So, we spent the weekend before Valentine's Day in Rome with another couple from Paris and a couple of Italian friends who we met while they were studying in Paris. Besides the typical indulgences of pasta, wine, coffee and ancient ruins, we were given a good dose of culture from the perspective of the city's most adorable Roman couple. Francesca and Giuseppe took us under their wings for most of the weekend, drove us around the lesser-known areas of the sprawling city and shared with us their favorite corners of ancient and modern Rome. It was a perfect weekend!

The weather held up nicely - chilly but sunny - and the apartment we rented for our three-night stay had a perfectly narrow balcony where we took in the colorful rooftops and hazy skyline of the Eternal City. I mostly spent my time scheming up ways of making my Italian dreams come true and reveling once again in all the beauty and culture that I fell in love with the first time: charming people, coffee for the gods, perfect lighting, delicious food at every turn and beautiful views from every angle. I love that Romans call me ragazza and flash a hearty smile in passing. I love the slowness and ease in everyone's step, the sun-washed, bold colors every building wears proudly, the plethora of fruit trees, the distinctly different colors of the sky throughout the day and the shadows and light the sun casts on ancient doorsteps. There's almost nothing you can't love about the city.

Too bad the Italian I knew the last time I was there was no where to be found. I couldn't remember a word to save my life! It was pathetic and slightly depressing. But it reminded me how much I loved speaking the language and how much I miss it. Gui and I picked up a few Italian language books before heading back, and we've decided we'll start by learning a few words everyday. We figured, we might as well get a move on if we're going to be retiring there someday!

Did you know that Paris is home to one of the most extensive collections of vintage Japanese dresses this side of the globe? My friend Jule and her partner Noël run an Etsy shop based in Paris and dedicated to selling vintage Japanese treasures they find while adventuring abroad. I met Jule after stumbling upon her Etsy store while I was searching for Paris-based vintage sellers. I fell in love with a gorgeous patterned dress and asked her if she would mind me picking it up from her home instead of having it shipped. She graciously obliged and I got to check out her "Atelier", including part of the beautiful collection of clothes she showcases in her Etsy shop.

Jule hand-picks every dress from her favorite vintage boutiques in Japan and South Korea and brings them back with her to Paris. She let me have a sneak peek of the mountains of dresses she returned with in November from her latest trip east. Many of the items from her first collection were pieces that she had collected from her time spent living in Japan and part of her own personal wardrobe. This time around, she seemed to focus on what her buyers are looking for and so far, she has not disappointed.

I have purchased several dresses from L’Atelier de Jule and I have to say that each one is a joy to wear. The garments I own are one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect my mood and make me feel amazing and unique in an often uniformly colorless city. I bravely wear my buys to work and each time I do, someone inevitably notices its uniqueness and pays me a compliment. Men who wear dark suits everyday and women whose color palette is limited to navy blue and black are curious to know the stories behind my clothes.

Jule has a keen eye for fabrics that are impossible to find in modern garments and beautiful patterns that recall a colorful era of playfulness and whimsy. She is also a lovely person whose friendship I have come to treasure like so many others I have created since living in Paris. It’s funny how being an expat kind of emboldens you to meet people and make new friends – something I never made an effort to do while living in my hometown where friendships are established over many years. From tea-house owners to international podcasters to vintage clothing sellers, the friends I’ve made in this lovely city are undeniably full of talent and drive. Their passion inspires me everyday and I can’t help but wonder how deficient my life would feel without their enthusiasm and creativity to motivate me.

You can find me on Etsy under "MisplacedTexan" - join my circle and see some of my other favorite shops, including Gloaming Designs owned by yet another talented Paris-based friend.

If you’re in the Paris area and would like to pick-up a dress or try on a few, contact Jule at julesatelier [at] gmail [dot] com. (But beware, you might go home with more than what you came for.)