Colette's Sarah Recommends...

Colette is a shopper's Valhalla. Under one roof, you can find such cult items as a Burberry “Exclusive for Colette” studded trench, graffiti artist André’s “Métaphysique” notebooks for Smythson and—perhaps best of all—a Terry Richardson doll. Opened in 1997 by Colette Rousseaux and her daughter Sarah, the world-famous concept store at 213 rue Saint-Honoré stocks trophy pieces by Comme des Garçons, Maison Martin Margiela and Lanvin, luxe beauty products, glam gadgetry and toy collectibles. The wall of limited edition Nike, Reebok and Converse pieces throws sneaker freaks into a frenzy, while in the restaurant and water bar, chilled shelves are stocked with over fifty varieties of H2O. The store also doubles as gallery, currently featuring work from Craig Redman of cult blog Darcel Disappoints, with South African photographer Pieter Hugo set to exhibit for the duration of the football World Cup. For today’s in-store homage shot by Arnaud Pyvka (British Vogue, Details, Wallpaper*), NOWNESS asked Sarah, the tastemaker and personality behind Colette, to tour us around the shelves and point out a few of her favorite things.  

Colette is the ultimate showcase for brand collaborations. What brand mash-up would you most like to see happen?

Chanel x Comme des Garçons.
 
Describe your perfect Sunday (Colette’s weekly closing day) in Paris.
 
Putting together a successful new exhibition and window installation at Colette.

What are your five favorite blogs right now?

Olivier Zahm’s Purple Diary www.purple-diary.com
Terry Richardson’s Blog www.terrysdiary.com
Le Coolcats http://blog.coolcats.fr
The Honeyee Blog http://www.honeyee.com/blog
Colette! http://www.colette.fr/blogs

If you created a slogan tee, what would it say?

I would re-use Jenny Holzer’s slogan: “Protect me from what I want.”
 
Tell us three things we could have bought from Colette when it launched in 1997.

A pair of Reebok Fury sneakers; an Emilio Pucci scarf; the Bless hairbrush (made of hair).
 
And three cool products that have most recently landed in the store?

Darcel silkscreens; Rodarte x Breathless tees; the Colette N°10 compilation [a double album, with one CD mixed by Michel Gaubert and Marie Brenellec, the other mixed by Jamie of The XX].
 
What color will you be painting your toenails this summer?

Rainbow.
 
If you could be a sneaker, what would you be?

Converse.
 
You recently launched La Pharmacie in Colette. What are your bathroom cabinet essentials?

A mix of Joelle Ciocco, Kiehl's and Aésop.
 
Where would you go if you could hop on a plane right now?

New York.

What book is on your bedside table at the moment?

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby.

What is the most recent piece of clothing that you bought?

A Tao [by Comme des Garçons] skirt.