As Founder and CEO of the Belle Inspiration brand, my dream is to share authentic French life with Francophiles around the world. As an American living in Paris, my own ‘Il était une fois / heureux pour toujours… ” (“Once upon a time / Happily ever after… ”) came after a chance meeting with my own French Price Charming.
There were loads of French living material to be found in books and Cyberspace, mostly written by self-proclaimed ‘French experts’ who have never actually lived here, and few offered a glimpse into true la vie Française. I wanted to change that and to make the joie de vivre accessible and practical - the way Frenchwomen truly live… the way all women truly live.
My first foray into sharing my new French home was to create Paris Travel Groupe in 2007, a year after I arrived in Paris. Everyone wanted a resident to show them the REAL Paris. The flea markets quickly became a specialty (still is) and now I create Bespoke Paris Experiences for bona fide French experiences, private access, workshops, classes, day trips… what a gig, right?
The Magazine - The digital publication dream of Belle Inspiration Magazine was launched in 2010 springing from the tiny blog, “Bonjour Romance” which featured the first ramblings of my French adventures. I put the idea out there to my small groups of followers and was surprised at the positive response. I plunged in, designed the first issue and timidly offered it up for subscription. 323 people subscribed that first week… I found my niche and loved it!
Belle Inspiration Magazine is the foundation for all we do and being based in Paris, style à la Française is always front and center. I was a one-woman show that first year: from graphic design to promotion and as more readers subscribed I knew I was on to something. I assembled an amazing international team to work with and each of us shares a love for the beauty of the true French aesthetic; profiling boutiques, food and fashion, interviewing business-minded women to discover how they launched their dreams and highlighting all the natural beauty and joy of France and beyond.
Curated subscription boxes - Belle BOX & Belle Luxe BOX - was the next step for readers wanting a taste of France delivered to their door each month. No wholesale goods with ‘France’ stamped on the side, but an authentic curated collection of treasures directly sourced from the Paris markets and French artisans. I personally curate each BOX along with three special Frenchwomen. Subscribers all have a love for le joie de vivre that France is known for and because a woman loves so many things!
Keep checking in… exciting things are coming soon!
À bientôt,
