Just a few days short, it’s been ten years since Marquis Paris came into existence.
What began as a website devoted solely to Parisian style quickly evolved into a platform dedicated to cinema, history, literature, travel, feminism, and life in general – whether real or digital.
Nearly 1,200 articles have been published since – half in French, half in English, as the website exists in both languages. And indeed, many of you, my dear readers, live in the US and the UK.
To celebrate this first double-digit anniversary, here is a selection of now-vintage photographs, most of which date back a decade and some of which have never been published before.
Looking back at these forgotten photos, I realize that Marquis Paris, born under the auspices of privileged relationships with certain luxury houses (I must admit I was a good customer for quite some time), quickly turned away from the almost inevitable monetization of the digital fashion world on social media.
I quickly understood how thin the line is between being a spokesperson and a clothes hanger – and that monetizing Marquis Paris in both cases would require compromises, even concessions, I wasn’t ready to make. As a result, nothing here is monetized, and I must admit that my social media – Instagram and YouTube – have somewhat fallen into limbo. Without much regret.
Looking back at these forgotten photos, I notice a gradual parring down over the years: fewer jewels, fewer accessories. Flat shoes more and more often replace heels. Makeup has been reduced to its bare essentials – loose powder, mascara, and lipstick. Simplicity and comfort take precedence, because today I crave knowledge more than style.
Truth be told, fashion – aside from haute couture and the craftsmanship that goes with it – has lost its appeal. The fashion world, like the digital world, has become a marketplace of illusions driven by hyper-profitability, where luxury houses share the same practices as fast fashion, to the detriment of misled consumers.
In fact, the only slightly disruptive stance I could take here was precisely to reject the concepts of monetization and hyper-profitability. Marquis Paris has nothing to sell. Everything is sincere, free, and honest.
Looking back at these forgotten photos, I see that grimaces, smiles, cocktails, and cigarettes still pepper these images – just like today’s. I’m still just as silly. I still want to hit my photographer who insists on taking one last shot a thousand times. The situations are still just as improbable, whether it’s a stray dog crashing the photoshoot or evening gowns worn on the street in broad daylight. I’m always either too cold or too hot, but it mustn’t show. There’s always a wind strong enough to blow your head off, but the hair must stay perfect. I still get changed in the street. And I still have just as much fun.
In short, looking back at these forgotten photos, I realize that everything has changed, and yet, nothing has changed.
September 5, 2025
