Yes, Chanel is wonderful. I bought a small quilted, leather bag there in the mid 80s, at the rue Cambon store for about $750. It had the gold chain with the black leather strips running through it. Beautiful! A piece of art. It was only available in France. I outgrew the bag and sold it, in the late 90s to someone who wanted her first Chanel bag. I did not lose not one cent in the resale price. The same with my Vuitton pieces. Friends are lined up waiting until I tire of, or outgrow a bag. I sold off at least 10 pieces, of my Vuitton, back in the early 90s, I think it was. I keep my items in pretty much mint condition. Happy Travels!

at least I know it is in the 12th now, i think i am staying in the 6th or 7th (a parisperfect apartment - Meursault)

yes ekscrunchy!
a little too young for me, but they have lovely soft toys, especially bunnies!
i am looking to go there, and also to find Trousselier(sp??) for the Angel La Pin (me and hubby are bunny collectors)
:)

Guenmai, I don't own enough of them to sell... hahaha
I do believe LV and Chanel (and all the big names for the matter) were much cheaper in the 80s and early 90s.
I remember buying my LV bucket for SGD1300 (which shd be about 600+euro) 6 yrs ago, and a friend said she got hers at 1/2 the price 10 yrs ago!
Now everyone tells me buying LV in Paris is a must do! Saving up for it from now... (The Champs Elysee store is like mecca for all my LV fanatic friends back in Singapore)

3sica- If you'll be in a parisperfect.com apartment, then it's more than likely in the 7th as most of their apartments are. Happy Travels!

3sica-Yes, Vuitton was cheaper back then, but salaries were lower. So, the Vuitton prices compared to salaries made Vuitton really expensive.

When I bought my first purse, two days before my 25th birhday, it was only a year after my being out of grad school and into a career, as it was for the majority of my friends, so for us it was very expensive, but an investment.

How lucky you're in Singapore. I adore your country and countrymen have been going regularly since 1998. Boy, do I miss the food and Paranakan clothing items. I have my own kebaya maker in Singapore. Flew all the way from L.A. to have it made. It cost me a bundle, but it's beyond fabulous. I wore it to a fodors GTG, with my silk, tulis batik sarong bought on Arab Street. I really miss clothes shopping in Singapore. Happy Travels!

what a coincidence! i bought it a few weeks before my 25th birthday too! And an investment it is... I love it till now!
Arab Street is a great place for fabrics, my designer brought me there to choose the material for my wedding gown!

I miss Singapore too, have been living in Dubai for the past year, since my husband was posted here.
Dubai is great for shopping too, so I don't really miss that but oh the food....

I just got back from Milan and Louis Vuitton is definitely cheaper there (cheapest in Paris but by about 15 - 25 euros). You can just got to the Louis Vuitton website and compare (select Italy, France, US etc), the prices are up to date. Althougth the Euro is doing better than the dollar I still saved a few hundred dollars :) This includes the VAT you get back. VAT in Italy is 20% but I got back only 13% which isn't bad. Have fun!!!

RandiB: "<i>Have fun!!!</i>"

I'm sure they did have fun on their trip --In April of<B> '09 . . .

"Louis Vuitton most certainly does go on sale."

DD has worked for LVMH for 10 years and assures me that LV is *never* put on sale anywhere at any time.

Hi, I'm from the U.S. and am planning on traveling to Europe. My mom requested a purse for her souvenir and I found this forum to be very helpful!

However, I'm confused on everyone mentioning the VAT? I was wondering if anyone could please explain why and how the VAT is refunded upon leaving the country? Please and thank you!

Here's the official UK government advice on VAT refunds http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/c...s-visitors.htm

You don't say where you're going - VAT is the name for the sales tax in the UK. It will have other names in other countries (TVA in France, for example). I imagine the procedure is more or less the same though.