FRENCH JOURNEY - PROGRAMME 2

PARIS - BEING 'BRANCHE'

It's like a rumour in the streets of Paris.  Everybody's talking about being 'branché'.
But what does it really mean?

Man 1:   I think being 'branché'‚ is about loving clothes, designer labels and buying them.

Woman 1:  It's someone who buys different labels and even buys things in flea markets, antique items to put together their own look.

Man 2:  Knowing the best places to go, the latest fashionable parties where to be seen.

Woman 2:  It's someone who doesn't follow, but anticipates.  Someone who has enough sensitivity, personality or creativity to detect what will be all the rage or even make it happen.

There's a lot of work to do before getting to grips with what is 'branché' and what isn't. Follow in the footsteps of fashion advisor Aurore Daerdan.  She gave David some dressing and styling tips so they could give him a make-over at Anouschka, where, even to get through the door, you need an appointment. 

David:  Are you sure we're in the right place?

Aurore Daerden:  I'm sure about that.

David:  Do you prefer the blue or the gold?

Aurore Daerden:  The blue.  But for you, it's better over there.

Aurore thinks you don't need to spend a fortune to get the 'latest thing'.  It's also good, because this place specialises in 20's through to 70's original clothing.  Most of the clothes here aren't for sale anywhere else.  Aurore decided on a private fashion show.   

David:  What do you think?

Aurore Daerden:  No way!

David:  Isn't this any good either?

Aurore Daerden:  No, it isn't.

David:  But it's my colour.

Aurore Daerden:  Yes, but not your size!

David:   That's a bit too 'Cage aux Folles'?

Aurore Daerden:  It's worse!

David:  This isn't bad, is it?

Aurore Daerden:  That's the one.  Undo the jacket.

Next stop, Colette - probably the most 'branché' boutique in town.  Here, they sell fashion victims more stuff than they could ever possibly want.  Colette has also got a café, a favourite spot for trendy-snack lovers.  But Aurore wanted David to try the latest drinking fashion.   

David:  What is there to drink?

Aurore Daerden:  Water, water, water and more water

David:  How many are there?

Aurore Daerden:  About a hundred.

David:  About a hundred types of water! Is it 'branché' to drink water?

Aurore Daerden:  It's 'branché' yes.  It's healthy to drink water.

David:  I'll have a Rosée de la Reine  Pure and light, bio-electronically balanced.

Aurore Daerden:  I'll have this one

David:  I'll have the Rosée de la Reine

Aurore Daerden:  Can we do this?  Not really in France

Aurore promised David that in the evening she would take him to her favourite restaurant.  This restaurant can be found in the Passage Brady, a surprising, small corner of India.  Under the neon lights,  there's a paradise of hairdressers and restaurants.  Asian food is all the rage at the moment in Paris, and this place breathes 100% authenticity.

David:  Why are we here?   There are lots of Indian restaurants in England.  Is it 'branché'?

Aurore Daerden:  Over here it's a return to a particular outlook.  A brightly coloured, extremely positive outlook.  Minimalism is finished and we've come back to vivid, brightly coloured things - familiar themes. Like here in the Passage Brady, with its Indian look, these colours that don't go together - everything is ugly, but put together, it's quite pretty.

David:  Is Paris 'branché' at the moment?

Aurore Daerden:  Paris is quite 'branché' at the moment, yes.  Before, it was England, Italy and now France and also Belgium are getting quite 'branché'.

David:  And I get the impression that you live whatever's 'in'.  It's not external to you.  

Aurore Daerden:  I am completely, I hope, completely 'in'.  Because you really have to live it 100%.   You can't do it just for work.

David:  Is it a compliment to call you 'branché'?

Aurore Daerden:  Yes, thank you!

There you go, you've understood - if you want a tip-top curry, come to Paris!

Copyright BBC 2000.