Catching up with Danielle Steel, Couture Week Icon

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Danielle Steel in Paris.Credit Brigitte Lacombe

As familiar a sight at the Paris couture shows as models and gowns is Danielle Steel: author of 139 books that have sold 650 million copies; member of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur; Guinness world record holder for longest time spent on The New York Times best-seller list; mother of nine and all-around avatar of elegance. Though Steel, who divides her time between San Francisco and Paris, keeps busy writing several books per year, if there’s one thing that will tear her away from her desk, it’s fashion. “I grew up going to haute couture shows, and began taking my daughters when they were very little girls,” she says. “Couture is an extraordinary experience and a dying art; each show is a thrill. It is art in one of its finest and most magical forms.” Here, on the eve of couture week (and the release of her next novel, “Prodigal Son,” out Feb. 24 from Random House), Steel shared the details of her fashionable life in Paris (written, of course, in an email).

On fashion:

“I am an old-style purist; I loved all the great designers of the past, Dior, St. Laurent, Balenciaga, Chanel, Givenchy. So few are left. I go to the Chanel haute couture shows religiously, and usually Dior. I will only be attending Chanel this season, and unfortunately will have to miss Dior. I am looking forward to whatever surprises Karl Lagerfeld has in store. It’s always a fabulous show.”

After the shows:

“My ‘after-show ritual’ is returning to real life. I get excited about going, dress carefully and afterwards, like Cinderella after the ball, I rush home to meet a deadline, rewrite a book, feed my dogs or deal with some household crisis, like a leaky sink.”

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A few of Danielle Steel's favorite things, clockwise from left: Karl Lagerfeld and Cara Delevingne escort his godson Hudson Kroenig down the runway at Chanel's spring 2014 couture show in Paris; Charlotte Olympia "Kitty" shoes; Manolo Blahnik heels. Credit Clockwise from top left: Patrick Kovarik/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Daily uniform:

“My normal everyday uniform is black jeans, a black sweater, black shoes (I love shoes!), a long ponytail and no makeup. In Paris, I try harder, and actually wear clothes: black slacks, a great blouse or sweater, high heels (makeup!) and I love wonderful coats and good bags and interesting jewelry, mostly unique or historical pieces.”

Shopping staples:

“Shoes, shoes, shoes: Manolo Blahnik in New York, Gianvito Rossi in Paris, Chanel ballet flats and Charlotte Olympia kitty shoes for fun. Céline provides the staples of my wardrobe — simple, wearable and chic, great foundation pieces. Hermès in Paris; occasionally Prada, also for good basics. I like the new look of Saint Laurent for casual clothes, Colette in Paris for fun pieces and Eric Bonpard, also in Paris, for great, reasonably priced cashmere sweaters. And I love shopping at Zara, and find some terrific stuff there! And it is guilt-free. And I love wonderful tableware stores, to set beautiful tables.”

Secret stores in Paris:

“The off-the-beaten-path shops have vanished; we see the same brands around the world, in every city, which is a little sad. I find the best surprises in my own closets: sometimes old couture, sometimes something ridiculous or fun, or by a designer who no longer exists. I also meet my daughters in my closets, hunting for treasures that I forgot I owned! But they remember.”

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Tableware at Talmaris.Credit Courtesy of Talmaris

For gifts:

“Where I shop for gifts depends on the person. I try to find what they like, not what I want. My youngest daughter likes anything with a skull on it. I try to find useful gifts. I find wonderful gifts for the home at Doris Brynner’s home department at Dior in Paris, and at Talmaris, also in Paris.”

Bookstore:

“I don’t have a favorite bookstore. I write four books a year and have too little time to read. I grab books that interest me where I find them, often in French, or in English at W.H. Smith in Paris.”

Signature scent:

“For years, I mixed my own perfume, a combination of Femme and Shalimar, but eventually I switched to Eau du Soir by Sisley. Now I wear Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens. I like an unusual perfume that is my signature and will remind people of me. Perfume is very personal.”

Beauty black book:

“I am smiling. Where do I shop for apothecary items? You mean my toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap, and cold cream to take off my makeup, when I wear any? That’s the extent of it. I buy them wherever I find them when I run out. I’m sorry not to be more glamourous about it! Oh yes, and shampoo, Klorane almond shampoo, that’s the fanciest thing I use.”

Restaurants:

“I’m not a foodie. I’ve been known to live on Oreo cookies when I had nothing else at hand, hard-boiled eggs because they’re easy to manage when I’m working, peanut butter. I don’t pay attention to food. I hate most vegetables. I could live on hard-boiled eggs and crackers, and dark chocolate (and probably do. I live on dark chocolate!) My favorite fabulous restaurant in Paris is Apicius, beautiful and wonderful. I love the foie gras and hachis parmentier and artichoke cannelloni and chocolate soufflé. I eat at the Hotel Costes sometimes; I like the garden. I love Le Voltaire, and my ‘hangout’ is L’Avenue, because it is easy, I can eat very little or a real meal, they are wonderful to me and I can eat on the terrace all year round. If people come to visit me, I take them to L’Avenue because they can eat whatever they want; the food is simple and good.”

Tipple:

“My drink of choice is water, and I drink it anywhere whenever I’m thirsty. I don’t like sodas or exotic drinks. I don’t drink alcohol and never have (I think I’m allergic to it, and never liked it). And when I’m feeling exotic, I drink decaf coffee (Nespresso), sometimes iced. Or Mariage Frères rouge bourbon vanilla tea if I feel sick. But mostly I prefer water: tap or flat mineral water, Vittel or Evian.”

Writing hideaway:

“My favorite place to write is my office, because it’s small and cozy, in any of my homes. I always write in a small room, on my 1946 Olympia Typewriter, but I can write anywhere if I have to — even longhand on a yellow pad. It is a passion and a burning drive. I write almost all the time, except when I’m with my kids.”

Favorite walk in Paris:

“I’m smiling again. My favorite route for a walk to clear my head is in my imagination, when I’m writing, or through a favorite store, or into a shoe shop. I have a sweater that says “Shopping is my cardio” and I believe it. I go for walks occasionally, but almost instantly feel guilty and think I should be home writing. So I go home and write — which always clears my head and makes me happy.”

Couture week cultural agenda:

“I would love to tell you that I will be doing something deeply cultural during couture week, but the truth is that I will probably rush home, full of the wonderful visions I saw on the runway, and go back to work writing or rewriting and editing a book. It’s the reality of my life, along with the dark chocolate and hard-boiled eggs, but other than being with my children, writing is what I love best. And fashion and haute couture give me a moment to dream, and then usually whatever I see at the shows, whether people or fashions, winds up in a book!”