Baby shopping in Paris
Oct 19th, 2005 | 04:07 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 0
tod is right - Paris has terrific boutiques with baby and children's clothing. Some are expensive, some are fairly reasonable. (Maybe a little more expensive than Old Navy, but less than Gap. In other words, decent prices for those who are buying gifts for the little ones, although maybe a little cher for mom and dad's everyday shopping needs.)
But I recently discovered a great consolidated source. Make sure you visit BHV (the abbreviation for Bazaar de l'Hotel de Ville). This is one of the Grands Magasins in Paris, just across from the Hotel de Ville (city hall), beside the metro stop of the same name. I find the other Grands Magasins (e.g. Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Bon Marche) to be a little too pricey for everyday shopping, whereas BHV seems to be where real Parisiens shop for everyday, good quality items. There is a very large baby and children's boutique on the top floor, right beside a good cafe with good views across the roofs of Paris. There was much better selection (and a wider range of prices) than what I saw at Lafayette and Printemps (where I'd gone gift shopping earlier in the summer). I plan to stock up on gifts for my niece before heading home for Christmas.
I love BHV. Sometimes I think I live there these days. My husband and I go almost every other day because we're redecorating our flat and BHV is everything we need, at reasonable prices, to fix and decorate the place. And I find everyday department stores in foreign countries a great cultural experience. (For example, what does it say about a country where you can you find a) 30 coffeemakers but only 3 kettles in a department store (Canada); b) 30 kettles but only 3 coffeemakers (UK); c) 15 kettles, 15 coffeemakers, 15 espressmakers - but 75 irons, including irons that cost 300 euros (France)?
But I recently discovered a great consolidated source. Make sure you visit BHV (the abbreviation for Bazaar de l'Hotel de Ville). This is one of the Grands Magasins in Paris, just across from the Hotel de Ville (city hall), beside the metro stop of the same name. I find the other Grands Magasins (e.g. Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Bon Marche) to be a little too pricey for everyday shopping, whereas BHV seems to be where real Parisiens shop for everyday, good quality items. There is a very large baby and children's boutique on the top floor, right beside a good cafe with good views across the roofs of Paris. There was much better selection (and a wider range of prices) than what I saw at Lafayette and Printemps (where I'd gone gift shopping earlier in the summer). I plan to stock up on gifts for my niece before heading home for Christmas.
I love BHV. Sometimes I think I live there these days. My husband and I go almost every other day because we're redecorating our flat and BHV is everything we need, at reasonable prices, to fix and decorate the place. And I find everyday department stores in foreign countries a great cultural experience. (For example, what does it say about a country where you can you find a) 30 coffeemakers but only 3 kettles in a department store (Canada); b) 30 kettles but only 3 coffeemakers (UK); c) 15 kettles, 15 coffeemakers, 15 espressmakers - but 75 irons, including irons that cost 300 euros (France)?
Oct 19th, 2005 | 10:24 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 35,154
Likes: 0
You just asked that question a couple days ago and got some answers. Why are you asking it again? If you wanted to bring it up, all you had to do was post to the old thread.
You've apparently been on numerous Fodors forums posting for close to three years, surely you know how to look for a prior post and haven't forgotten about it, have you?
You've apparently been on numerous Fodors forums posting for close to three years, surely you know how to look for a prior post and haven't forgotten about it, have you?
