I have read that department stores in Paris have sales in July. Does anyone know what dates in July? A week? All of July? Boutique shops as well as department stores? A group of friends will be in Paris July 14-22 and if there's a sale, we'll want to shop. Merci

Sales are quite pointless unless you have tiny/oversized feet and/or are very fat. Anything worthwhile from any prominent/coherent collection in regular sizes will nearly always be sold out, e.g. today at the Dior Homme concession in Harrods, there were several items that I'd like to have purchased, but they had none, and would not be ordering any more in my size.

It's most of July. They usually start some time within the last week of June and then go for about a month. You should be fine for the 14-22 dates except the best stuff will be gone by then, of course.

Yes, all kinds of shops have sales, including boutiques.

Apparently their government only allow the stores to have sales twice a year...July and December/January. I love it over there...but I would have a really hard time not being able to shop the sales more than twice a year!!! My French friend who lives with us, Estelle, is amazed at the sales and prices in the US as compared to France.

In any case, shopping will be fun. With the exchange rate a "sale" helps, but if nothing is left by then the fun is in finding something interesting. Thanks

When I asked in winter, Christina was kind enough to post a link in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34542471

You should be able to check there to see when the sale dates are posted (probably in a couple of months).

Surprised that m_k shops at sales. (S)he would be wearing last season's clothes. Quite a travesty really. I think that (s)he should just shop in Antwerp and free the sales for mere mortals like me.

By the way, I've always had pretty good luck with sales in Europe.

Even at undiscounted prices I frequently feel that I've snagged a few bargains with the VAT refund.