New Yorkers in Paris
OLIVIA LOPEZ
I first met Olivia seven years ago at Hudson Hotel in New York City. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in my first role managing social media at Morgans Hotel Group and Olivia was in town for Fashion Week, what was then a glamorous affair. A pioneer of the industry, Olivia carved out her influence first on Myspace, then through blogging and eventually soaring to great creative heights on Instagram. Over the years I’ve always admired how dedicated and meticulous Olivia is about her work, with an attention to detail that makes her uniquely talented. Olivia and I recently shared a “meet-cute” at the Ritz in Paris, two New Yorkers relating over French pastries. Olivia’s perspective on living between New York and Paris resonated with me, so we decided to share her sentiments on the duality below.
@oliviavlopez
01 What does paris mean to you?
Paris is a city of beauty. There is a level of refinement here that I haven’t found anywhere else. It’s the amount of consideration and thought put into everyday details that are subtle, yet indefinable. The moment I arrive back to the States, there’s a very evident absence of that Parisian essence.
“parisians never compromise quality in life and leisure, and that’s something that resonates with me”
02 How has living part-time in paris shaped your life?
Living in Paris part time means I have a never ending source of inspiration to look forward to. Parisians never compromise quality in life and leisure, and that’s something that resonates with me. I find that in France, people value their leisure time, and every hour outside of work is dedicated to enrichment.
03
What do you love most about paris?
Long walks in the park, stopping in for pastries, and a never ending list of new exhibitions to visit.
04 Living between new york, paris and la is a bold decision and one that goes against societal norms. how do you feel about your choice?
I’m very proud to be able to have a career that can synchronize in multiple cities, and it took years of experimentation and building a network to support this. I recognized early on that movement is what fuels my aspirations, my energy and my creativity. I grew up in a multi-cultural household, and working in different cultural dichotomies honestly feels like home.