Entry Four

: La Femme Fatale

when you've displaced yourself in another culture, you tend to seek out and cling to the constants. the similarities or the universalities.  if you try to absorb and dwell on all the differences- you'd go mad. and feel out of place. I think there is an innate desire in us to connect, to relate. not by coincidence- God did not create man to be alone.

Fred the dad speaks in fast broken english with a heavy french accent. It was difficult at first for us to understand each other and often our intentions were misread. We were driving in his Jeep in Paris. (the only jeep in paris) in silence.   he picked up his ipod and selected Cat power, then LCD soundsystem, then Metronomy. He could see me excitement and surprise growing with each pick on his ipod.  For the first time we related to each other. and it was over music. we were roof pumping by the time we pulled into the girls school.

one song he played was called La Femme Fatale. I asked him what that meant and he described the ultimate woman, what most girls strive to become, what magazines sell, and what men dream of.
a few days later it was the girl's birthday parties. I found this universal desire to be "La Femme Fatal" apparent even in them.

 Each on separate days , the parties had different themes, and a separate catering company, professional photographers, DJ's and party coordinators. Did I mention they were 10 and 11?

This is Garance, o yeh- and specially ordered paper straws .

Garance and Daphne are polar opposites.and their parties reflected their personalities to the T. We have a great relationship because I can relate to both of their polarities. Daphne, the elder - is unlike any tween girl I have ever met. She is quarky, clever, funny, and can be found with her head in a book about murder mysteries or sci fi's. She loves comics. Garance is the girliest of girly, three different outfits a day- coordinated jewelry, socially in tune and always ready for a camera. I have to tell Garance that that is enough oufits for the day and daphne i have to tell to brush her hair.  the pictures should explain.

This is Daphne- the camera can't even capture her.

And I am somewhere in between. 

Daphne, probably challenging the boys to duel ( she takes fencing)

The only challenge Garanc'es party guests had was to pick the best nail color.

Daphne's party favors were buttons with her picture on them and the date of the party . this is better than most WEDDING FAVORS

  went to the Champs-Elysees , dropped 500 euros on the girls party favors at Sephora, not a bad part of the job

girl girl girl
the party was seperated into stations, nails, hair, makeup, wardrobe, photo

this is Garance's cake. well was.

This is Daphne's cake, in France a Boom is the first big party a girl has that essentially means she can invite boys. perfect for her comic book themed party. 

La petite femme fatal

clothes hand picked by a designer in Paris for this tween party

Lovely makeup artist

this is Valentine , an autre petite femme fatal.  Seriously, a ten year old- knowing how to  work a camera! nurture vs. nature- we'll never know. 

I have little resolve or concluding thoughts to this universality. It was more something I observed in both these parties- though they were so different : we all want to be great, to be distinguished somehow. It can manifest itself in so many ways- whether it be the layers of makeup we apply or our heads in superhero books dreaming of being wonder woman. it's not just la femme either- its mankind. God created his children to live extraordinary lives, hence the innate desire. We just surface it in the oddest of ways sometimes :)