15.32 - Beyond Bubbles and Bags: Uncovering French Icons with a Twist + Fascinating eBooks 'le petit livre'
This FREE le Bulletin you'll discover Champagne’s shadow side & rare Longchamp treasures that go deeper than the clichés. + access a collaction of fascinating eBooks.
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find fresh articles “Beyond Bubbles and Bags”
Watch out for and don’t miss the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin on Saturday this weekend: “15.32.a - The Stories Behind the Stories: Why French Literature Never Gets Old”- It’s not too late to subscribe←
***ANNOUNCING le petit livre™ eBOOK RELEASE: Created for you.
This delightful petit livre™ collection will be available for you to buy at a reasonable price. However, you can access them for FREE as an ‘Annual Subscriber’ or a ‘Mighty Supporter’. This is a new, growing, and extensive collection of petit livre™ (mini eBooks) written exclusively for you, to help you gain a deeper understanding of French culture!HOW IT WORKS:
You can buy this book now, OR better still, you can upgrade your subscription to an ‘Annual’ subscription now and get our growing collection of eBooks for FREE. (Annual subscription is €45pa or €3,75/month)et voila, there are already eBooks awaiting you, in your preferred format (PDF, or EPUB for Kindle) to either buy or if you’ve upgraded then for FREE. available to buy here on our le Bulletin site on Substack or on Amazon
OR
email me once you upgrade and I’ll get a magic link to you to get your FREE books.
And there will soon be more, actually, many more, petit livre™… all about French culture and fascinating stories behind famous French legends, French family businesses and hertitage brands, and much more. I say: “There’s always a story…” and to my mind “its the little stories of life that are fascinating.”Watch this space.
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 9.08.2025
1.MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
2. New Contributor to MyFrenchLife™ Magazine
- Introducing Laure Albouy
Laure writes about one of my favourite subjects: vintage clothing. She introduces herself as follows:
I’m French, raised in NY, spent my 20s in Paris, and now based in Amsterdam. I feel so lucky to have lived in each of these wonderful cities.
I’ve always loved finding gems in unexpected places. As a teen, I spent afternoons in Marshalls sifting through endless racks. The thrill of spotting the one and the joy of developing my own style has never faded.
Please join me in welcoming Laure to our fabulous team of magazine contributors. You’ll find her article about Longchamp bags below…
a) → Popping the Bubble: The Dark Side of Champagne
by Keith Christiansen
Luxury’s Hidden Costs in France’s Most Iconic Sparkling Wine
In the spirit of post-holiday hangovers, it felt like a good time to talk about some of the issues ofcelebrationalcohol. And nothing says celebration like Champagne.I’ve heard people say "Champagne est le vin de la fête" ("Champagne is the wine of celebration"), associated with special occasions, life events, and luxury. Sometimes, I have been told, “but champagne is champagne,” with the idea that it is a different thing entirely and drinking champagne is special, reserved, and distinctive.
It is really nice, but a lot of the fine points (or fine bubbles?) are lost on me. And it’s a bit problematic, like any luxury product these days.” writes Keith Christiansen.
b) →3 vintage Longchamp bags that aren't the classic Le Pliage.
by Laure Albouy
Still nylon, still timeless, and all over secondhand resale sites
The year is 1993: Longchamp’s iconic bag, Le Pliage, is born.
It’s a turning point for the 77-year-old company.
A bit of history
Founded in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain, Longchamp was famous for its leather-covered pipes and other small leather accessories.
It was only in 1971 that they sold their first-ever handbag: “the LM”.
→ then read on about Le Pliage revolution →
3. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Chers amis (dear friends)
Merci for reading and sharing your love of France with us.
This newsletter is for those of us who are always looking for the stories behind the stories — the forgotten histories, the unexpected details, the truths that go deeper than the postcard. I hope you found something today that sparked your curiosity. And I’d be delighted if you shared le Bulletin with a fellow francophile who'd enjoy the journey too.
Warmest wishes,
A bientôt
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
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