Having led a life growing up between France and the U.S. followed by a 15 year stint in London, Angèle found herself relocating to Paris in her 30s. The move also meant launching her company, L’ATELIER, a consultancy service for artists and brands in the fashion and advertising industries.
Prior to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Angèle worked as a photography agent, feeding her endless curiosity and passion for creativity in all forms. “Beauty has always been a guiding force for me” she says, her words carrying the slight lilt of someone who's collected accents like passport stamps. "Art has the power to move people, to tell stories, and to shape culture, and I feel privileged to work alongside artists who bring that vision to life. What drives me is seeing creative talent flourish — watching artists reach milestones in their careers, push boundaries, and evolve."
Angèle enjoys travelling the world- though ultimately, she found herself returning to her Parisian roots. “Moving back to Paris felt like a homecoming — it was the most natural decision. My father was a born-and-bred Parisian, and being here makes me feel closer to him.”
Though she references her paternal roots to her ‘homecoming’, perhaps it’s actually her own mother that inspired her return to there. “In truth, my mother is just as much of a Parisian at heart. In her 30s, she made the bold decision to leave Baltimore and move to Paris without knowing a soul. It was a very different time to make such a leap, but she’s always been incredibly brave. On the very first night of her arrival, she met my dad at Harry’s Bar. It’s quite romantic…”
Having her creative flexes shaped by working closely with photographers, stylists, set designers, and other creatives, gave Angèle a well-rounded understanding of the industry, and ultimately recognising the help artists and creatives need, in navigating through the business side of the industry. Her new business, L’ATELIER, does exactly this, while guiding them on shaping their careers and staying true to their vision. "Fashion is an intense, fast-paced industry that demands resilience and clarity of vision. I find it both challenging and rewarding to help artists stay grounded while navigating it. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to witness incredible journeys, build lifelong friendships, and contribute, in some small way, to the creative world I love."
Angèle was one of the first colivers when Coco Community first launched, while on a month-long work assignment. Once she decided to make the move a more permanent one, she immediately got back in touch. “I was immediately impressed — not just by the apartments, but by the energy of the team, the sense of community, and the unbeatable location of the coworking space in the heart of Le Marais” she rejoices. And while you would think that being part French would mean it would be an easier feat to find an apartment, Angèle decided to forgo the traditional process and instead, was gravitated towards renting an apartment through Coco Community once again. “When I made the decision to move back to France, reaching out to the COCO team was instinctive” she recalls. The ease and consistency of the experience, means Angèle has stayed a fan. “It felt like the perfect fit - it was truly a no-brainer. Now, I recommend COCO to all my friends who want to spend time in Paris.”
Angèle is a prime representation of the diversity of members within Coco Community - it’s not just Anglophone expats, but often a melange of members, some with French roots. For busy individuals who want to focus their time on building the purpose of their Paris stay, joining Coco offers the opportunity to breeze in and out, without getting disrupted by the endless barrage of paperwork and wait times. “Finding an apartment in France isn’t easy when you’re not already in the system and it can be tricky to navigate from an administrative perspective, especially after living in the US and the UK for so long” she explains. “That’s why being part of an international community was so important to me when I first arrived. Coco helped me find a little apartment that I loved, which became my transitional home while I was still deciding whether Paris would be a long-term move. With a fast-paced job, I can’t afford much upset — things need to run smoothly in the background. That space allowed me to work through all the administrative details without disrupting the rhythm of my life, making the transition so much easier.
While it’s often talked about the community being comprised of people from all walks of life, Angèle can testify to it being the case. “I loved being surrounded by different perspectives, exchanging ideas, and stepping outside the usual routine. It made me feel more creative and fulfilled on a daily basis” she says. “Coco brought together individuals from all walks of life, many of whom I might never have met otherwise.”
When asked about what she liked best about Coco Community, Angèle notes that while the apartments were well-maintained and tastefully decorated, what stood out the most beyond the logistics, was the kindness and support the internal team showed to her. “Just knowing they were there made all the difference. Their positive energy and kindness helped keep me grounded during a period of big change, and for that, I’m truly grateful.”
For people who resonate to Angèle’s journey, she suggests being around like-minded people being of utmost importance. “Coco events were a great way to meet new people, have meaningful conversations, and expand my network in a fun and natural way. My favourite aspects were friendship and community - it’s such a vital part of life.”
In her ability to bridge two worlds - the artistic and the commercial, the French and the American, the traditional and the modern, how has her full-circle return fared for Angèle’s second chapter in the French capital? “French people sometimes have a reputation for being unfriendly, but I’ve actually found Parisians to be warm and full of life - you just have to know where to look!” she instructs. “I love the rhythm of neighborhood life — the local cafés, the baker, the primeur — these small, everyday interactions add so much joy to my routine. And, of course, Coco has become a big part of that. Those micro-moments of connection and familiarity make all the difference in feeling truly at home.”
As our interview winds down, she mentions something that seems to encapsulate her entire philosophy: "I love reading - books are one of my favorite ways to explore new ideas, perspectives, and emotions." Angèle herself is like a well-written story – complex, layered, and thoroughly engaging. And like all good stories, hers seems to be just getting to the good part.
ANGÈLE’S TOP FIVE FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN PARIS
1) Produce – Food and cooking is a big part of my life, so good produce is top priority. France has amazing produce but also we are positioned in the middle of Europe, so we have access to a huge rainbow of produce.
2) Restaurants – There is an amazing restaurant scene in Paris at the moment. Brilliant, simple and original cooking happening here - we were missing this for a while. Things felt a bit stuck in time, but that’s changed now and it feels fresh and fun.
3) Community – To my earlier point - distance is a non-issue, so it means that you’re never more than a 20 minute commute from someone. That’s priceless to me - it allows for a certain spontaneity of life I really appreciate.
4) Culture – Keeping one’s mind well seasoned with culture and art is important to Parisians - there is always something going on and we are spoiled for choice.
5) Libraries – We have fantastic libraries in Paris. When the city starts feeling loud and busy, libraries are a wonderful place to retreat to focus on a meaningful project. Of course, there is the BNF which is splendid, but my favourite is Mazarine. It faces the Seine, the interiors are very impressive and truly academic - plus there is always a seat available. It’s the oldest public library in France, and it also houses a Gutenberg Bible. I feel lucky to have access to such a precious and peaceful place.
You can connect with Angèle’s via her social media channels here:
@angelealberti
@l_atelier_by
