Around the World With Dartmouth Lacrosse: Probert in Paris

Bonjour de Paris!

My name is Campbell and I am one of the juniors abroad this fall term. I arrived in Paris three weeks ago and am spending my time here interning for an online fashion company called Vestiaire Collective, which means “Collective Wardrobe” in English.

Vestiaire is a French-based company that is essentially a fashion broker for high-end luxury resale goods. Since 2009 it has expanded from France to Italy, Germany, UK, the US, and we are just about to open the Spanish market as a team. As an intern my schedule changes each week as I jump from department to department (similar to a rotational program). I started as part of the VIP team, which first takes the clothes and accessories that the client sends, and prepares them for entrance onto the site.

My role was the following: I take each article of clothing, bag, jewel, scarf, etc. and list them in a database that describes the brand, quality, and description. From there the items move on to someone who prices them according to their worth, then the photographer shoots all the pictures that you eventually see on the site, and finally the article moves to the people that put all this information together and list it on the site so that it can be purchased.

I love spending the day touching so many beautiful things: Miu Miu stilettos, Hermes handbags, Dior sunglasses, and so many more; it makes me feel like I am inside the closet of a celebrity. This week I have moved on to the Customer Service team, and have spent the past two days handling all the counterfeit items that come through the system that cannot be sold. I learned how to identify counterfeit Birkin and Louis Vuitton handbags, which was so cool. As for next week, it's on to the Logistics team to learn about stock trends. Can't wait!

There is so much more to Paris than just work for me. Let's not forget all the amazing museums and tourist attractions. There are so many things to see! That's why I have made a list 30+ things that I want to do in my two-month stay and check them off each time I do a new thing: lunch at Café des Lettres where old writers used to sit and work, eat a nutella crepe while walking around île Saint-Louis in the heart of the city, take a wine tasting class, etc. etc. Not to mention every place you'll see on a Paris guide.

A must see for anyone who comes to Paris is the Eiffel Tower, which — I know, I know — is the most obvious spot, but there is nothing like sitting under the Eiffel Tower on a warm night while it lights up the entire sky. Plus the fact that at the top of every hour it sparkles—literally it lights up the sky shimmering. It's truly beautiful.

Other notable spots that I have seen in my time here are Sacre Coeur Basilica, Notre Dame, Musée D'Orsay, and the Luxembourg Gardens, which is right around the corner from my apartment. Each one is entirely unique and equally as amazing. There is something so charming about Paris and the entire original 18th-century Haussmann architecture. It makes you feel like you are living in a boutique city. Even the most random side streets and corners of the city are just a beautiful as the Latin Quarter.

There is so much more to Paris than just the obvious destinations, which I have already learned in my time here; it's real charm lies in all the things that aren't in bold on a map of the city.

My first weekend here I decided to head up to the 18th arrondissment to go to the Les Marchés aux Puces St.-Ouen, which is a massive flea market that has been around for 150 years. You can find everything from antique furniture, vintage clothing, jewelry, glassware, and anything from old war medal to 20th-century toys. I spent two hours wandering up and down the little alleyways and wasn't even close to seeing it all!

Even cooler, tucked away in the 15th arrondissment is a little park called André Citroën that has a hidden gem called Ballon de Paris: an air balloon that takes you up for 10 minutes above the entire city: not only is it breathtaking, but it sure did beat waiting in line at the Eiffel tower. That's just the way Paris is with everything: you can pop into any small random side-street bistro and it could be the most amazing meal. Not to mention the cheese alone: you have not lived until you walk into a specialty shop and choose between the vast array of choices that you did not realize even existed. It's about as French as it gets and something as simple as a cheese platter here can make for the best meal.

The people are more definitely more reserved here and sometimes it seems as though black is the only acceptable color—take it from me, the girl who wore bright pink the first day of work—but there is nothing more elegant and exciting as fall in Paris.

Until next time, au revoir!

- Campbell Probert '16

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