Paris Day 1 — Jet Lag, Pastries & A Very Good Sign

I arrived in Paris a few days early so I could soak in the city and adjust before Fashion Week begins… and honestly, Day 1 already feels like a dream I accidentally stayed awake for.

Because yes — I did not sleep last night.
I made the rookie mistake: checked in, took a nap, and my body said “we live here now.” No regrets though, because staying awake all night meant I said yes to everything today just to stay awake.

I’m staying in a hostel in the Montmartre area, and through the app I booked with there’s a board where solo travelers can meet up. That’s how I met Eliza from Brazil — and we ended up exploring together all day. She even had the perfect lunch spot planned: savory crêpes. I ordered one with onion, prosciutto, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, spices, and mayo. It was huge, amazing… and will also be my lunch tomorrow.

Our first stop was Notre-Dame Cathedral — and seeing it in person is one of those moments where the world just goes quiet for a second. It was absolutely stunning. From there we wandered across Pont Neuf, browsed at Shakespeare and Company (a stop I was especially excited about), walked through Jardin du Luxembourg, and ended the sightseeing portion of the day at the Panthéon.

Having a friend for the day when you’re running on zero sleep was everything. We explored together, kept each other awake, and made the city feel instantly smaller and warmer.

Which turned out to be very helpful… because I later learned my place is apparently located at the very top of Paris. Every street home was uphill. Every. Single. One.

To add a little drama, my phone battery was dying while I raced Google Maps back to my place. I made it home at 6% — victorious — and still had time to grab pastries and what may have been the best mint lemonade of my life. If that’s not a sign I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, I don’t know what is.

And the biggest update…
We received our Fashion Week schedule today.

• Meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday
• I’ll be competing in a Hair Couture show Saturday morning (8 AM — 12 PM, show at 12)
• And a 13-hour show day on Sunday working for 3–4 designers (9 AM — 10 PM)

That Hair Couture show is full creative freedom — meaning I get to design whatever I want. Completely my vision. There will also be winners announced, which feels surreal… especially because I had no idea there were winners when I signed up.

Coming to Paris as a solo bridal artist from Iowa and now preparing to create couture hair on this stage… it’s not lost on me how big this moment is. Today reminded me of something I tell my brides all the time: when you trust the process, beautiful things unfold in ways you couldn’t plan.

Today reminded me of something I tell my brides all the time:
“When you trust the process, beautiful things unfold in ways you couldn’t plan.”

I’m going to try not to sleep for a few more hours (its only 5!) and then hopefully sleep 12 hours haha (finally)

— grateful, excited, and very aware that this is just the beginning.

More soon.
xoxo — Stacia