Peace for Paris: Celebrating One Woman Who Makes the World a More Beautiful Place

Friday night I looked at my phone and saw a notification that said Laurence Bossion was marked safe during the Paris Terror Attacks. I imagine that for those of us in the United States that work in the fashion industry, thousands of us with contacts in Paris got the same startling notification over Facebook as we checked our phones for the latest news.

The shock of Friday night’s terror attacks and the notification on my phone brought back a flood of memories from my trip to Paris Fashion Week in 2011, including how I met Laurence Bossion, a Parisian milliner, at her boutique on 10 rue Saint Roch, just steps from my Paris apartment.

Laurence Bossion’s hat boutique is my fantasy closet. It’s been several years since I’ve been there, but I still fantasize about designing a closet that reminds me of her boutique. As someone who is very sad that I don’t live where it’s socially acceptable to wear hats everyday, I would be content to have an entire room where I could just gaze upon their whimsical beauty. Ms. Bossion was gracious and delightful as we tried on hats and learned about her work as a milliner.

Bossion opened her millinery boutique in 2007 in one of the most stylish neighborhoods in Paris. She quickly became recognized in the international fashion press and has created several collections for Paris Fashion Week. If you ever find yourself shopping for a hat in Paris, stop by and give her a hug for me. I’m really glad that she is safe.

It’s often said that tragedy brings people together and certainly 9/11 and the 2015 attacks on Paris has united America and France with a determination to fight against extremism. But it also gives us a chance to reflect on why it’s so important to celebrate the people who bring beauty and creativity to the world instead of hate and fear. The fashion industry is so fortunate to have artists like Laurence Bossion who make the world a more beautiful place.