Travel Guide: Paris Behind the Scenes with Derek Blasberg

From fashion weeks and late nights to friendships, favourite tables and well-worn rituals, Paris has long played a part in Derek Blasberg’s story — and in the pages of his new book, Fast + Louche. Following its Paris launch, he shares the places he returns to, the addresses he never misses and why, after all these years, the city still holds its magic.

I consider myself the luckiest guy in Paris because I often stay with my friend Lauren Santo Domingo when I come for fashion week. I travel all the time, and while hotels can be efficient for quick trips or when you want to escape, staying with a good friend is much more fun. It doesn’t hurt that LSD has incredible taste and a brilliant sense of humor—the perfect partner in crime during fashion week. This week, her teenage daughter was around often, so it was fascinating to see fashion week through fresh eyes.

I will join the many, many people who will tell you that Le Voltaire is their favorite restaurant in Paris, and for good reason—delicious food and fabulous lighting. When I want a quick, cheeky meal, I go a local Chinese restaurant called Lao Tseu.

You’re going to think I’m a monster—I go to Starbucks! Sue me.

Hemingway Bar, of course!

Paris is spoiled for incredible places to look at art and design. When I come for fashion week, I ask my friends at LVMH to give me a little VIP treatment at their Foundation. This week, they gave me and a group of friends a guide to take us around the Alexander Calder show. It was incredible.

It’s the largest exhibition of his work, and it’s presented chronologically, so you see how he started doing small sculptures as a kid, then experimented with painting, then wire, which included my favorite works, his larger-than-life Josephine Baker figurines. Then he sees Mondrian, and the abstract works inspire the mobiles, a term coined by Marcel Duchamp.

Incredible to see it all laid out like this. Other spots I always go to are Gagoisan Galleries (I’ve worked with Larry for nearly a decade and a half, and I’m still impressed with everything he does), and the Musee d’Orsay.

My other non-fashion highlight of fashion week was a tour of the Louvre when the museum was closed, which was organized by The American Friends of the Louvre. It was insane to have a private audience with the Mona Lisa. She’s effectively the most famous woman in the world, and I was starstruck

It’s not personal, and it’s not hidden, but I still get a smile on my face whenever I cut across the river on foot from one side to the other through the Tuileries. It’s incredible. I take meetings in there, if I have time between a show I’ll sit there and work on my phone. Last season, Jonathan Anderson’s Dior invite was the green painted chairs that are free to the public in the park, which I loved. I asked the Dior press team to give me the extras.

During fashion week, I’m pretty much in fashion mode. But if I’m lucky, I can find an afternoon on the weekend to check out the Marché aux Puces flea market. You just have to be in the right mood to hunt and haggle.

I miss Colette. I haven’t found a replacement for that. If you know one, tell me.

I always end up in Charvet buying at least one buttonhole rosette or knit knot cufflinks. I have a bunch, but they make me happy. And yes, I too am curious about what Chanel’s acquisition of that brand will mean for its future.

The launch of my new book, Fast + Louche, of course. My publisher, Just an Idea, organized a book signing and a Q&A with W Magazine’s Sara Moonves in Karl Lagerfeld’s library and photo studio behind the 7L bookshop in the 7th arrondissement. It was a wonderful, full-circle moment for me because I had worked with Karl several times in the space, and it was an honor to be back there. The book was inspired by a specific period—from late 2009 to early 2012, when I had a column in every issue of Interview magazine. It was in the spirit of Andy Warhol, who founded the magazine, and was basically my diary—nights out, days with my family, travels around the world. I try not to spend too much time thinking about the good old days.

Like most people who cover fashion and culture, I’m more interested in what’s next than what’s already happened. So going through these images—it’s hard to believe the column started 17 years ago!—reminded me just how different life felt then. This was a sweet spot after the Digital Revolution made us superconnected, but before social media took over the way we document our lives. I’m grateful I got to experience those years just before social media changed the way we lived our lives, and it’s been fun to relive them through this project.

Fashion weeks here in Paris were a big part of that book, and they remain a big part of my career. Here’s the thing: I still love it.

I still get excited when the lights go down, the music starts, and the first model comes out. I may be less fast and less louche now, but I’m still living my fantasy by working in this business.

Derek’s latest book is available to purchase ⁠through Just An Idea.

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