You guys were really helpful when I was wondering about buying food after arriving in Paris on a Saturday afternoon. Hope y'all don't mind my piping up again!

I'll have a week there in late Sep. I moved to Bavaria last year and love the country-style clothing and bought one long, wool coat. I was going to buy a knee-lengh one too, then began to realize how so many folks sort of mock that Bavarian style. So . . . maybe not. I'll probably be travelling a lot in the winters and don't really want to stick out like a sore-thumb-rube.

So I thought I might take advantage of being in Paris to see if I could find one there. Looking for a tailored, knee-length wool coat that would work for cold-ish Spring and Fall and most of the Winter. What do you think? Galeries Lafayette do the trick? Any other working-girl type smaller stores (like Ann Taylor) I should put on the list?

Love to hear your ideas!

Thanks!

s

Yes, I would start with the department stores in your case -- Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. But frankly, I think you might be able to find something good at H&M for a lot less. Being a Swedish chain, they know about coats.

The H&M quality of fabrics are not very good nor are they made in Sweden.

I'd skip H&M, as I have personally never been impressed with their items. I first saw there stores decades ago when I was living in Copenhagen.

I'd go to Galeries Layfayette and Printemps and into Monoprix for a look. I saw some nice items, in all three, last week. And even though you're female there's always the men's department. For me it's usually not difficult to buy jackets and sometimes coats in the men's department, in Paris, as the arms are usually shorter than the arms on U.S. items in the men's department. So, a lot of items can be unisex. Happy Travels!

You think Monoprix made in China is better than H&M made in Slovakia?

no, I don't buy anything made in China.

I bought my daughter a really cute coat on Rue St. Louis en Ile last Sept. It was 3/4 length in a gorgeous eggplant color and she just loved it---wore it for business often. The store is called 78 at 78 Rue St. Louis en Ile. I think it was around 150 euros, so not too expensive. I will definitely return to that shop this Sept.

Agree that H&M quality is not great.

Thanks TPAYT for the tip about that store 78 on the Ile as we leave next week and will be staying in an apt on the Ile and will definitely check it out. We were in a hotel on the Ile last year but somehow I missed that shop.

I've never shopped for a wool coat in Paris, so I'd probably think of the main dept stores, also. I'll admit I don't think H&M has good quality stuff, either, but I wouldn't go to Monoprix for a full-length wool coat, either. I'm not sure I'd go there for any coat, although I saw some very casual raincoats in there once that looked okay, but that's it.

If I were trying to get bargains, I'd probably check out the seconds, last year's goods, etc. (stock, marques degriffees, etc) discount shops on rue Alesia, some of them must have coats, I would think. Or around all those discount stores in the 6th on rue St Placide or St Dominique to the west.

I prefer a water resistant coat for Paris. I bought a nice one at Galleries Lafayette. it was on sale for a decent price and the sales lady was very nice.

Where something is made doesn't automatically make it inferior or superior. The individual item needs to be looked at. Happy Travels!

If you're looking for fashionable and reasonable, you should give Zara and Mango a go. If money is less of a concern, give Le Bon Marché and Comptoir des Cotonniers a go.

My biggest problem at he time was that sizing is so different. Which is why it was nice to have an attentive sales staff.

Wow! What a wonderful breadth and depth of choices! I thank you all very much! Looks like I'll "have" to spend a full day on this horrid chore, lol!

Thanks again!

s

I was in Bon Marche last week and of course the merchandise was as fabulous as ever. Even though I had a throbbing toothache, I forced myself from all the way across town to get there as I was staying at a friend's apartment and not my usual walking distance from the store. It's my absolute favorite department store in Paris, although I do more shopping at Galeries Layfayette. But, I get my fashion inspiration and many ideas at Bon Marche.

I was looking at the Max Mara coats (Italian) which are my personal favorites. I was curious about the new collection, so that if I saw something I liked, I could jot it down and look for it in a few months at our outlet outside of Los Angeles County.

I happened to see a raincoat, at Bon Marche, which was almost exactly like the one I bought here at home a few months ago, at our Max Mara outlet, but for $372. more than what I had paid for mine. So, just be prepared for the sticker prices if you do decide to go to Bon Marche.

I did, however, pick up a fabulous Missoni Muffler (knitted, long scarf). The saleswomen were putting out the new merchandise on the tables and displays and shoppers were buzzing around them like bees. My biggest beef is that Bon Marche doesn't offer 10% discount cards as Printemps and Galeries Layfaette do. At Galeries Layfayette and Printemps, I can get 10% off with the discount card and then an additonal 12% off for the detaxe since I usually qualify for detaxe. But, unfortunately my Missoni muffler didn't get any discount.

So, if you, for example, find the perfect winter coat somewhere and at a reasonable price, then you can always go into Bon Marche or other stores with great accessories and find a fabulous muffler or cap and matching gloves to accessorize it with. Then year after year the same basic coat can be worn, but just accesorized differently. It's all about the accessorizing. Fabulous! Smiles. Have fun shopping! Happy Travels!

Guenmai, Yay! I pared down my wardrobe a LOT when I moved here, but the upside is that I'm on an almost-constant scarf-hunt! It's alllll good! Thanks so much!

s

"no, I don't buy anything made in China"

How do you know?

Walk along Blvd. St Germain ,there are all kinds of clothing stores there

Also try ETAM. They have great prices.

They have to put it on the labels.