Paris Fashion Week - Shopping In Paris

This is my second feature about shopping in a city. Paris has one of the best shopping destinations in the World. Paris is of course the centre and headquarters of all major French Fashion Houses.  There are many shops that will cater to any budget from the Haute Couture to the Pret a Porter. There are many Department Stores from the Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Le Bon Marche, Colette and a few more others. One can also shop in the Monoprix and also at Tati to find bargain prices.

Once again, shopping in Paris is divided into the Right Bank and Left Bank. Each area has different fashion styles, different lifestyles and shops. The Right Bank is known mostly as the Headquarters of major French Fashion Houses. I would describe the Fashion style there more classic, Haute couture and quite formal. I remember being there in October, I would see ladies walking around Faubourg Rue St Honore in their fur coats carrying their Hermes Birkin bags. 

1. Rue du Faubourg  St Honore

A major street in Paris where one will find the Headquarters and Flagship stores of Hermes, Lanvin, the major Department Store Colette, Roger Vivier, Christian Loubotin and Chloe, to name a few. It is a beautiful street to walk along to discover many shops and various cafes.

Rouge Hermes Birkin, Hermes Bracelet and Belt. Photo:Style.com

Ines De La Fressange, muse of Roger Vivier shoes. She is wearing a Roger Vivier flats with the famous buckle and has Roger Vivier clutch. The Roger Vivier shoe line is designed by Bruno Frisoni. Checkout their new website at www.rogervivier.com. Photo:Philippine Tatler

Lanvin "Happy" Pink phyton Bag.  Lanvin Boutique is at 22 Rue St Honore, Paris. The Lanvin line is designed by  Alber Elbaz. The house carries clothing, shoes, bags and accessories.

Famous Lanvin Flats. Checkout their website at www.lanvin.com.

2. Avenue Montaigne

Not all of the major French Design Houses are located at the Rue St Honore. Some are located on Avenue Montaigne which is on the other side of Champs Elysee near the Seine River.  Christian Dior and Celine are one of the shops located in this area.

Dior Headquarters and Flagship store on Ave Montaigne. Dior is one of the jewels in the LVMH-Moet conglomerate. The previous designer was the talented John Galliano. Presently, no replacement has been announced but rumours are it might be Marc Jacobs.  Dior sells both Haute Couture and Pret-a porter clothes, bags, shoes and accessories.

Celine Paris

 Celine Paris is now designed by the talented British designer Phoebe Philo. She was the former designer of Chloe. Phoebe has designed some really popular bags  with Chole like the iconic Chloe "Paddington" Bag. Now, she is making waves at Celine.  Celine design is known for its minimalist style. This Celine "Luggage" bag is sold out in most of their boutiques and there is a waiting list. I am currently loving Celine! It is a beautiful and classic brand!

Celine "Luggage" bag.

Celine Yellow Phyton  Flap shoulder bag. Photo:Style.com

3. Avenue Des Champs Elysee

Of course, we cannot miss shopping at the Headquarters and Flagship store of Louis Vuitton located at  Ave Champs Elysee. Oh my, this building along the Ave Champs Elysee is like a museum. It features their bags, shoes,clothes and accessories like museum pieces. It also features the LV Art collection and design all around the different floors. It is a very busy place. Good luck, finding a Sales Attendant to serve you. Patience is key, if you are trully determined to gotta have it!

The new Louis Vuitton Bag line is called the Monogram Empreinte. It is the famous LV monogram logo laser imprinted on leather. It comes in various colours like Black, Blue, Burgundy, Grey and Taupe.

Louis Vuitton "Artsy" Empreinte Bag in Ombre and  Louis Vuitton Monogram Messenger bag.

                                                   

Louis Vuitton Empreinte "Lumineuse" in Blue. Photo: www.Louisvuitton.com

Alexa Chung wearing floral Louis Vuitton skirt from Resort 2011 Collection, LV Pumps and Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton Bag. Photo:Vogue.com

4. Chanel, Rue Cambon

On Rue Cambon, behind the Ritz Hotel, one will find the Headquarters of Chanel. This is the place where Coco Chanel started her Fashion house. On the Upper Floor of the building is her still intact  Apartment.  This Chanel store is beautiful!! I love everything Chanel from the clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, fragrances and cosmetics. It makes me dream!

My Chanel obsession!

5. Balenciaga Paris George V

Balenciaga is one of my favourite brands. It was the Fashion Design House of the former Spanish Fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga. It is now designed by the talented and very original Nicholas Ghesquiere.

Balenciaga "Motorcyle" bag

6. Boulevard Haussmann

This Boulevard is famous for its side by side Major Department stores called Magasin Galleries Lafayette and  Magasin Printemps. Both departments stores have  multi complex buildings that carries everything from Food Halls, Menswear, Women's, Housewares, Cosmetics, among others. They are known in French as the "Le Plus Parisien Des Grands Magasins/The Most Parisian Department Store."  These are the places to find affordable French designed clothing and accessories.

Galleries Lafayette Department Store. The top floor is open to get a view of Paris.

Printemps Department Store is also multi-complex store that offers variety of French Brands. It also has three famous  Cafe Flore restaurants and  Laduree. The top floor also offers view of Paris.

7. Fragonard

Fragonard is one of the best French perfume brands not offered in any Department stores in the world. Their shops are only available in France and their website. This is a perfume company from Grasse, France which is the centre of French perfumery.  They also have a Fragonard Museum in Paris at Rue Scribe near the Opera Garnier. There you can see how perfumes are made and also has a shop.

Fragonard shop in the Louvre Museum offers all of their perfumes and other products line.

Fragonard website at www.fragonard.com

8. Place De la Madeleine

Fauchon is a Food Store behind the Church of the Madeleine where they have a bakery and restaurants. It is just heavenly there with all Fauchon brands of various teas, chocolates, biscuits, jams, candies, french bread, baguettes, the famous madeleine cookies, cakes etc. You can eat there for lunch, dinner and snack. Have some cafe au lait and one of their delicious pastries for an afternoon snack.

Fauchon is famous for their Rose Tea. They also have Lavender Tea and Orange blossom teas.

On the Left Bank

The famous Department store is  Le Bon Marche. It is owned by LVMH-Moet. I would say this is the most Parisian Department store. It offers all of the French Major Design brands. It is also famous for the Le Bon Marche Grand Epicerie which is their Food Hall. They offer many varieties of chocolates, teas, coffees, pastries, famous French Baguettes with Ham and cheese, Baguette with smoked salmon which are sold out right away. It is time well spent to discover this place!

Le Bon Marche Paris on the corner of Rue du Bac and Rue De Sevres

Le Bon Marche Epicerie, offers both Dry foods, teas, coffees, fresh pastries, bread, Wines, chocolates and fresh made food like the famous French Baguettes.

YSL Rive Gauche

Designer Yves Saint Laurent store is located in the Left Bank. As the  Left Bank Style is more bohemian, hip, trendy and androgynous.  As compared to the Right Bank Style which is more classic, traditional and stylish too. It is good to mix both styles.

YSL famous "Muse" Bag

YSL "Paris" perfume. Perfect for Spring and summer perfume!

It is pleasure  to shop in Paris as it is trully one of the best in the world! Shopping in the Parisian shops is similar to visiting a museum. Every product you encounter is like  a museum piece for me as it offers originality and style. I hope when you visit Paris, that you will explore their shops and the many beautiful products that they offer. As there are many and worth your time when Paris!