The Bardot Edit: Paris Couture Week 2014

Couture season in Paris is not for the faint of heart. This week’s fashion hustle was punctuated by star-studded events featuring supermodels (Elle Macpherson), girlfriends of supermodels (Michelle Rodriguez), reality stars (Kim Kardashian), scandalous bloggers (Miroslava Duma), daughters of muses (Tallulah Harlech), and the token burlesque star (Dita von Teese). It rained, the champagne poured, and then it got très très froid.

Here are some of Petite Brigitte’s unforgettable looks from the shows.

 

5. DIOR: Little black wiggle dress.

 

4. VIKTOR & ROLF: A throwback to the ballet years !

3. ZUHAIR MURAD: A suit with some hardware.

 

3. ELIE SAAB: A sexy sheer wedding.

 

2. ZUHAIR MURAD: Head to toe zebra is always a good idea!

 

 

 

And the world’s sexiest language is …

It’s official… Français mes amis, le français!

 

 

Natalie Portman: welcome to Paris

The most anticipated Hollywood arrival has landed in Paris, but will she be in town for long?

Natalie Portman is setting up house in the City of Lights, as her husband Benjamin Millepied takes the reigns of the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris.

The move will see the starlet and her family based in Paris, but travelling often to her native Israel, where she is set to make her directorial debut in A Tale of Love and Darkness. Filming on that is slated to begin in January 2014.

One thing is for sure, there will be a certain adjustment period for the quasi-vegan Portman. Paris is a city of Vuitton leathers, J Mendel furs, and boudin noir.

Good luck finding the nearest Urth Café or organic cotton chemise. But if you crack for some dairy, you’ve got the best cheese selection right around the corner!

Charlotte Casiraghi’s maternity style

courtesy of Hello Magazine

She’s due anytime now! Charlotte Casiraghi, the prettiest face in Monaco since Grace Kelly, will give birth before the end of the year.

Spotted last week at a charity gala, Charlotte beamed in a delicate floor length maxi dress by French boutique “1 et 1 font 3.”

The soon-to-be father, French comedian Gad Elmaleh, recently confirmed that the couple are not engaged.

Beckham mania hits Paris!

The Beckham tribe have arrived for the kick-off of David’s six month séjour in Paris, and the paparazzi explosion in the 8th arondissement has not gone unnoticed!

The posh family have settled in to the Imperial suite at the Bristol hotel on rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré for the week, and enjoyed a family dinner on Wednesday night at the nearby Royal Monceau.

While it is David’s contract with Qatari owned Paris Saint Germain (PSG) that has garnered most of the attention in France, the swarm of foreign press remains focused on glamourous Victoria. The style maven has not disappointed, and continues to pull off effortlessly chic looks from her own A/W 13 collection.

While we will be seeing a lot of them over the next few months, Victoria and the four children will actually be based in London while David plays ball in Paris. Go PSG!

Chanel défilé: Karl stands up for gay marriage

The finale of his opulent haute couture show today in Paris made a statement on the hot topic du jour (especially here in France): gay marriage.

Karl sent two brides down the aisle, with little boy in hand (his godson), in what he confirmed was a show of support for gay marriage.

Amber Heard & Marie de Villepin: Parisian lovers?

The bi-sexual Rum Diaries beauty was spotted at CDG airport yesterday, arriving très incognito in Paris next to Marie de Villepin, the NYC-based model and daughter of politician Dominique de Villepin. The two girls have been spotted together on numerous occasions over the past months, leading some to speculate that the relationship is heating up.

Amber made headlines last year after a rumoured fling with co-star Johnny Depp.

The two girls are advocates of gay marriage, and are expected to join in the March for Marriage Equality this Sunday in Paris. Advocates hope for an even larger turn-out than last week’s huge protest against marriage equality, which involved mostly Catholic groups.

This weekend’s equality rally should be much more festive, with lesbians and supporters encouraged to wear wedding dresses.

Mary-Kate Olsen & Olivier Sarkozy: l’amour toujours?

The odd couple of New York seems to blend in just fine here in Paris, as Mary Kate and Olivier strolled through the Parisian streets this week.

 

Together for an impressive eight months already, the fashion magnate Olsen and her corporate beau (brother of Nicolas), have purchased a home in Manhattan together. She recently denied rumours of an engagement after being caught sporting a ring on her left hand.

 

Could they be house hunting in the city of lights as well?

 

 

Paris celebrity couple alert – Kardashian & Kanye shop Avenue Montaigne

In the world of celebrity couples, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West may be the most photographed of the moment. Despite her pregnancy, the couple shows no signs of cutting back from their non-stop promoting, jetsetting, and publicity domination.

Arriving in Paris on Tuesday, they immediately hit the shops on Avenue Montaigne, specifically French luxury brands like Céline and Lanvin. Kim, dressed down in pants and a cape ensemble, looked refreshingly make-up neutral and fresh-faced.

After tiring of the boutiques, they stopped in for a bite at the trendy Costes outpost,  L’Avenue.

While it’s probably too early for them to hit the baby stores, put Bonpoint and Tartine et Chocolat on notice: the stork is about to deliver a big marketing opportunity for 2013!

Best Clubs in Paris 2012

Tis the season to recap the best clubs in Paris for this year, 2012. Santé!

5. Titty Twister (above): A new club for your black leather nights. Inspired by the Rodriguez/Tarantino biker bar in From Dusk Til Dawn, this is the perfect club to bust out that Hell’s Angels look.  Right in the heart of club district at the end of rue Ponthieu, its one of the few clubs in Paris to offer a pool table in the spacious fumoir. Scantily clad employées also dance on the bar, but that’s the only place you’re likely to see much dancing as there is no real dance floor just roomy tables. Viva americana.

4. VIP Club: This big club is nothing very original, but the space is huge and there is a festive ambiance with a lot of highrollers you might see again during the summer in Saint Tropez. If bling is what you are looking for, VIP and its impresario Jean Roch have that covered. You might catch a spontaneous concert by the Black Eyed Peas, Busta Rhymes, or FloRida.  Dinner in the restaurant, Gioia, is a surprisingly nice experience for kicking off a night of partying.

3. Matignon: Whether you are finished your meal or not, the restaurant at Matignon turns up the music to club levels around 11pm, and from then on, expect lots of champagne popping, sparklers, and dancing. Thursday-Saturday, this place is booked, especially during fashion week. Downstairs the club is small but hosts regular tables of fashion models and chic Parisien types.

2. Raspoutine: A club for all ages. A rare mix of the fashionable and accomplished, the ancien regime and the new. Kate Moss drops in during fashion week, and Mick Jagger parties there until 4am on a Thursday night. Raspoutine is decadent, fun, and ‘members-only.’ Once a club of ill-repute, its now the place to see and be seen in Paris.

1. Cirque de Bonheur: A little bit of Ibiza in Paris. This giant space (formerly the Man Ray) is home to guest DJ’s and elaborate parties. It attracts equal parts posh and bohemia, and is known for it’s ecclectic themed parties and sideshows featuring fireblowers and midgets. At the helm of this club is Danish impresario, Rasmus Michau, who’s creativity and enthusiasm (and Viking good looks) have helped reinvigorate Parisian nightlife.

Top 10 winter activities in Paris:

10. Cozy fireside dinner in Montmartre @  Hotel Particulier. (featured in photo)

9. Hot chocolate & people watching @ Café de Flore

8. A night on the town with festive dinner @ Matignon then cozy drinks around the corner @ Mathis

7. Holiday shopping @ le Bon Marché (too crowded at Printemps or Galeries Lafayette)

6. Get the ‘perfect polish’ manicure in red at Manucurist.  Lasts forever.

5. Keep culturally up-to-date with some of the fabulous exhibitions around town, especially the Fashion & Impressionism at Orsay and Hopper at Grand Palais.

4. Reserve your table early for the best winter meal ever for 45 euros @ Frenchie in the 9th.

3. Sample some full bodied reds from the comfort of big leather chairs at new wine bar, O Chateau.

2. Taste the winter flavors at Ladurée and Pierre Hermé- macaroons are gluten free!

1. Grab a bottle of champagne and rendez-vous at Place de la Concorde for a ride on the holiday Ferris Wheel (la grande roue). Magical!

Quote du jour

Best outdoor dining in Paris

Here is Petite Brigitte’s list for the best outdoor dining in Paris. Bon app!

1. Le Café de l’Homme: With a view of the Eiffel Tower to leave you breathless, this restaurant at the heart of Trocadero is both trendy and romantic.
2. Drouant & La Fontaine Gaillon: These restaurants are side by side in a calm neighborhood near the Opera. While Drouant wins for all around cuisine, Fontaine Gaillon’s lush candelit ambiance and delicious seafood keeps us coming back.
3. Le Saut de Loup: You might want to lower your expectations (slow service and hit&miss food), but this restaurant terasse set in the middle of the Louvre has one of the best outdoor placements in Paris. They serve a nice duo de tartare as well.
4. Minipalais: This elegant restaurant (featured above) has noble proportions and is located in the Grand Palais. It’s great for a dinner with visiting family or business guests.
5. Derriere: It’s a funky neighborhood joint that has the right mix of trendy and laid-back bohemian. With reasonable prices and a fun adjoining bar (“Andy Wahloo”), the terasse of this resto is hopping all summer long.

What are your fav outdoor spots to eat in Paris?

Avril Lavigne rocks the truffle house

Canadian singer -and French passport holder- Avril Lavigne spent last week in Paris in the company of Nickelback frontman, Chad Kroeger, with whom she is collaborating on a new album.

 

Spotted here at Place de la Madeleine, she enjoyed lunch at the truffle-lover’s mainstay, Maison de la Truffe.

Later in the evening, she chilled with friends until past 3am in the outdoor VIP garden of L’Arc Paris.

While her star might be fading stateside, the ‘punk rocker’ has been a hit down under this year, and recently made the cover of Australian FHM.

Scarlett Johansson looking lovely in Paris

The single life suits Scarlett Johansson, who looked positively lovely while enjoying a late night drink with friends  in a café on the left bank of Paris. No sign of reported beau, Nate Taylor.

The actress has been enjoying some time off before starting the press junket for her new film The Avengers next month.

Aside from café hopping, Scarlett was out shopping in the Marais district, hitting up stylish boutiques like l’Eclaireur, and enjoying the springtime weather in Place des Vosges.

Josh & Amanda: in love in Paris

 

Josh Harnett and Amanda Seyfried couldn’t hide their new relationship on the streets of Paris last week.

The two lovebirds strolled hand in hand by Café de Flore, looking more like students than celebrities, and going virtually unrecognized- save the odd American tourist.

Hilary Clinton in Paris

Hilary Clinton’s expression says it all… elle adore Paris! 

The secretary of state arrived in the city yesterday for the ‘Friends of Libya’ conference.

“What we heard today was very promising,” she told reporters at a press conference.

Natalia squeezes LVMH: couple alert!

One is a child of communist Russia, and the other a child of ruthless captialism, but this summer its free market love for supermodel Natalia Vodianova and LVMH heir Antoine Arnault.

The two lovebirds couldn’t stop their public displays of affection while vacationing in Ibiza this August.

Natalia, 29, freshly split from Brit real-estate heir husband Justin Portman, didn’t waste any time going after the Arnault heir, who is currently ranked the wealthiest family in France. LVMH also happens to be one of her major employers, as she does campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Givenchy among other labels.

Mandarin Oriental Paris: worth the wait?

For those of us protectionistes who hate to see change in the classic landscape of Paris, the fears that the new Mandarin Oriental would be an eyesore on lovely rue St. Honoré were unfounded. After nearly three years of suspense, hidden behind a horrid construction facade that took up half of the rue, the big reveal was  by all accounts a non-event.

In fact, the exterior facade of the hotel is so inconspicuous,  almost communist in its austerity, that Petite Brigitte has missed the entrance to the hotel several times and had to turn around!

Once successfully inside, the fresh modernity consistent with the Mandarin brand comes through in the minimalist design, white flowers, and noble materials. To the left is the space age bar, where a small interior opens out into a verdant Hong Kongesque garden cocktail louge… definitely the tables of choice on a nice evening. The menu is strictly liquid for the moment though snacks will be added shortly. The bar specializes in gourmet cosmo-style cocktails as well as champagne cocktails, at prices that rival the Plaza Athenée (around EUR24 a pop), though perhaps not at the same quality or expert service of the Plaza. Petite Brigitte & co. waited 30 minutes for cocktails– a near disaster. At these prices, the clientele consists mostly of hotel clients, a few curious Parisians, and businessmen with expense accounts. While it is a more fashionable clientele than neighborhood rivals like the Park Hyatt, it cannot touch the coolness of the adjacent Hotel Costes.

To the right, the restaurant ‘Camelia’ continues in the cool, modern style, with a gastronomic menu, and although Petite Brigitte hasn’t tried it yet, the ambiance looks a little froide. The only tables really worth having are outside along the pond, as the candlelight and foliage create a romantic setting. Just hoping the service is better than at the bar!

Mandarin Oriental Paris

251 Rue Saint-Honoré

75001 Paris

01 70 98 78 88

A Pop-Up Paris Picnic Is Coming to NYC

THERE are picnics, and then there are picnics. Notre Dame was one of two sites for Pariss Dîner en Blanc. Guests, all in white, brought their own tables and food. Three weeks ago, in the golden light of an early-summer evening, thousands of Parisians dressed entirely in white converged on two of the city’s most picturesque locations — 4,400 of them in the plaza at the cathedral of Notre Dame; 6,200 in a courtyard of the Louvre — for a feast that was neither advertised nor publicly heralded. They had brought along not only their own epicurean repasts but also their own tables, chairs, glasses, silver and napery.

via A Pop-Up Paris Picnic Is Coming to New York – NYTimes.com.

Cultivate your inner Carla?

Petite Brigitte always gets a kick out of the usual Carla-bashing that takes place here in France, but this positive spin by Alexis Marble is surprisingly refreshing!

‘Carla Bruni and Me’

Ever since Carla Bruni married Nicolas Sarkozy and became first lady of France, I have been a bit obsessed with her. There is something about Carla, and I don’t just mean her fabulous style. It is her confidence, her calm and cool demeanor. You have to love a woman who has unapologetically slept with both rock stars and royalty. A woman who professes to be polyandrous and then settles into domestic bliss. A woman who sings sultry French pop songs while attending embassy parties in chic flats and covered up couture. When I heard recently that she might be pregnant, the picture was complete. The President of France, clearly wildly in love with his wife, will now be bonded to her forever-polyandry be damned.

So, as a recent divorcee, who is dipping her toes (well-pedicured# into the pool of possibility of finding love again, I have decided that Madame Sarkozy is my mentor. Calm. Cool. Collected and confident. Not a Cosmo-swilling, bar hopping, man hungry babe on the prowl in knock off Loubutins .For me, I will don my ballet flats #or real Loubutins) with confidence and style. Let those good men find me (I know they are out there) not because I am available, but because I’m not. I am thriving (albeit not polyandrous…yet) on my own. Like Carla B., I will be the mystery woman behind the brunette mane and chic sunglasses.

I realize this plan to cultivate my inner Carla may sound far-fetched and perhaps even egotistical, but this persona is my armor. After 22 years of marriage, babies, confusion and heartbreak I must enter this new phase of life protected by my strength, not my weakness. What did not work before is being tossed out-I am trying on the new me and trying out the new men (where ere they may be) So far, I have accumulated a string of starter beaux-those Starbucks baristas with the nice smiles and the man at the car repair shop who thinks he’s still got game. Those men are not the goal, but a girl’s got to start somewhere. I have not pulled my Carla out for them. I am reserving her aura for the men who get it. For the men who appreciate a woman’s gifts (all of them) and can keep up with the desires of a woman starting over and ready to dive in-consequences or not. If I play it to safe (long nights of solo Scrabble-well, solo anything, at home) I will miss what’s really happening. With Carla B. as my muse, I will venture forth to see what’s going on in the world. A week in Tokyo? Check. A sexy weekend in San Francisco? Check. An esoteric lecture at a museum with dinner afterwards? Check.

As I alternate between my ballet flats and my stilettos, I will find my balance. I may even find that man-not the man I “need” but the man I desire. Like Carla Bruni, I’ll make settling down sexy, not subservient. Vive la difference-I am off to change my shoes and

via Alexis Marble: Carla Bruni and Me.

Midnight in Paris : Petite Brigitte’s movie pick of 2011

It usually would be extraneous to talk about a movie poster in a movie review, but in this case the poster for Woody Allen’s latest feature, Midnight in Paris, is particularly instructive. Here we see Owen Wilson, cast in the role of the stereotypical Allen protagonist and even dressed in a nebbish fashion much like Woody in Annie Hall or any number of his films, walking along the Seine in Paris. Behind him, the city is dissolving into a post-Impressionist landscape, the sky alight with the swirling celestial background of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

Although the character of Gil Pender (Wilson) will find himself transported — literally, via a vintage Peugeot that appears at the same bend of a Parisian street at midnight — not to Van Gogh’s Arles but to Hemingway’s Paris a la Moveable Feast, the poster effectively conveys the magic realism that Allen infuses into the film, his best in recent memory.

via Rob Kirkpatrick: Woody Rediscovers Woody in Paris.

Carla’s pregnant, not hiding it

These maternity pants should quell what lingering doubts there may have been that First Lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy is pregnant.

Let’s just pray that her pregancy stays scandal-free, and that the child looks something like Sarko, and not alleged lover Benjamin Biolay!  Mon dieu we don’t need more scandals here for the moment.

Stephen Clarke on DSK: a few years in the merde?

SINCE Sunday, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, was arrested on sexual assault charges in New York, French politicians have been loudly expressing their horror at his “violent” treatment at the hands of America’s criminal justice system. It must be a shock to them: the sight of a top French establishment figure being treated like an ordinary criminal is about as rare as a photo of the Queen of England in a bikini.

But they are not merely voicing their concern for an esteemed colleague; many of them are also thinking, “There but for the grace of God (or rather the grace of living in France and not the United States) go I.”

France may think it had a revolution, but in fact it just got a new, and even more powerful, elite. They believe themselves so indispensable to the running of the country that trying to topple one of them is a bit like threatening to shoot a prize racehorse for nibbling your lawn. You’re meant to shut up and let them nibble.

via Droit du Dirty Old Men – NYTimes.com.

Isami is the chic place for sushi

On the scenic banks of Ile Saint Louis, a small sushi restaurant named Isami is drawing in big names in the fashion industry. The expertly sliced sushi, and other japanese specialities, make reservations mandatory in this five table establishment.  

Petite Brigitte spotted which famous sexogenarian designer seated by the counter, arm over a stunningly chic (and young) blonde?

Don’t miss: the sashimi, the sake, and the green tea matcha ice cream

ISAMI  4 Quai d’Orléans 75004 Paris – 01 40 46 06 97

Kate Moss photo exhibition opens in Paris

 Paris has so many cool art galleries popping up in the north part of the Marais district, and this Kate Moss exhibition will certainly draw the fashionistas into the district.  Loving this photo above… very Bardotesque.

 

 (With all the fuss about drugs, rockstars and anorexia-inspiring catchphrases it’s sometimes difficult to remember that Kate Moss is famous for a reason – her jaw-dropping good looks.A new exhibition hopes to remind us with a collection of photographs which go on display today at La Gallerie de L’Instant in Paris.

via Kate Moss exhibition of famous photos of the model opens in Paris | Mail Online.

Gunther Sachs dies, Bardot mourns

 

Sad news out this weekend on the most glamourous of Brigitte Bardot’s ex-husbands. Gunther Sachs, the dashing playboy who married Brigitte in 1966 after a fairytale courtship, took his life in Gstaad this weekend after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. His legend will live on. Check out Glenys Roberts‘ nostalgic reportage…

The newlyweds, who were impossibly glamorous, were all over each other that night in Hollywood. Brigitte Bardot was wearing the shortest of mini dresses, Gunther Sachs was in his trademark blazer with loafers and no socks.Finally, they went upstairs to consummate their marriage — to the great relief of everyone, including myself, at their wedding reception. We had all feared they might be about to perform on the dining room table such was the sexual chemistry that simmered between them.Perhaps memories of that extraordinary night in 1966 played through Sachs’s mind before he shot himself at the weekend at the age of 78.

via Gunther Sachs dies: Brigitte Bardot’s ex-husband shoots himself | Mail Online.

Best clubs in Paris – 2011

Last year Parisians went into crisis mode after a well-publicized petition claimed that Paris nightlife was on the verge of a slow death. They even coined the expression, “City of Sleep.” L’horreur!

While we may have been facing a party downturn in recent years, Petite Brigitte is happy to report that Paris nightlife is still going strong and 2011 is shaping up to be a year of crazy fêtes (starting with Kate Moss at Raspoutine in February).

Here are your top 5 hottest clubs du jour, but keep in mind: if you aren’t on a list and are going it alone, keep your finger’s crossed and arrive before 11:30. A few attractive girlfriends can’t hurt either.

1. Bagatelle: Built as a hunting lodge on a bet between Marie Antoinette and the Count of Artois, the elegant Bagatelle Chateau and Gardens in the Bois de Boulogne hosts the wildest parties of the summer, such as the notorious Eurotrash Disney party (you’ll never look Mickey in the eyes again). It is a hike getting out here to the western edge of Paris, but well worth it on a warm summer night, especially if there is a good guest DJ. Arrive for dinner or near 11pm to avoid the crowds. Costumes are commonplace, and leave your Louboutin’s at home- it’s a jungle out there.

2. Chez Raspoutine: This red-velvet cocoon of Paris’ most posh noctambules is located just off the Champs-Elysées. The music isn’t great, the dancefloor is petite, but it’s the place to see & be seen, and weekends see a smattering of Europe’s top models mixing with heirs of the luxury industry. Dress to kill.

3. L’Arc: This club near the Arc de Triomphe may not be as classe as the chichi Raspoutine, but the music is better and the lovely outdoor garden is a welcome addition in the summertime. The management have a Riviera sense about them when it comes to partying… not surprising as they are from Cannes! It’s a steamy club with a long bar, and a decent restaurant on the top floor. Great for groups of friends as other clubs tend to turn away larger groups. Opt for tables in the VIP section.

4. Le Baron & Montana: These sister clubs are so exclusive you probably won’t get in unless you are with Karen Mulder or Sean Lennon. With their quirky music, film industry clientele, and celebrity walk-ins, the Baron and Montana are the havens of cool for the right and left bank, respectively. Don’t dress to kill here because looks don’t matter. In fact, the hairier and more unkempt the better. Flannel shirts welcome.

5. Cirque du Bonheur: You might have known this location as the Mandela Ray, but forget all of that because now it is the ‘Circus of happiness’. Think fire breathers, midgets, acrobats, and guest DJ’s from Ibiza like Tim Rustow mixing among a thousand youthful Parisians. This was the hot club of winter 2010/2011 but will close down in mid June as most of this party crowd heads to Bagatelle.

Inès de la Fressange, a Frenchwoman’s Parisienne

Check out Elaine’s NY Times review of Inès de la Fressange’s new style book on how to look French. I must admit, its the best guide I’ve seen in a long time on attaining that certain “je ne sais quoi”. English version available in Paris at W.H. Smith.

THE perfect Parisian woman is an illusion, bien sûr. But learning to pretend to be one is a serious business that dates back centuries.

It is an enterprise that continues to thrive with profitable how-to books like, “How to Become a Real Parisian,” “The Parisian Woman’s Guide to Style” and “All You Need to Be Impossibly French.” Now Inès de la Fressange, ex-runway model, former face of Chanel, Legion of Honor winner, designer, businesswoman and daughter of a marquis, offers yet another take on how to dress, shop, eat and act like a true “Parisienne.” This onetime muse of Karl Lagerfeld has spun her beauty and style tips into a confection of a best seller, “Parisian Chic: A Style Guide,” which has sold more than 100,000 copies in French and has just hit the American market.

The book might have withered and died on the shelves, except that Ms. de la Fressange combines a “je ne sais quoi” audacity with a sassy tone, and leaves readers believing that, by following her rules and experimenting with confidence, they, too, can be just like her.

via Inès de la Fressange, a Frenchwoman’s Parisienne – NYTimes.com.

Carla Bruni not attending Cannes?

Woody Allen’s latest, “Midnight In Paris,” is about to open the Cannes Film Festival, and while most of the film’s stars are expected to be present for the world premiere, at least one has bowed out of the festivities for mysterious reasons.

Carla Bruni, wife of French president Nicholas Sarkozy, has “cancelled plans to appear on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival amid rumours she is pregnant with twins,” the Mirror is reporting.

Allen’s “Paris” marks Bruni’s acting debut, though she made her name as a supermodel before marrying Sarkozy. As the Mirror notes, Bruni “had been expected to draw huge crowds at the event.” Instead, the press will have to settle for Marion Cotillard, Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.

via Carla Bruni Woody Allen Marion Cotillard Owen Wilson Cannes | HollywoodNews.com.

By Sean O’Connell