A Young Woman’s Guide to Paris
Start your stay in Paris with a perfect café crème, shop the side streets and find a vintage Chanel purse, break for a moist macaron, eat a six course meal in a stranger’s apartment and finish the day with an affordable glass of wine at a funky bar. You may even get a ride home on a shiny Vespa from a well dressed Parisian.
The city has so much to offer beyond tourist sights and it was the small hidden streets, the quaint cafes and small boutiques that I liked best. I lived in Paris and learnt a lot about the city’s hidden gems and personal culture. I found that there are certain rules to being a woman in Paris and that it was much easier once you understood them. If you want to know about the Louvre or Notre Dame, buy a typical guide book, but if you want to know what perked the interest of this fanciful young woman who made Paris her home, keep reading.
Before living in Paris I often came for short visits. I found it hard not to fall into the long lines of tourists and to be overcharged for my croissants and cafe cremes. It took me time to find the streets lined with beautiful food shops, the perfect patios with cheap wine and the right place to lay my head at night.
A Young Woman’s Guide will make you the inside info that will help you plan the perfect stay. It will set you up with a one, three and seven day itinerary on varied budgets. As someone who has lived in Paris, I will even give you some useful tips if you choose to stay. I will also use my personal experience to help you meet the most charming Frenchman, to get a chic Parisienne hair cut, to find the perfect black dress, to avoid getting your wallet stolen and to keep creeps from following you home. Paris is yours for the taking, and I’m here to help you do it in style.
The book will include:
Charming hotels and apartments
Cafes and Restaurants
Bars and Nightlife
Food and Cooking
Shopping and Fashion
Beauty and Spas
Galleries and Museums
Walks and Parks
Packing and Safety Tips
Useful French Phrases
Easy to Follow City Maps
August 24th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Yes, yes, yes!! This is wonderful, Gill!
This book is a guide I would love. What a wonderful project this will be
August 25th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Wonderful! Love your style and even though its been years since I was there, I love Paris. Combining the two is fabulous. Will be a great guide.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Oh my gosh, I absolutely cannot wait to read your book!!!!!!! I am moving to Madrid within a year and, eventually, to Paris. I’d love to read about the hidden bars, places where the locals go…the secret side of Paris. Great work, Gill, I am sure it will turn out wonderfully!
August 25th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
How to avoid the come on’s of pushy French men. Tres tres imporant!
August 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I love this idea! I would be interested in any info you can provide for the non-tourist. ;> When I go somewhere new, I don’t necessarily want to “see the sights”, but rather enjoy my stay and make my own adventures. I love the idea of the back alleys with the quaint boutiques and quiet, intimate cafes.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:02 am
I would like to see some sections about French customs and traditions–maybe not necessarily to follow, but at least to respect. (Thinking back to my time in France, I did make some mistakes).
August 26th, 2009 at 6:55 am
This sounds brilliant…I’d love to hear about your Parisian adventures and tips as I’m frequently in Paris, but tend to stick to the same places all the time!
And the Dior eye palette I posted about also comes in a pink and purple colour-scheme too, I’m having so much fun experimenting with it at the moment. And the lip balm is just divine!
xxx
August 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Thanks everyone! I will definitely work on putting all of these things in. And if any of you are in Paris over the next few months and need a tour guide, you know who to get in touch with!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
oh i like the sound of that, i think i will have to use that guide at some point this year for a weekend in paris with me lovely cousin
August 28th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Hi Gill,
If you want to have a coffee or may a picnic, get in touch by mail. I certainly can get you losts of address and people to get in touch with.
Good to know you back to Paris, I think this city really suits you.
xxx
Mirella
August 28th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Sounds like you’ve got it covered! I can’t wait to read your guide
You are a true lady 
XO
August 31st, 2009 at 10:42 am
Hi Gillian, i have arrived in Paris this week, from Australia, and would love the chance to have a café créme avec toi in the coming weeks, as i am yet to meet anyone living in this beautiful city!
Alice
August 31st, 2009 at 11:41 am
Alice, of course! Send me an email at gilliankyoung(at)gmail(dot com) and we will arrange something!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hey Gill,
I hadn’t checked in here for a few weeks and it’s great to read that you are in Paris and researching for your book! I remember about a year ago (maybe more) when you initially mentioned this and I was sooo excited then!
I too hope to write a book on Paris some day and collect any books on the city for my research. Two of my favourites are The Insider’s Guide to Paris by Kate Muir and La Vie Parisienne by Jannelle McCulloch. I don’t know if you will have read these but they are compiled from anecdotes on different aspects of the city. I’m sure you would have lots of material for this kind of thing
I also love books with photography accompanying the text… I could talk for hours about books on Paris so if you’d like any recommendations please get in touch
I hope you have a wonderful time researching.
Cath
aka embrouillamini
x
December 4th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
will have a try all the tips
January 11th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Good afternoon. I’am french speaker. You’re post interest me a lot. I think french are according with that. Sorry for languges errors