At the party, guests looked skyward to the vintage fly fishing baskets decorating the top shelves and the burl wood trout display hooks for the 1930’s hand-carved bamboo fishing rods. “The identity of this store falls very deep into the identity of somebody who is Parisian, but that’s spent time in America and was inspired by America,” explains Emily. This manifested in an homage to heritage recreational sports that spoke to both French and American interests. When the Bode Aujlas purchased a home in Northwestern Connecticut in 2021, they dove deep into research about the former owner and cultivated an interest in fly-fishing–a fishing vest featuring Emily and Aaron’s first fishing ties hangs in one of the eight store front windows facing the Ministry of Culture.
They visited over 100 spaces, but the Palais Royal neighborhood is one Emily has frequented for over two decades now, long before her fictional name-twin played by Lily Collins was selfie-ing in the area. An antique postcard shop in the neighboring Galerie Vivienne has been a favorite since college, and more recently, since the birth of her toddler daughter, she’s become a regular at Si Tu Veux toy store—not to mention the chic brasserie Chez Georges.
Emily feels very connected to France, and Paris specifically. Not only has she shown on the Paris calendar, but many of her first vintage and antique textile purchases were found in French flea markets. From Nice and Saint Paul de Vence, to the Vanves and Clignancourt flea markets of Paris, she and her team would return home from trips to France with a dozen suitcases stuffed with fabric. French artisans painted the store’s walls in faux bois and the stained glass fitting room doors are from a cathedral in Belgium.
Photo: Bode
During the crowded store opening, Aaron took time from his well-wishers to give a tour of his favorite elements of the store, including the marigold-colored waxed cotton, a beloved fabric for jackets in the Bode Rec line which lines the windows and ceiling panels. In one window, there sits a 1930s dollhouse which was purchased from the 96-year-old woman for whom it was built as a child. Outside, two artfully dressed young men stop in front of the glowing store windows: “Mais oui, c’est le Bo-day!” The store’s reputation has preceded it, but it will feature items appealing to all audiences from locals to tourists.
“What I love about the history of retail, or even traveling just as a person in a society, is that you buy souvenirs. The history of souvenirs and souvenir culture,” explains Emily. For the Paris boutique, those souvenirs will include cotton underwear with Eiffel Tower appliqués and neckties with fly-fishing ties. “Especially in America,” she continues, “this idea of ephemera has long influenced me. Even as a kid, I’ve always gravitated towards things that were made for a specific moment.” Well, Bode’s Paris moment has arrived.
Read the full article here
