Do you want to (Paris) Tango?

I DO!

This week Carla Coulson's new book Paris Tango has been released and I have two of her delicious volumes to give away. 

Carla's tango with Paris is as exciting as it is energetic - a visual whirl through all of her best loved discoveries. She writes of her move from Florence to Paris and takes us on her journey, as she settles into, and comes to understand the gorgeous city of light. 

Carla's enthusiasm and joy are present in every word she writes and every image she captures. With her, we peak through the back stage door to the Moulin Rouge, we witness Paris through her 'black and white eyes' and we can skip through the gardens and outdoor spaces of Paris with just the turn of the page. Carla has an infectious grasp of this city, one that makes you almost feel 'Parisian' as you navigate through her chapters.

As a fashion lover the chapter that I want to sneak preview is Haute Couture. Carla takes us onto the runway as she shoots a John Galliano show for Dior and into the atelier of a master craftsman, Francois Lesage. 

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Carla writes,

'As much as I loved the glamour of the couture shows, I am more intrigued by this glimpse into M.Lesage's atelier. His team of craftswomen, les petit mains (the little hands) as he calls them, smile as we enter each of the small interconnected rooms. These women work quickly and carefully as they sew coloured beads, sequins, bright jewels, red coral and creamy shells on to leather, suede, wool and gossamer silk stretched over large wooden frames. As we move from room to room, I see shelves of boxes labelled 'Nicole', 'Chanel' and 'Karl'. Women apply stencilled embroidery paper to lengths of fabric, while others sort, count and catalogue materials. In another room, women with dextrous fingers sit hunched over wooden frames, sewing tiny sequins onto fabric one by one. Everything is done by hand, not a stitch by machine.'

As many of you already know Carla is my great friend and the photographer behind my book, My French Life.  To view her wonderful images or learn about the kind of photography Carla loves click on her links. To see even more of Carla's stunning shots of the Moulin Rouge  pop over to the lovely Miz V at Visual Vamp and read her inspired post, Paris Tango. 

So please write me a little comment (or a very long one) about anything you like at all... tell me why you would like to visit Paris or share something cheeky you managed to do or see on your first visit. Tell me if you can really Tango and if you have danced along the Seine, let me know what is your favourite Parisian taste or scent? Have you climbed the Eiffel Tower, had your caricature painted at Montmartre, grimaced at the gargoyles on the top of Notre Dame? Was it heaven, your first bite of a macaroon? What about the Louvre, the Picasso Museum or the Musee d'Orsay? Tell me all....

Any little Parisian dream, a tiny detail or a very grand fantasy and I will draw the winners next week.