<< May 20, 2005 >>

Chanel's Homage to the RATP

If the Paris Public Transportation system (RATP) was a rock band, I would be its groupie stocker. I adore everything about it: the beautiful Art Nouveau font and Metro entrances, the special bus only lanes on the street, those sturdy little purple tickets (though I do miss how they used to be sold in perfect little perforated ticket booklets). But most of all I love how it takes me anywhere I want to go in no time at all. On my list of top 10 amazing things that cost just a few dollars, the RATP ranks at the top, neck and neck with that other everyday masterpiece, The New Yorker.

For me, the ultimate crime of Paris is that one of its most practical and ingenious accomplishments -- the Metro-- is hidden underground, quietly supporting the city in ways unimaginable, while the Eiffel Tower -- a useless egocentric edifice -- hogs all the glory. It's just not fair.

But finally, something has been done to right this wrong, and it has been done by that other Paris mark of excellence: Chanel.

Chanel.com -- The Chanel Bus, Spring/Paris 2005

Earlier this week, Karl Lagerfeld, and I can only imagine who else, paid homage to the real staple of Paris life by boarding a vintage RATP bus (dubbed the Chanel bus) and having a fashion show on it-- while it toured the city. They made their own bus line -- from Concorde to Cafe Flore -- and models strutted the catwalk on-board. Normally I'm not one for promoting the excesses of the glitterati, but I love Paris public transit so much, I just can't help it. The Chanel site has the whole thing documented with a smart ticket and bus theme as a backdrop. Neat.

Posted by dmd on May 20, 2005 02:27 PM