I love everything about Paris and most intrinsically, the sense of style that is so distinct to the Parisians. I admire how they make everything look so chic – a muffler here, a scarf there, a striped top over a pair of capris – everything just ends up looking ultra chic. I also enjoy French cuisine. Their portions are perfect. Everyone else complains that they look so tiny and minuscule on a plate, but I find them artistic and just right.

No wonder then that I was looking forward to my time in Paris for the Paris Fashion Week this year. It was my second visit to the French capital with Louis Vuitton; the first time was when the Made for Maharajas book was launched. I have had a fantastic association with Yves Carcelle and Louis Vuitton. Over the last three years, Yves and I have bonded over various things, including our love for Paris and the fact that both of us are ardent divers. He has in fact promised me that he will actually make me an LV monogrammed diving suit and both of us will dive off the coast of Palao!

This time, Paris was a wonderful experience. It was my first time at the fashion week there. I simply adore Marc Jacobs. I actually own quite a few of his bags and some very fantastic outfits. The opportunity to actually meet Marc, witness his collection and have a great time with the LV team again was too much of a temptation to resist.

My bags were packed keeping in mind it was -4OC as we were told, before we landed in Paris. On reaching there, it felt more like -11oC!

But Le Bristol is a wonderful old hotel. The property has expanded now and has a new wing and great restaurants. My most favourite memory of the place is sitting at the coffee shop at the lobby level and digging into dessert.

The LV Women’s Show: It was held at the Louvre. It was the only show at the Paris Fashion Week that was given permission to be held there. It was presented in this incredible tent, with a fantastic waterfall at the centre. Yves was naturally there, so was the Chinese actor, Fan Bing Bing and model, Natalia Vodianova and television presenter, Alexa Chung. I will never forget the excitement of waiting for the show to begin and the surprise of seeing Laetitia Casta walk out in one of the first outfits – I have watched her career unfold and she is not that active on the ramp now. She embodies the spirit of fashion in France.

The clothes were stunning – very avant-garde, very 1950s, characterised by beautiful tailoring and very much the style that I love. They were tailored and classic, with incredible shoes and bags. Each outfit was matched with accessories to the last detail.

The ambience and the retro music added to it all. It was quite la dolce vita. I was completely enthralled I would have to say, throughout the entire show.

The bags especially stood out. I cannot wait to get my hand on one of the monogrammed Speedies. It was the reinvention of the Speedy and it was incredible what Marc Jacobs did to it.

Watching the models on the ramp, I got an idea of how incredibly thin and tall they are. At the end of it all, going backstage to meet Marc was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wanted to tell him how many bags I owned!

The show was very organised. The media was not so in your face. There was plenty of media around but you were not hustled through something.

The entire experience of being front row was very nonchalant. It was not made out to be the be all and end all, though it actually is very important. It was just done so subtly so you don’t feel that you are more ‘on show’ than the garments or models strutting down the ramp. You could take in the atmosphere without being conscious of the fact that you were being photographed as much as the models and the clothes.

I was dressed in a beautifully tailored, structured LV jumpsuit. I actually picked it up the day before in the LV store. I went there and tried on a couple of things. But I decided to go with a pantsuit because it was freezing and I coupled it with a beautiful LV trench. It made me feel very chic and long-limbed.

The after-party was held at the famous and legendary Castille, to which I wore LV. For the first time in my life, I landed up at a party with another woman, the vice president of LV, wearing a similar outfit! She promised me that she would not get up all evening, so that I could bask in the limelight.

It was a great experience. I love their clothes. I should actually be a muse for LV because their size 36 is literally made for my measurements. There is no tucking, pinning and it is always a perfect fit. For both of us, it is about finding the right fit. I have found a brand that embodies who I am. And they have found someone who is a great example of who they want their clients to be.

The LV show was fun, it was very retro. If they will have me again, next year, I will surely return.”

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