Buying scarves in Paris
 

Is it true as I've heard that there are numerous street vendors who sell scarves? I would love to bring several back but no way can I afford Hermes.

What would be a good price? Also is there still alot of bartering that goes on?

Inexpensive scarves are a fun souvenir, as long as you realize they aren't "made in France", at least that's my experience.

There are racks of scarves in front of a lot of the souvenir stores - I don't recall ever seeing street vendors, just those sidewalk racks. Maybe we're talking about the same thing.

Otherwise, you can go into the nicer department stores and buy some, but they will be expensive (IMO), maybe even 100€.

I got some really nice scarves on sale at Bon Marche.

Momma Di, I'm just back from Paris, and as a matter of fact I bought several moderately-priced silk scarves for Christmas presents at a little shop run by a nice woman on a winding, alley-like street east of Place St-Michel on the Left Bank. The shop is Le Chat Huant, and (I'm reading from the little sticker on the wrapped package) it's at 50 rue Galande, in the 5th arr. Telephone 01.46.33.67.56. No bartering at this place.

There's also a tiny Hermes shop in the duty-free part of CDG, and you're right--most prices were astronomical. BUT, they had a square-style Hermes that looked not much bigger than a big men's handkerchief to me. When I asked the young French woman how in the world it would be worn, she smiled, whipped it around, made a quick fold, and tied it around her neck. Voila. What the heck; I bought it. Cost: 60 Euros. Nice selection. I shrugged and picked a black-on-black pattern. Hope it meets with approval.

I know this off topic, but since its in the same area of the shop Logan mentions . . . on Rue de Bievere in the 5e there is cute little cat gift shop called the La Galerie du Chat. They have some very cute t-shirts with cats on them with French sayings. It was a little pricey, but great gifts for cat lovers.

I found that Printemps had a lot of very reasonably priced scarves. Got one for my neice that was about $15.00. I found Galerie Lafayette was a lot more expensive. That's where I got some of MY scarves. LOL

I have bought quite a few scarves at the stalls just outside of Les Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps for $15-20. They are lovely florals and I've enjoyed them. I bought a Hermes on AA return flight for A LOT and, I must say, I have enjoyed the cheapies almost as much. jkr2006

I bought some at a little shop outside of Notre Dame, but that was several years ago. They were only around $15-20 each (but this was before the $ was in the toilet) and one of them is still one of my favorites.

I once said if I ever made it to Paris I might never return home. I can just hear myself calling home, "Well I went out to go scarf shopping and I can't find my way home!!"

Logan-I will look up that shop. That was very nice of you to share. I had been planning to visit Galleries Lafayette but will peak in over at Printemps and Bon Marche as well if they have better deals. Lafeyette's champagne bar appeals to me though.

Last year we saw some sidewalk sellers at the SE corner of the Louvre. As I recall their pencilled sign said 5€; we were on our way in, so I thought we'd buy on the way out, but we never crossed by there again. They looked from a distance very attractive; we, too, wouldn't pay for a Hermes, but these looked every bit as good from a distance of 15 feet.

There is a shop on rue de Rivoli between the Louvre and Angelina's that sells only scarves. They have beautiful silk and also microfiber scarves, and even the microfiber have a nice feel to them. The prices are 20 euro and up. The ones on the street for 5 euro are colorful, but do not drape as well, so I end up trying them on then pulling them off again because they won't lay right.

Job816, I think your cat store is next door to my scarf store.

Hi Logan69 . . .I don't remember seeing the scarf store, but interesting both names have Chat in them. Just found the card for the shop and they have a website. Does this look familiar:
http://galerieduchat.net/

Hard to say . . . my "scarf shop" was actually a gift shop that happened to have a section of scarves. Definitely the same neighborhood.