American Girls in Paris: The Hills hits the City of Lights
It seems as if every American teen girl has a dream of running off to Paris: shopping at the spots where couture was born and thrives, stepping out in designer wear to the hottest nighttime spots, locking lips with a Parisian boy, and of course, midnight rendezvous beneath the Eiffel Tower. Too bad that for most American teen girls, this is only the stuff of film and TV. Luckily, we have MTV American Princesses Lauren "LC" Conrad and Whitney Port -- to laugh at, cry with, and see some bits of Paris with. Teen Vogue, their, erm, "employer", sends the girls to Paris for a whirlwind weekend, and in between meltdowns (thanks in part to a very hot curling iron) and breakups (damn you Brody!) the girls get to see Paris in a way that few of us ever will, complete with cutie driver, Stephane. Here's their itinerary intact, to gawk at and maybe (one day) replicate. (photo)
Neo Nightclub
Rue de Ponthieu
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
This underground dance club is just off the Champs Elysees, but it takes someone to know someone to get someone in. The boys of Rock & Roll get Lauren and Whitney out … and in, though it helps that both are dressed to assassiner. Fashionista Lauren didn't have an outfit to wear out to this dressy spot, so why not take a needle and thread to her loaned Alberta Ferretti gown and make the floor-length gem into a sprightly little cocktail number? Nothing bad could go wrong here... Neo is blues and pinks. Many hot French hipsters smoking and dancing. Music is knowable and likable and while the club is chi-chi, it is definitely worth the wait to get in. You just may find yourself rubbing elbows with Nicolas Ghesquière of Balenciaga. [link]
Eiffel Tower
Avenue Gustave Eiffel
75007 7ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Sparkly, glittery and all lit up; no trip to the most romantic city in the world would be complete without a stop at the most romantic iron structure. After drinks, the … boys in the band get the girls out and under the legs of the tower. Most people trek to the tower to see Paris in the daytime, but when night falls, the tower becomes an unbelievable sight. Over 20,000 light bulbs flash on and off, in celebration of the new millenium. Al Gore wouldn't be happy, it does look lovely. (photo) [link]
Le Bar du Plaza Athenee
Avenue Montaigne
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Though the Plaza Athenee reeks of Parisian history and tradition, Le Bar is overwhelmingly modern. Designed to be both strikingly creative and daring while remaining true … to the Parisian ideals of good food and good drinks, the bar is the spot to see and be seen. Tucked into buttery leather chairs, steps away from the sculpted-glass-enclosed bar (when it's lit up it resembles an unwavering ice sculpture), the girls meet up with Rock & Roll, a Paris-stationed band on the cusp of making it big in the states. Thank god MTV had them signed to appear in this episode, with guitarist Matthias definitely pursuing The Hills' Holly-go-highlighted Lauren. They're sure to hit superstardom. [link]
Hotel de Crillon
10, Place de la Concorde
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
The immense and noble Hotel de Crillon has been the site of the legendary Crillon debutante ball since, the legendary early 90s. 1990s, that is. It also serves as the … spot of this episode's prerequisite Teen Vogue photo shoot. Once again, the urgency and necessity of Lauren and Whitney's presence at any Teen Vogue-sponsored event is questionable -- mostly they wander around in immensely high heels and designer clothes and answer personal phone calls, which is just what Lauren does. This time, it's Audrina. Brody's cheating. A time-zone-worn Lauren is stuck in a zombieish/heartbreak state, but the photo shoot and ball must go on. The Crillon hotel is absolutely gorgeous, obvs. as it is connect with Vogue. Teen Vogue, but Vogue nevertheless. Black tie and couture abounds at this display of international wealth and pedigree: previous debutantes include Ashley Bush and Amanda Hearst. Good company. [link]
Le Grand Hotel
2, Rue Scribe
75009 9ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Colette
213, Rue Saint-Honoré
75001 1er Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Alberta Ferretti
418, Rue Saint-Honoré
75008 8ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Teen Vogue sets Lauren and Whitney up with after-hours access to fashion house Alberta Ferretti, who will dress the girls for their Crillon Ball. Despite being an … intern, Lauren always manages to get the goods. The store is a sleek creamy-white blank canvas, perfect for showing off the bejewelled gowns and frocks. The girls are led upstairs to a dressing gallery and handed over their dresses: Lauren in a pintucked pale silver gown and Whitney in a sleek black number with diamante necklace. Thank god for Ferretti: following a horrifying curling iron accident, sweeties there loan the mishap-prone Lauren a second gown. [link]
