The first day of Spring in France is, simply put, delicious. Every March 20th a magnificent kaleidoscope of sugar-spun color brightens the streets of French cities and the eyes -- and mouths -- of the citizens greedily gobble up dozens of pastel  hues. It is officially le Jour du Macaron (Macaron Day) when patisseries across the nation give away thousands of this delightful and brightly colored French cookie to any patron who gives a small donation to a selected charity.

After the grey, chilly months of January and February, and in a city where "black on black" will forever ever be the leading fashion trend, this much needed burst of color serves to completely liven up Paris. It is also one of the few days you will catch the normally sang-froid Parisians crack a smile as well as the only time you may ever witness Frenchmen and women form organized lines.

I took full advantage of this sugar-fueled holiday and managed to try an array of macarons from one of Paris’ most famous patisseries: Pierre Hermé. Feast your hungry eyes on some of the beautiful biscuits that I eagerly tasted.

The Mahogany: A combination of salted butter caramel, coconut and mango compote, it was salty, sweet and fruity all at the same time.

The Infiniment Chocolat: The name says all since it tasted like it contained infinite amounts of rich, dark chocolate.

The Isaphan: A blend of rose, lychee and raspberry, this macaron was by far the lightest and most refreshing of the day. To the right is a card describing all 25 flavors which Pierre Hermé customers can choose from. The flavors range from a classic vanilla to a chocolate and fois gras for the more adventurous taster!

I am undoubtedly a "Flygirl." I do not mean this in an early-90s-Jennifer-Lopez sense, but rather that I have found myself up in the air traveling across the Atlantic Ocean quite often over the last couple of years. It is only natural then that one of my most important outfits is a go-to flying uniform. I have learned that when it comes to airports, there is definitely a right way to assemble your ensemble in order to avoid any fashion bumps and allow you to experience nothing but smooth sailing while traveling.

The most dreaded section of the airport is the security check where your goal is to get through as quickly as possible while avoiding as few pat-downs as possible. In order to achieve this, avoid wearing any types of metal such as a belt, jewelry or a codpiece.  They take time to remove (especially those codpieces) and if you forget to do so before you strut through the metal detectors, then you are guaranteed a date with a hand-wand. To make your trip through security as painless as possible, be sure to wear shoes which are easy to slip-off. I personally recommend ballet flats. Anything that has too many straps and buckles, or is too tight, is not recommended.

As much as I envy Victoria Beckham for her Christian Louboutin Alta Bouton ankle boots, I do prefer to avoid performing the “hop on one foot shoe removal” maneuver in public. Finally, if you are not already wearing socks, bring a spare pair so you do not have to walk barefoot during the process.

Once through security, you are now ready to go to your gate. If you are responsible than you have arrived early and should have plenty of time to amble down there. If you have just spent a late night frantically doing last minute packing and thus dragged yourself out of bed the next morning two hours later than planned, then ambling is not an option. Sprinting may be a more suitable pace. What you have chosen to grace your feet with is again of the utmost importance and I advise you to wear something with a flat heel.

Phew, you made the flight! You are probably looking at a flight lasting over two hours in which you are stuffed into a cramped seat. You may even be on a red-eye and hoping to sleep. It is therefore important you dress comfortably. Pants are always your best option since skirts and dresses pretty much guarantee that you must sit cross-legged the entire trip.

Clearly when Mollie King chose to wear this CeCi Toyko T-shirt, she did not pause to consider the very real danger of up-skirting her seatmate if she is sitting on an inside seat and must attempt the awkward “neighbor-pass” in order to reach the aisle.

Of course, do not dress too comfortably since I am a firm believer that sweatpants belong only at the gym or in the privacy of home and airports and airplanes are certainly public places. If you are flying in your own private jet then I suppose this rule can be lifted although, if you can afford a private jet, are sweatpants really the best you can do?

I don't care if they are Juicy Couture sweatpants, Eva Longoria, any clothing item with the word “sweat” in its title should be designated to the locker room (let alone be called “couture”). Finally, one thing many travelers forget is that planes are cold and no matter how hard you try to turn off that little vent above your seat, that stream of icy air will never stop blowing down on you. Bring layers such as a blazer, light jacket or cardigan to ensure you are a comfortable temperature.

Now you are about an hour into your flight and the drink and meal carts are coming around. Since seat tray malfunctions are extremely common, it is important that what you are wearing will not be stained easily. Materials such as white fabrics, silks and suede are just asking to be ruined. In my case, I once ended up wearing a gin and tonic when a loose screw brought my tray down. I have never looked more "intoxicating."

My airport style icon is Cameron Diaz whose travel ensemble is always put-together but relaxed. She looks great, but can also hurtle over a baggage cart if necessary.

Here she shows of a leather bomber jacket layered over a long tee with skinny jeans tucked into cute but sensible boots. She pulls everything together with a beautiful scarf and voila, she is ready for takeoff.

The antithesis of Ms. Diaz is Lady Gaga who, of course, disregards all of my above advice.

But don't say I didn't warn her!

Almost everyone has a Francophile friend or family member on their holiday gift list. Whether they studied abroad in Paris (and won’t stop talking about it) or have memorized the film Amelie line-for-line, you will not go wrong buying a present that reminds them of la belle France. You must be careful, however, since it is easy fall into the cliché gift trap. In order to avoid buying a gift which a true Parisian would never be caught dead with, such as a poster of the Eiffel tower or--quelle horreur--a beret, here is a list of original and chic gift ideas for the France-lover in your life.

1) A Scarf: While traipsing through the streets of Paris the “scarf test” is a reliable way to tell a native from a tourist. Women wearing an impeccably wound silk scarf are most definitely Parisian, since it is the official uniform of the French femme. A scarf is also a perfect gift since not only can it complement any outfit but, if worn as the French do, is meant to be donned all year around no matter the weather or temperature.

2) Macarons: The French place great importance on savoring the small pleasures of life and there is no better small pleasure than a Macaron. These delicate cookies are light in texture but extremely rich in flavor. Ladurée, one of France’s most famous purveyors of macarons, opened its first American store in Manhattan this past fall. If you do not live near New York City, don’t worry, since macarons have been deemed “the new cupcake” and are popping up in bakeries across the country.

3) Sky-high Heels: One of the most amazing sights I have witnessed is that of Parisian women effortlessly navigating old cobblestone streets in impossible high stilettos. In France, beautiful and statement-making shoes are not only relegated to fancy events and parties but are often worn while running everyday errands. Whether you are attending a soiree or buying groceries at the supermarché heels are always en vogue. Since the French value originality in fashion, the higher and the more unique the heels, the better!

4) Fine Dinnerware: In France dinner is theatre and the set pieces, serving dishes and silverware, are an integral part of these productions. Consider buying a pretty cheese board and a proper cheese slicer which will make serving brie, camembert and chèvre extra special. For the friend who loves all French wine, from the reds of Bordeaux to the Rieslings of Alsace, fancy sets of wine glasses, a decanter or a professional screw pull lever will definitely be appreciated.

5) Smartphone Apps: For the friend who truly misses France, there’s an app for that. Remedy their nostalgia by giving them the gift which will allows them to virtually live the French life. Some of my favorite apps include: “Le fooding”, an app which allows you to stay on top of the Parisian culinary scene, “French Audio Flashcards” which will keep you brushed up on the language, “Louvre Museum,” which gives you a virtual tour of every collection in the renown museum and “France 24” which allows you to watch the French television channel whenever you want. Who wouldn’t love to have France in the palm of their hand?

Finally, if you need a last-minute present idea follow the French gift-giving tradition of offering a bottle of good wine (no two-buck chuck please!) or a popular French spirit such as Pastis, Grand Marnier or Cointreau. Open it up and have a toast to the holidays and to France!