CCUPATION: General manager, Roger Vivier
MY STYLE: A casual day would see me wearing simple and minimalist clothes like jeans, a t-shirt, and a blazer. I go more elegant for work days, and more contemporary than trendy. I am a big fan of Marni and like to add pieces from Stella McCartney, Céline, Peter Pilotto, or Dries van Notel. All accessories by Vivier, of course! For the home, I like to mix modern and vintage furniture, along with a few Chinese art pieces I collected during my years in Asia.
I LOVE PARIS BECAUSE: I love Paris even more since I left it for fifteen years. I returned because I wanted my children to spend there teenage years here the same way I did. It’s very stimulating and exciting for them, as they can enjoy fantastic schools, sports, extracurriculars, culture, the country, food tastings, etc. The views and variety creates such an energy.
Tir aux Pigeons
Tir aux Pigeons takes the country out of country club. It my have the usually pastoral perks of a pond, a pool, and meticulously manicured lawns, but they all reside within the Bois de Boulogne, one of the Paris’ most famous parks. Sabine Brunner’s family isn’t one for lounging, preferring to use their membership to swim or play tennis or soccer. Non-members can enjoy themselves too, though, either in the club’s excellent restaurant, or lying around the pond. “You can also rent a boat and bring along a picnic, ” says Sabine Brunner. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long walk through the park grounds.
L’Avant Comptoir
Steps away from the Odéon you’ll find this cozy bistro, where the food is so good people stand. Owner Yves Camdeborde told the New York Times he wanted “to end the tyranny of the table.” He’s opted for a “hors d’oeuvres bar” that serves up an ever rotating array of French hors d’oeuvres—think deep-fried pig’s-foot croquettes—but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat until you’re full. Sabine Brunner goes for Sunday lunch with her family, members young and old of which love the à la carte menu. They also like sitting outside, even during the winter, as the restaurant provides heaters and fleece blankets.
Hôtel de Crillon
Named after Le Brave Crillon, a duke and general who served Henry IV, this grand establishment at the foot of the Champs-Élysées has retained its air of rarity. The Crillon family turned it over to the Société du Louvre in 1907, and it’s been one of the most fashionable spots to be seen ever since. There’s the Place de la Concorde on one side, and the French Vogue offices on the other. Sometimes people meet in the middle, then walk over the checkerboard marble floor of Hôtel Crillon’s lobby on their way to the bar or famous restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs.
Le Voltaire
At this classic French restaurant overlooking the Seine, guests sit elbow-to-elbow as they dine on les oeufs mayonnaises, steak haché, veal kidneys, and tart tatin. On rainier days, they bring papers and linger over coffee inside the café’s warmly lit, wood-paneled dining room.
Zef
Desert boots, shearling jackets, jumpsuits, and paisley-printed tunics are a cool addition to any closet. Sized for a little one, they’re downright awesome. A Paris-based chain of high-end apparel stores, Zef offers clothing in sizes that range from baby to teen. The retailer has five locations in Paris, and an extensive online shop that offers great deals on surplus items. Those with teenage fashionistas should check out the 7th arrondisement location—the concept store for ages 14 to 16.