French-Inspired Living, Wherever You Are
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Travel Gems: Letter B – Basque Beaches, Burgundy Barrels & Beguiling French Escapes Beautiful places, personal discoveries and the France I love — from Banyuls-sur-Mer to Bourges. Letter A took us from the Alps to …
Just 40 minutes from Calais, the fortified town of Bergues makes a charming and easy day trip in northern France. Perhaps best known internationally as one of the main filming locations for the much-loved French comedy Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (or ‘Welcome to the Sticks‘), Bergues has plenty to offer beyond its connection with the …
Introducing The Velvet Guide to France: French Travel · French Food · French Lifestyle · The Pleasures of Discovering France There is always more to discover in France. Beyond the familiar landmarks and well-trodden destinations, there are beautiful towns, regional specialities, characterful hotels, quiet corners, memorable meals and simple pleasures that reveal a different side …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our guide to A Long Weekend on Arcachon Bay: An Atlantic Itinerary for the Slow Traveller. For those embracing a slower return after the summer holidays, Arcachon offers the perfect reminder that September can be one of the best months to explore France. As summer crowds begin to fade, France’s Atlantic …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our Paris Guides, with our guide to the 7th Arrondissement. The first thing that comes to mind when people think of Paris is usually the Eiffel Tower, and with good reason. The city’s most recognisable landmark attracts millions of visitors each year and has become almost synonymous with …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Travel Gems: Letter A – Alpine Lakes, Atlantic Shores & Alluring French Escapes Beautiful places, personal discoveries and the France I love — from Agen to Azay-le-Rideau France has no shortage of famous destinations. Paris, …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our feature Paris in August: A Local’s Guide to the City That Slows Down. There is a moment every summer when Paris changes. The familiar rhythm of the city softens. The morning rush becomes gentler, the streets feel quieter, and a certain calm descends over the capital. As …
If you’ve ever wondered Why France Slows Down in August and so many shops, businesses and even entire villages seem quieter, the answer lies in one of France’s oldest and most cherished traditions: les grandes vacances. When I first moved to France over thirty years ago, one of the biggest surprises wasn’t the food, the …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about How to Pack for a Spontaneous Trip: The Art of Last-Minute Travel. Updated July 2026: This guide has been completely refreshed with new packing advice, practical tips and a more intentional approach to travelling light. Some of the best journeys begin with very little planning. A …
There are hotel addresses that announce themselves loudly, and those that reveal themselves quietly, like a secret worth keeping. Hôtel de Silhouette Biarritz, tucked into one of the town’s oldest streets just steps from Les Halles, belongs firmly to the second kind. Tucked quietly within the historic heart of Biarritz, just moments from Les Halles …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our guide to A Long Weekend in Biarritz: Where the Atlantic Meets the Basque Country. There are cities that seduce you with grandeur, and cities that seduce you with something harder to name — a particular quality of light, a feeling that life is being lived here with genuine pleasure and …