Monday, February 23, 2009

Haute Couture-Jamie's presentation





Literally means "high fashion" in French.
  • The term originally referred to Charles Worth's (an Englishman) works of fashion art, but later was used for all haute couture--> The House of Worth was founded in 1858 in Paris, France.
  • A couture house has to be certified by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by the commision domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" the label of Haute Couture.
  • The criteria for Haute couture was established in 1945 and then revised updated again in 1992.
  • Those houses include: Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix and a few more less known designers in the U.S.
  • There are also some foreign members who partake in haute couture: examples include Armani and Valentino.
  • Each yeah each couture house has to present a full fashion line..
  • All very expensive- can cost from 10,000 euros up to hundreds of thousands.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Champs Elysees



The Champs Elysées (Elysian fields) were originally nothing but fields, until Marie de Medicis decided in 1616 to put up a long tree-lined pathway. In 1667, Le Notre extended the vista of the Tuileries and the Champs-Elysees became a very fashionable place to walk. In 1724, the avenue was extended up to Chaillot hill, now the site of the Arc de Triomphe and the Etoile.

The actual avenue of the Champs-Elysées did not become city property until 1828, when they added footpaths and fountains. They also added gas lighting at this time. Today, the Champs Elysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, with its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops. This special status made it the site of much growth and activity. At the very heart of Paris, it is one of the most symbolic places in the city, representative of its spirit and glory.  

The Champs Elysees is the most visited street of Paris ... The large Avenue spread from the Place de la Concorde to the Arch of Triumph. Originally fields and market gardens the place was transformed in 1616, when Marie de Medici decided to extend the garden axis of the Palais des Tuileries with an avenue of trees - There is much to be seen along the avenue and it may take from 1 to 4 hours to walk the 2km line depending on your interest for history or shopping - The most famous luxury brands have outlets there.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Eiffel Tower, by Taylor Stern

History of the Eiffel Tower



The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen.

 

The Eiffel Tower is 300 meters tall, more when the antenna is factored in. The tower weighs 7,000 tons and was the world's tallest building until 1930.

Other details about the Eiffel Tower include:

2.5 million rivets

300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it.

Sway of at most 12 cm in high winds.

Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature.

15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets). 40 tons of paint. 1652 steps to the top.

 

The tower was almost torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its antenna used both for military and other purposes, and the city let it stand after the permit expired. When the tower played an important role in capturing the infamous spy Mata Hari during World War I, it gained such importance to the French people that there was no more thought of demolishing it.- used for telegraphy at that time.

From 1910 and on the Eiffel Tower became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature.

During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has also witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and parachuted off of in 1984 by two Englishmen. In 1923 a journalist rode a bicycle down from the first level. Some accounts say he rode down the stairs, other accounts suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.