June 10-18, 2023
SOLD OUT!!! JOIN THE WAITLIST BELOW!
From Worth and Poiret to Schiaparelli and Dior, see the birthplace of haute couture and explore the reason why Paris remains a global arbiter of style. Join April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary on an adventure through the fashion capital of the world! Get exclusive looks into fashion history balanced with plenty of free time to master that joie de vivre like a true Parisian.
Art, cuisine, literature, history, romance…Paris is known for so many delights! Don’t miss your chance to see the “City of Lights” with like-minded fashion enthusiasts and your favorite fashion historians!
DAY ONE- Enchanté and welcome to Paris! Check in to the charming Hotel Joséphine (fittingly inspired by the legendary chanteuse and style icon Josephine Baker), relax and get ready to meet your fellow travelers and April and Cassidy at tonight’s cocktail party at the hotel.
DAY TWO- The Palais Galliera, the Fashion Museum of the City of Paris, is the perfect start to our time together. With more than 200,000 pieces in the museum’s permanent collection we will visit the permanent galleries for a survey of fashion from the 18th century to today. We will also visit the museum’s special thematic exhibition, which has yet to be announced.
Relax at an outdoor cafe on your own for lunch before meeting back up with the group for a visit to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Discover one of the world’s largest collections of decorative arts on a self guided visit. This vast museum has all kinds of decorative arts to explore from fashion to furniture to an impressive jewelry collection as well as haute couturier Jeanne Lanvin’s apartment complete with furnishings. After the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the evening is yours to wander Paris at your leisure or you can partake in a once in a lifetime experience with former haute couture embroiderer Rebecca Devaney held after hours in the the world famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. Rebecca will introduce and gives a history lesson related to Samplers of Seduction, her new collection of luxury embroidery kits. Participants will receive A Brief Dictionary of Stitches, the first kit in the collection along with lifetime access to the accompanying self-guided online course.*
DAY THREE- After savoring your croissant and café au lait we set out on a walking tour of the famous Rue de la Paix developed by April and Cassidy exclusively for this tour. April and Cassidy regale us with tales from the bustling street where the societal elite came to shop in the late 19th century. See where Worth made his beautiful, highly sought after creations, where Cartier first sparkled and where Schiaparelli got her start and where the premises of her couture house still remains today.
Grab some lunch on your own or peruse the shops of the Place Vendôme until we meet for a guided tour of the magnificent Palais Garnier- the Paris opera house. Our visit begins touring the opera house, the architectural jewel of the Belle Epoque, and ends with a private tour of the costume workshop. This exclusive tour will reveal the backstage secrets of costume and millinery design and creation as well as showcasing the costumes currently on stage. After discovering the secrets of costuming, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Maybe some shopping at the Galeries Lafayette- be sure to check out the city view from the rooftop deck!
DAY FOUR- Today we explore the world famous auction house, Drouot. Check out the items in upcoming auctions or register to bid for them! Items include haute couture, fine jewelry, rare timepieces, textiles, art and oh so much more!
After learning about the unique world of auctions, lunch is on your own. Meet back up with the group for a bespoke textile and sewist tour. Meet textile artist and former haute couture embroiderer Rebecca Devaney as she reveals her favorite textile stops in Paris. Delight in the ribbons, fabrics, feathers, beads, buttons, and sequins while Rebecca brings to life the stories of these legendary French haberdasheries, milliners, feather workers, and embroiderers and their elite clientele. The evening is once again yours to explore Paris.
DAY FIVE- Today we explore the world of Marie- Antoinette, the 18th century Queen of Fashion. We head to Versailles on a private motor coach while Cassidy and April regale us about court etiquette before exploring the excesses of the palace and the beauty of the vast gardens for yourselves. Begin with an audio-guide of the main state rooms of the palace. After marveling at the grandeur of this former hunting lodge turned palace, meet the group in the garden for a picnic lunch alongside the swans gliding peacefully on the Grand Canal.
April and Cassidy will provide some background for the fashions popular at the court of Marie-Antoinette as we enjoy a delicious French feast with freshly made quiche, salads, cheese and baguettes. We continue our tour of Versailles deep in the gardens with a visit to the often overlooked Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet. The Petit Trianon was Marie- Antoinette’s private escape from court life, and while much smaller than Versailles, it is no less opulent. The Hamlet just beyond the Petit Trianon was a small village built in the Norman style for the Queen to revel in bucolic diversions (which included a flock of sheep dyed pink!). It is straight out of a fairy-tale. Return to Paris on our private motor coach and enjoy the rest of your evening.
DAY SIX- With so much to offer, we know you have those bucket-list activities in Paris you’ll want to visit while you are here. Today we take a brief break from the official tour and give you the opportunity to discover Paris on your own. April and Cassidy have curated a wonderful list of recommendations for those wanting to dive deeper into fashion history on their own.
Tonight you have the option to visit a Parisian must, a sultry evening at one of the world’s top cabarets! The Crazy Horse Cabaret offers a tasteful nearly-nude show that is described as sexy, chic, and quirky.* Enjoy the 90 minute dazzling show with Cassidy, April, and your fellow travelers over a glass of champagne.
DAY SEVEN- Let’s get back to fashion! Today is all about paying tribute to two iconic designers. We begin our day at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent located in his former haute couture house. Gain a deeper appreciation for this designer’s life and creations as well as the process of creating a haute couture collection.
Perhaps no designer is more synonymous with haute couture than Christian Dior. Immerse yourself in the luxury world of Dior at the newly opened Le Galerie Dior. You will learn the story of the House of Dior through stunning visuals including never before displayed before gowns and accessories. A not to be missed stop on our fashion journey through Paris!
DAY EIGHT- It is time to pick out that perfect vintage item to take home as a souvenir, and there is no better place to find it than Les Puces flea market! We begin our day here, the oldest flea market in Paris where you can rummage, explore, and shop to your heart’s content. There are several blocks of independent vendors- there is nothing you can’t find at Les Puces!
Tonight we say “au revoir” to our fellow travelers over a lovely French meal. We will reminisce about all the great times we’ve shared, the incredible things we have seen, and the friendships forged.
DAY NINE- Savor one last croissant before checking out of the hotel. Safe travels!
This is truly a one of a kind tour designed for fashion history lovers by your favorite fashion historians. Don’t miss your chance to share this once in a lifetime experience with like-minded travelers!
*Asterisk indicates an additional fee. Please indicate if you would like to participate on the registration form.
YOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 8 nights at a 4- star centrally located boutique hotel
- Welcome cocktail party
- Breakfast each day
- Palais Galliera
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs
- Rue de la Paix walking tour
- Guided tour of the Palais Garnier including the exclusive tour of the sewing workshop
- Visit to the Drouot auction house
- 3 hour guided textiles tour
- Versailles state rooms, gardens and Petit Trianon
- Luxury picnic at Versailles
- Musée Yves Saint Laurent
- Le Galerie Dior
- Visit to Les Puces
- Authentic French farewell dinner
- Gratuity for all tour guides
- Paris Metro pass
- Private bus to Versailles
- Fun swag bag!
- Optional Crazy Horse Cabaret Show
- Optional embroidery workshop
PACKAGE PRICE:
The package price for a double occupancy room is $3,400 person. A single occupancy room is $4,350. A per person $750 deposit is required at the time of registration to hold your spot on the tour. The deposit is fully refundable until January 8, 2023. The final payment will be due April 8, 2023 and is non-refundable.
Airfare and transfers are not included. We recommend flying into Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. Taxi’s and ride shares are the recommended method to get to the hotel.
Many travelers prefer to fly to Paris a day before the tour starts to rest off the jet lag. If you require extra nights at the hotel, please email Laura Hart at laurahart@likemindstravel.com to arrange it for you.
Please read terms and conditions
This tour is for travelers 18 years and up. Maximum group size is 25 people.
We will be relying primarily on the Paris Metro to get around Paris and therefore you can expect to walk several miles a day and encounter lots of stairs.
