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cost of clothing in London, France, Germany??

cost of clothing in London, France, Germany??

Old Jun 5th, 2002, 08:21 AM
  #1  
jughead
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cost of clothing in London, France, Germany??

When i went to china I packed some and then bought whatever I needed since I knew it would be cheaper that way.

Can I get away with that idea in Europe? I am talking about everyday, comfy and practical stuff and not designer look at me rich stuff.

For comparison a decent pair of cotton trousers or casual but nice jumper here is = to EUR 40 - 70, above that and its all brands, below that can be ok but tends to be cheaper stuff.

any idea at all would be helpful

Jughead
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 08:26 AM
  #2  
sylvia
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For an idea about British average prices have a look at the Marks and Spencer website at http://www.marksandspencer.com/

At the moment the Euro is worth about 60 British pence.
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 01:50 PM
  #3  
jughead
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thanx for that... i've checked out some others too but i was thinking more of buying in france... unless england is cheaper than France??? any ideas, experiences?
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 03:46 PM
  #4  
nancy
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During two different stay in London and Paris I found prices to be much higher than the U.S. for the same stuff, particularly in London - outrageous. Really, the department stores carrying the same stuff we buy in the U.S. I would definitely not go there to shop.
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 06:41 PM
  #5  
Sue
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I ditto Nancy, things are outrageously expensive in both London and Paris - I have been to both places several times in the past 3 years. London is especially so. I was in Paris a few weeks ago, and did buy 2 pair of Mephisto sandals, which were alot cheaper than here, but nothing else was!
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 06:49 PM
  #6  
shaon
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Had a heat wave in London a few years ago and it took me 1 whole day to find anything reasonably priced that wouldn't fall apart after a few hours..lots of really good,expensive things but no middle ground at all, I had good things at home, I just wanted to be fairly comfortable for our last few days. Even the cheap things...less than wal-mart quality were very pricey..to my way of thinking.
 
Old Jun 5th, 2002, 06:59 PM
  #7  
Therese
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No experience in London, but have done a fair amount of low to middle end shopping in France and Germany. I generally find the clothes to be more stylish in France (whew, huge surprise), as well as more reasonably priced. Shoes tend to be more expensive across the board (except for the truly horrible stuff), except that some premium brands are cheaper (including Arche, one of my favorites).

Both France and Germany are less expensive than Italy, where I find shopping for not too expensive clothes to be a total thrash.
 
Old Jun 6th, 2002, 06:12 PM
  #8  
jughead
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thanx heaps you guys. I guess i'll pack what i expect to use and don't rely on buying over there then.
 
Old Jun 6th, 2002, 09:10 PM
  #9  
dot
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We were in Heidelberg last week and my husband found a fairly good buy in of all places Woolworth's. He bought trousers which zip off into shorts for 19.99Euro a pair. They were made of poly/cotton and wash and dry with minimal wrinkling.
 
Old Jun 6th, 2002, 09:34 PM
  #10  
Mel P
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Been to Paris twice and London numerous times in the past few years. London is nearly always more expensive for average everyday kinda clothing, so I wouldn't count on that idea there. Paris I find to be more reasonably priced, I have found nice regular non-designer clothing for good prices and have always come back with some new clothes. Haven't been back to Paris since the full changeover to Euros though so I don't know how that has impacted prices.
 
Old Jun 7th, 2002, 12:14 AM
  #11  
Hope
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Once a diplomat brat and now settled and working, I have lived or been to all three. I would have to say that the clothes in France are much more stylish than in Germany. The Germans don't seem to have an edge on style, as do the French or the Londoners. And the quality here in Germany is really not so great, unless you pay a horrid price. I just cross the border to France everytime I want to go shopping. Better value, style and quality.
 
Old Jun 7th, 2002, 04:03 AM
  #12  
Joyce
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Clothing is much more expensive in England and France than in the USA. I was not in Germany long enough to do much shopping, but my initial impression was of lower prices, but nothing I liked enough to buy.

My travels to Europe always give me a greater appreciation for women's clothing stores in the USA. I just returned from Madrid, where I spent a lot of time looking through women's clothing stores. (I love to shop!) I could not find a single item of clothing worth buying. Most of what I saw was either too matronly or too skimpy, clothes suitable for streetwalkers. The few decent outfits I saw were extremely expensive, all of them styles that could be bought in the USA at a fraction of the price.


 
Old Jun 7th, 2002, 08:23 AM
  #13  
Ryn
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The one thing that I have noticed is consistently cheaper in Europe than in the US? Ladies' bathing suits. Those I would buy abroad, if you are going to be there at a good time to wear one.

Otherwise it is best to bite the bullet and schlep it with you.

 
Old Jun 8th, 2002, 05:07 PM
  #14  
xxx
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I'm moving to France in a few weeks, because of the price of clothing I plan on returning to the US every year just to do shopping for my children. It's worth the airfare, you get better quality for less money than you pay for not so good quality in Europe. I purchase the majority of my childrens clothes from GAP (11 year old), and Armani Exchange (teenager). To purchase such items in Europe would be unaffordable, many of my friends and family do this also.

Take your clothes from US or you might regret it.
 
Old Jun 8th, 2002, 05:15 PM
  #15  
nygirl
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I have found that living in NYC, very little is available in London/Paris that I cannot find in NY.
That said, there are plenty of great boutiques in the Marais, and all over Paris where I have found unique and not expensive things.Because of the difference in the pound to the dollar, London is way too expensive,but there usually isn't anything that isn't in NY.
Paris is better,and fun to shop for things that won't look like they came from your hometown mall.
 
Old Jun 8th, 2002, 05:16 PM
  #16  
JP
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Another thing especially in France is the way the clothes are cut. They are cut more narrow in the hips and through the waist and shoulders. Also depends on where you go..
 
Old Jun 8th, 2002, 07:24 PM
  #17  
gb
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I found shoes much cheaper in Italy, and slightly cheaper in Paris. Last year, I saw Mephistos for about $70 but didn't buy them. My daughter did buy two pairs of White Mountain sandals for $11 each (probably about $30 here) at a weekly market. The department stores in Paris seemed equal in price to Macy's. In London, everything was more expensive. I think bring you basics and leave room in your suitcase for a few souvenir items, but don't count on clothing bargains.
 
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