profile and a growing list of national and international stockists. Estelle holds a double degree in Business and Marketing, with experience in a multitude of fashion-related roles she has in-depth knowledge of the industry. The designer now finds herself one of its fastest-rising stars.

From delicate pewter cast chains of gold, to knuckledusters and statement pieces made of Swarovski crystal pearls, Estelle's vision is as much intriguing as it is innovative. Completely self-taught it allows her to create and discover new techniques, free from the constraints of tradition. The designer's French roots inform her artisanal approach resulting in personal and highly conceived collections.

Estelle grew up in a small, isolated village in the south of France. With only two channels on the television, she would watch fashion week summaries on the news and was taken by visions of Montana, Gauthier and Paco Rabanne. Entrepreneurship is a family venture with Estelle's father and aunt working as designers for their own jewellery brand in the nineties. Her aunt later went on to design for Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld and is now the creative director of the fine jewellery house Chaumet.  

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5 Top Beauty Secrets of French Women

Happy Sunday! Today Frenchologie will share with you the 5 Top Beauty Secrets that lay behind the French women. If you ask Mireille Divulges, she would tell you:

Secret #1: French women know that hydration is the key to good skin and good hair.

I strongly recommend drinking a glass of water before going to bed and first thing in the morning. Water is the French women's secret weapon - for skin and beauty, for health (flushing toxins) and for weight control (don't snack when you think you are hungry, your body is really thirsty).

Secret #2: French women appreciate that good circulation makes one glow.

French women are not afraid of using cold water in the shower to get one's circulation going. It is certainly part of my routine. The opening then closing of the pores with hot then cold water, the shock to the nervous system and wake-up call to the brain of a cold shower, and the rigorous towel wiping after a cold finish to a shower bring blood and colour to one's skin.

Secret #3: French women are taught and know grandma's beauty rituals work.

My mother taught me, for example, to clean my face thoroughly every night before going to bed and to apply a mask periodically (her fifteen minute version included cucumber slices over the eyes and a crushed strawberry-honey mix for the face); and she taught me to rinse my hair with cold water with an added tablespoon or vinegar or lemon juice for added shine before moisturising. 

Secret #4: French women navigate the health benefits and risks of the sun.

Apart from a Riviera-bronze fixation in the 1960s and 1970s, French women are not sun-worshipping lizards. Today they are much more likely to apply their tan from a tube or bottle than from a month at St. Tropez. They are careful to wear sunscreens and look for appropriate SPF in their beauty emollients. And while they are likely to sit in the shade to protect their skin, they are equally likely to be out and about in the sun, enjoying its light and benefits, by walking or doing some light sports or movement as part of their weekly routine.

Secret #5: French women know one can go far with a great haircut, a bottle of champagne and a divine perfume. Nothing more needs to be said about this one!

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APERLAĪ Paris

"The leg is beautiful. The walk becomes a signature...". A pair of comfortable killer heels is always a good idea if you ask me on a casual Saturday night out. It does not only add definition and lengthens calves, but also instantly give you confidence. Take this Aperlaï heels for example. Whenever I don't know what to wear I just throw on a pair of (ripped) jeans, an oversized white/grey t-shirt, and this pair of heels rather than the same old pair of black ballerina and I'm good to go. Super simple, yet fashionable and not boring.

This pair of heels is from the none other than Aperlai, the luxury shoe line founded by Alessandra Lanvin in 2009, takes its name from an ancient lycian city. From sandals to cuissardes, the audacious stiletto or hexagon heels project over the typical vertiginous Aperlaï highs (up to 14 cm) to convey a simple and refined allure. The special graphic Geisha lines was introduced for the Fall Winter 2011/12 collection and realised separately in Florence, is an ode to cubism and already one of Aperlaï signatures.

While during the day, this pair of fringe rivets is perfect for spicing up boring day out outfits! God I love these shoes!

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Vinaigrette Mustard

This recipe? I'm addicted. I can eat it all day long from breakfast, lunch and dinner. I just, can't get enough. Even when I think I've had my fill and walk away satisfied, ten scones later it's calling my name from the fridge 'another bowl of green, please'. This spicy honey-mustard dressing is not only an excellent for salad but also can be used to marinate pork loin chops! You have to try it with your summer salads!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon prepared Dijon-style mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 drops hot sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, pepper, salt, garlic, oil and hot sauce until thoroughly combined. Chill until serving. 

Tips: You can also squeeze some lemon juice for your liking.

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5 WAYS TO SAY "SWEET" IN FRENCH

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JEAN LEMPEREUR

The sun is finally shining this summer. Somewhere. It might not necessarily be on these shores, but we're reliably informed it puts in a regular appearance in most equatorial, western, eastern southern European, African.. pretty much all the countries you're considering for your holiday.

Which means your eyewear will be in need of a summer upgrade. However, a stunning stylish pair of glasses or sunglasses isn't much help because with such hot weather, protecting our ocular health is the new black (essential). Luckily, Jean Lempereur the 80s France optician designs the finest quality luxurious multilayered real wood frame with almost clear demo lenses (slightly fade to yellow, very retro). So 80s yums!

The golden flexible hinges were really rare and avant grade for the time, and for a wooden frame are necessary as its impossible to bend the temples to adapt them to the face, the only way are the springs at the hinges. These are made exactly as another french handmade wooden brand, Woodlook, and most probably J Lempereur gave them the work for these. 

Ultrarare and precious collectible glasses are becoming very trendy but at the same time unique and rare! Now, what's there to worry about when it comes to investing a pair of promising eyewear that is so durable and even better, from the qualified optician and designer himself? The great news is we now have them in-store! Visit us at 53 Monmouth Street WC2H 9DG London UK.

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PARIS COUTURE FASHION WEEK | STREET STYLE

Source: Studded Hearts | W Magazine | vogue.co.uk

Street style snaps from Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2014.

Oh Beauty!

It has been too long. I can't even recall when was the last time London being so warm and I guess this is a good news because who doesn't love summer in London? As things hot up (I believe so it will), a lazy rhythm takes over, 'lazy' here I meant convenient, fast and easy! Just as the title says - 'Oh Beauty!' You want to look your best even when you're sweating like a pig. Thanks to Opalis for introducing a range of beauty products that are super magical to our hair. 

One of the products is definitely the dry hair shampoo has a scent of orange blossom that is so refreshing I swear. For people whose hair is naturally dry or that has been dyed or bleached often becomes coarse, unmanageable, tangled, and split at the ends. The scent of orange blossom come from the extract with sunflower and wheat germ oil will soothe and soften the scalp, while moisturising and protecting longer hair. Its active ingredients pamper and nourish your hair with each new application, making it suitable - recommended, even - for daily use.

Of course, if you have a softer scalp and affected by dandruff. Opalis Dandruff Shampoo is formulated to wash off with the ultra-concentrated cade oil formula. It helps to eliminates dandruff and itching to restore health and balance to the scalp. A very mild shampoo that can be used everyday. 

For a full hair treatment or those who simply wish to give their scalp a wellness treatment, it is important to treat your scalp with care lotion (once in a while) and especially to those who has been suffering from hair loss, excess sebum, greasy and dry hair, itching and lack of tone. Opalis Scalp Care Lotion helps to stimulates growth, controls excess sebum and reduces itching. Its cleansing properties work both on greasy and dry hair. This magic tip will restore zing to tired roots.

Lastly, a hair oil that is like a serum, mask, holiday protection that can repair, protect and anti frizz is a highly nourishing hair care power pack. The reason how it can be so ever lasted and trusted is its ingredients, macadamia oil, which nourishes longer sections in exactly the same way as serum does. This gives your hair bouncier, softer and shinier vibrant. 

Still not convinced? Don't take our word for it! 

Perhaps you can come in-store to get free samples from Frenchologie and have a test yourself?

53 Monmouth Street

Covent Garden

WC2H 9DG

London, UK

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MAÏZA

Old familiar sayings Home is where the heart is and most importantly, a comfortable home is what leads my heart home. 

A very creative French brand, Maiza Editions offers a range of distinctive objects and side furniture that can be displayed at home. All their products are explored and inspired by imagination that are desire to display and play around at home. It sounds interesting to me already and sometimes interesting objects or displays can help to strike off a conversation during an awkward moment at a house party. 

For instance, who would know that the red/wood racing tray placing on top of the kitchen island is to actually keep fresh fruits (or perhaps peppers  and baby coconuts)? And sometimes can be used as a serving tray? This only makes me want to go to the grocery and buy fruits in various colours and decorate them in my kitchen.

Another very fascinating object is the film sculpture vase. This unique piece is a functioning vase and a film sculpture. Who would actually know these two functions could put together and become one of the decorations at home that doesn't take up too much space? It has 35mm rolls of film and with a resin interior to make it waterproof. It's safe to say that it can even be displayed with kids running around in the house. This creation was sourced by Raphaël from a small movie theatres in Brussels, where he lives. 

Lastly, if you're a coffee junkie or simply prefer hot drinks, you will definitely love to have one of this fusion mugs that has a creative designed handles. The designers, Céline Merhand and Anaïs Morel finds a new way to explore sensations through objects. The fusion of the mug has a thoughtful meaning referring to drinking a hot beverage with pleasure. You will feel immediately comfortable holding it with your hand in its handles. With this mug, I foresee a little fun drinking to my morning cup of Jo! 

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Thursday Breakfast.

Good morning lovelies, what's for breakfast today? For an early bird like me on an usual day, I would prefer to bake something yummy than the same old big English breakfast. With that said, today recipe is a type of French pastry called Madeleines. They are so easy to make and delicious. Without further ado, let's get down to the ingredients and steps.

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest 
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Brush the madeleine tray with melted butter then shake in a little flour to coat, tapping out the excess. 
2. Whisk together the eggs and the sugar in a bowl until frothy. Lightly whisk in the remaining ingredients. Leave to stand for 20 minutes before carefully pouring into the prepared madeleine tray.
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture has risen a little in the middle and is fully cooked through. Transfer the madeleines to a wire rack and leave for a few minutes to cool slightly. These are best beaten within an hour of cooking. 

Voila! Now it's ready to be served.

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Années 50

A big thank you to everyone who entered our prize competition. As the competition has now come to an end, we are pleased to announce that the winners of our Bastille Day Celebration 2014 are Fiona and Susan! Congrats and you both should be contacted by us very soon :)

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On the other note, during the long hiatus last week, Frenchologie was away attending the Exhibition of Années 50 in Palais Galliera, Musée de la Mode. Fashion was already popular in the 1950. It varied greatly from the beginning to end. The exhibition shows a detailed Woman's Fashions of the fifties - basques, petticoats, corolla skirts, pointed shoes, bright-coloured floral and striped prints, wasp-waist suits with straight skirts, strapless sheath dresses, cocktail dresses, rock crystal embroidery: such was the couture of the fifties and the bikini was developed.

Here are a few of what we captured during the exhibition-

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