https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 20 May 2026 17:48:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-188124 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:49:23 +0000 Jill 188124@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're both welcome, and I hope you have a blast shopping there! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-186828 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:09:09 +0000 tartangal 186828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fantastic info, Jill. Think I have to print it all out for my next trip to Paris, whenever that will be! Thanks from all of us! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185673 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:32:16 +0000 Laura 185673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Phew! I'll be there on a Saturday :)</p> <p>Such great tips ! I'm going to check out those sites right now...getting excited. Thank you again Jill - I owe you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185567 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:15:28 +0000 Jill 185567@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh! I should have mentioned as this could vastly affect your plans -- the stores are closed on Sundays! I hope you will be there Saturday, not Sunday. The only places to shop on Sundays are malls that are on the outskirts of the city, not nearly as fun. Let me know though if it's Sunday that you'll be there and I'll explain how to get to the mall. Stores don't stay open late either -- even more reason to hit them early.</p> <p>Also, you should go to the department store websites in advance, they have them in English, so they are easy to navigate. There is also a concierge at each store who will speak English and you can pick up a map of the store in English and a discount card if you present your passport. You can get info on the websites about getting a refund on the value-added tax (12%). Here's the English version for Printemps <a href="http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/" rel="nofollow">http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/</a> and for Galeries Lafayette <a href="http://www2.galerieslafayette.com/international/index.do" rel="nofollow">http://www2.galerieslafayette......l/index.do</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185554 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:45:41 +0000 taylor 185554@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>WOW Jill, impressive....welcome BTW </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185506 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:55:39 +0000 Laura 185506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Thank you Jill! Thanks for writing that all up - You have no idea how helpful that is. That is the exactly the kind of information I was looking for.</p> <p>I think I'm going to check out the Department stores you mentioned and the Dutch store, if possible. I'll need to practice my "Bonjour"! : )</p> <p>Hopefully I'll report back with some great purchases ! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185203 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:02:55 +0000 Jill 185203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I meant to say also that Samaritaine is not near the other two department stores -- it is well down the rue de Rivoli, closer to the Marais -- which is a fantastic shopping area all on its own and you could easily do well there (also easy to get to from the area where you are staying). I wouldn't try to do all the areas I mentioned in one day, it's definitely a matter of picking one general area and sticking within it. Have fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-185195 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:41:35 +0000 Jill 185195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really must do an intro, this is my second de-lurk! I assume you are wanting to shop for clothes/shoes? Anything else specific?</p> <p>There is really great shopping all over the city, so just about anywhere you go you are going to find something. I used to live there, but it's been five years, so I don't want to recommend specific shops in case they have closed/moved. Except, of course, for the department stores, which are fairly near where you will be. Since you only have the one day, you might try those as you'll get one-stop shopping. Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Samaritaine are the classic three. There are a multitude of small boutiques in the same general neighborhood. On the rue de Rivoli between Samaritaine and the Louvre is also where you'll see C&amp;A (Dutch, fun, low priced) and probably an H&amp;M, with many more shops interspersed. Monoprix is like a French version of Target, although only the big stores -- there are some Monoprix that sell only groceries. Lots of shoe stores along there if I remember correctly. The area around the dept. stores and on the rue de Rivoli is also the most crowded shopping area of the city, I think, especially during tourist season, so be ready for that. </p> <p>I like the whole area around Madeleine, rue Tronchet, rue Cambon, boulevard des Capucines, avenue de l'Opera, boulevard Haussmann (where Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are), etc. On the other side of the river, I like the triangle bounded by boulevard St. Germain, boulevard Raspail, and the rue de Rennes (esp. this street). There is a small department store (read: less crowded) just off the boulevard Raspail called Le Bon Marche (Sevres-Babylone metro stop; there's a lovely small park there as well).</p> <p>If you want to ogle the designers, try the avenue de Montaigne just off the Champs Elysees, metro stop Franklin D. Roosevelt, or Place Vendome (very close to the Louvre). Avenue de Montaigne is jam packed with the biggest names in fashion, while Place Vendome is a small collection (Chanel, Cartier, Phillipe Patek, Rolex, Dior...). I never did go into any of those, but it's fun to "leche les vitrines" (window shop, or, literally, to "lick the windows"). </p> <p>Right now (lucky you!) -- through the beginning of August -- Paris is having "les soldes" -- big sales everywhere you go. Every store will have a "soldes" sign in its window. The downside to shopping there right now is going to be the heat. Air conditioning is rare, even in hotels and stores, and the crowds can easily overpower what meager air conditioning the stores provide. If you need a blast of AC, go to a movie or pop into a florist shop. </p> <p>Random tips --<br /> Go early to the department stores, as soon as they open. It will be cooler and far less crowded -- the French do not shop early. </p> <p>Stores in France are required to display prices on merchandise in the windows, so checking those before you go in can be a good way to gauge whether it's a store you can afford. </p> <p>If you see a clothing store called a "depot vente" it is a consignment shop, by all means go in!</p> <p>When you walk into a small shop or into a section of the department stores, make a point of saying "bonjour," or even better "bonjour madame/monsieur" if you can manage it, to the shop personnel, and "merci, au revoir" as you leave. This is an expected courtesy in France and you will get far better service with this small habit (really, no matter where you are -- metro ticket window, on the bus, at a bakery, checking into your hotel -- always say "bonjour" first). </p> <p>Oh, and if you'd like to pick up a book/magazine in English or just go somewhere you can ask a question in English, stop into the WH Smith on the corner of rue de Rivoli and rue Cambon, or the Brentano's on the avenue de l'Opera, both are English-language bookstores. </p> <p>I hope that's helpful -- it is kind of hard to narrow down since there is so much there, but that should give you some starting points! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184963 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:39:43 +0000 Laura 184963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow - Thanks for all the info ladies! This is a big help : ) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184961 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:27:33 +0000 Mac 184961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The department stores are fun to look around (Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Bonne Marche) and if you take your passport, you can get the things you buy there tax-free. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184940 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:58:16 +0000 Scarlet 184940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie has a couple blog posts about stores in Paris. Did you find those? I always hear about the Galeries Lafayette, which is a department store. If I were going to Paris I would check out the Isabel Marant store, but it depends on your taste. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184922 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:02:17 +0000 neatnic 184922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore is very close to the Louvre -- it's a fun destination for high-end (and very French) shopping/browsing. While there, be sure to stop in Colette to see their outrageous design-y fashion displays!</p> <p>For more affordable shopping, I love the Marais district -- lots of fun little shops and boutiques.</p> <p>Enjoy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184893 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:45:19 +0000 Kristine 184893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooh, you're so lucky! Make the most of it and have fun! Be brave and go in every store you can! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184876 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:16:02 +0000 Sihaya 184876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Have a great time Tortoise. Depends on your budget would be the short answer. They have a great Anne Fontaine store there. Also Zara's which is available in the US but not where I live. There are designer stores on the Champs Elysees and nearby too if you want to get fancy. But I also found some neat little stores (don't remember their names) tucked into the side streets off of Champs Elysees. I hope you have a great time! Outside of shopping, I would recommend taking the Metro to Montmarte and walking around in the open market and cafes there and catching the view from Sacre Coeur. I'm envious, post pictures! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184824 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 07:23:44 +0000 londonkiwi (now back in NZ) 184824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't wait to see if Angie (or anyone else) comes back to answer this. We have a whole 4 days in Paris at the beginning of September and I was going to post this exact question.</p> <p>This will be my 5th trip to Paris, but I have never really been clothes shopping. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184749 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:11:58 +0000 chewyspaghetti 184749@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No, but lucky you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/paris-shopping#post-184719 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 02:31:52 +0000 Laura 184719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll be in Paris for one day next weekend! Just one day and night.</p> <p>My hotel is a few blocks from the Louvre. Does anyone have suggestions on shopping? I'm going to have one whole empty suitcase with me! So its a great shopping opportunity. </p> <p>Thanks all! </p>