https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 02 May 2026 19:48:32 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-925369 Sun, 05 May 2013 09:54:02 +0000 Ingunn 925369@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for this detailed and interesting report. You've made me long for a return to&nbsp;both cities - they are among the most popular traveling destinations in Europe for a reason.&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-925241 Sun, 05 May 2013 01:17:31 +0000 Jaime 925241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for the very interesting report. It does sound like a great trip and your observations are fascinating. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-925193 Sun, 05 May 2013 00:21:44 +0000 Eliza 925193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for the comments and interest. It is fun to visit places with an eye to fashion, as well as curiosity about&nbsp;&nbsp;culture, history, art and cuisine. MNsara, clearlyclaire and caro,&nbsp;&nbsp;I am straight out with re-entry right now and have yet to gain the skill set required for posting photos, so I must ask for your patience on that front. So sorry. I will master this at some point.<br /><br />The neighborhood shopping in both cities offer some unique, smaller non-chain stores (in Paris, I like the Marais and the area south of St. Germain particularly and in Barcelona, El Born, Bari Gottic&nbsp;and some areas along rambla da Catalunya, Diagnole and Passeig de Gracia were intriguing). Of course, many stones are left unturned in a short trip. I didn't purchase much, a couple of leather bags, a small evening bag and a couple of pairs of earrings. It's just such fun to poke around and look in windows. Diane G- maybe it was the novelty of a new city and my lack of time to see it all, but Barcelona was full of small, unique shops that made me wish for more time. It also was easier to find what I like to call "real people prices" there.&nbsp;&nbsp;It truly is a colorful city.&nbsp;&nbsp;Caro- there is something special about treasures that are true souvenirs.<br /><br />Can't say that I was surprised by the Parisian color scheme- the day before we arrived it had hit 80 degrees and then went down to the high forties with drizzle and wind. Winter clothes were in order-&nbsp;I even wore the leather gloves I had thrown in at the last minute at times. Angie- I share your fondness for the Marais. The comments about white/cream that were made to me were all in the context of my handbag search, I have noticed lots of crisp white clothing&nbsp;in warm months in Paris also. Just interesting how several shop keepers said white bags&nbsp;didn't sell in Paris. &nbsp;Of course, they didn't have any to sell either...<br /><br />It is vicarious thrills to read all of the travel reports and intriguing finds everyone here shares.&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-925171 Sat, 04 May 2013 23:43:59 +0000 Caro in Oz 925171@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fabulous report thank you, I would love to see some photos too:) <br />I love artisan shops, some of my favourite accessories were bought on my travels.&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-924896 Sat, 04 May 2013 15:38:54 +0000 Anonymous 924896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, how wonderful! I hope you'll post some pictures later of your purchases. I'm glad you had all of your bases covered with your packing and that you were able to keep warm.&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-924894 Sat, 04 May 2013 15:35:50 +0000 Anonymous 924894@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow! sounds as&nbsp;though you had&nbsp;a fab time. I really enjoyed reading your post.&nbsp;<br />It sounds like they all dress a little drably in Paris, no lighter shades to give a nod to spring. On the other hand Barcelona sounds like somwhere I would love to look around and shop, the stuff sounds a little more unique.<br />I'm glad your travel capsule worked well, you obviously gave it great thought and had some good old YLF help. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-924889 Sat, 04 May 2013 15:28:17 +0000 Angie 924889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fab report! Thanks :). Glad your travel capsule worked out well. <br /><br />We used to live in France and have been to Barcelona. I found the people in Barcelona generally very well dressed! The Marais is our favourite part of Paris. I do miss it. <br /><br />In my experience, lots of people wear colour in France when the temperatures rise. And LOTS of linen and white too. Spring is usually cold though, and they had an exceptionally cold Spring this year. <br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-924885 Sat, 04 May 2013 15:21:31 +0000 MNsara 924885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sounds like a marvelous trip!! When my daughter was schooling in France, she spent spring break in Barcelona and fell in love with the city too. <br /><br />Your packing sounds perfect. It would be fun to see any pics you have from street style to anything . . . I'm only able to enjoy trips like these through you all https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-and-barcelona-notes-from-the-road#post-924883 Sat, 04 May 2013 15:14:40 +0000 Eliza 924883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just returned from a fun trip to two great and very different cities. I know Paris well, but had never been to Barcelona. In addition to seeing the sites, we spent time (but never enough), shopping. As someone who likes to shop local small stores and appreciates regional artisanship at moderate (by European major design house standards)&nbsp;rather than stratospheric prices, Barcelona was my dream city. I found beautifully designed and crafted handbags (Beatriz Furest) at prices far less than "comparable" shops in Paris. She has a real eye for quality details and though I left room in my budget for bags in Paris, I now&nbsp;wish I had simply purchased all my&nbsp;bags in her shop. She has an online shop at prices about 10% higher than her stores.&nbsp;I did not find what I was seeking in my favorite Parisian haunts this trip. &nbsp;The fashion scene is Barcelona is diverse: slouchy pants were in the windows of several stores, and those seeking a youthful, urban or vintage vibe at affordable prices are really in luck. I found great prices at Massimo Dutti (an Italian based, somewhat classic&nbsp;low-moderate priced retailer that opened in NYC for the first time last year). The city as a whole has a casual vibe, but a bit of refinement in how many chose to&nbsp;dress. I wish I had more time to explore the numerous small, carefully curated shops.&nbsp;<br /><br />In Paris, the contrast between the stores' merchandise and what people were wearing was striking. It may have been partly because it was chilly outside and the spring/summer inventory was in the stores. The spring bags were often brightly colored, with a hint of play and casual edge added by nylon straps. Other stores carried the&nbsp;darker colors, featuring a fair amount of dark brown, olive&nbsp;and some cognac.&nbsp;The women on the street were largely in black and grey, with a bit of navy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />I had a cream colored bag on my Paris wish list and "no one" carried them. My conversations with shopkeepers revealed that white, apart from the&nbsp;occasional small evening clutch, did not sell in Paris and after several days, it became clear that there was indeed very little ivory or cream to be had in my stores of choice.&nbsp;&nbsp;I had a great time shopping for jewelry in the Marais, where it is possible to find fun pieces in silver plate or costume jewelry designs for reasonable prices. Time constraints prevented me from looking in many clothing stores.&nbsp;<br /><br />My travel capsule worked out well, though the temperatures were lower than predicted and I wore the heck out of my layering pieces that added warmth. I tried out a great, hooded packable raincoat for the first time and it was a real work horse, as it was roomy enough to layer over a blazer or light-weight jacket, as well as reversible from a plain side, to a textured design side that was fun with dinner outfits. Reading how all recent traveling YLFers packed helped a lot. I took the usual approach: select a color palette, add enough tops including some that would dry quickly if sink washed, included 2 comfortable walking shoes and a pair for evenings without the same walkability. I took a chance and brought a great fitting cream colored blazer for dinners (was worried about staining). I liked the look with some dressy silk tops and my EF silk track pants, but wouldn't do it again as I was hesitant to use the blazer when out and about all day.&nbsp;&nbsp;I brought more jackets of varying weights and purposes than usual due to the combo of different climates and spring variability. I wore them all (taupe leather jacket, super light weight black cropped jacket, turquoise short swing jacket-lined and warmer, good for light rain, and the packable black raincoat), though probably it was overkill.<br /><br />Everything went better thanks to YLF.&nbsp;<br /><br />