shopping in paris
Sep 2nd, 2004 | 10:33 AM
#1
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shopping in paris
hello! subash wife here 
i'm not familiar at all with european shopping! i've always shopped at american chain stores and malls - express, the limited, macy's, bloomingdales, nordstrom, zara,
can anyone plz help me find similar stores that are there in paris with about the same taste? from what i understand - it wil be pricier in paris compared with the states?
i'm not familiar at all with european shopping! i've always shopped at american chain stores and malls - express, the limited, macy's, bloomingdales, nordstrom, zara,
can anyone plz help me find similar stores that are there in paris with about the same taste? from what i understand - it wil be pricier in paris compared with the states?
Sep 2nd, 2004 | 11:01 AM
#4
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Those are the main dept. stores, but I like Bon Marche which is the only one on the Left Bank and might be more like Nordstrom or Bloomingdales. BHV near the Hotel de Ville is also good for a lot of things, although I haven't shopped for clothese there (I do buy cosmetics, bags, accessories etc there).
Zara is a Spanish chain so there are more of them in Paris than in the US. There's one on the Champs-Elysees, plus others around town. I don't even know what Express is, but there are some other smaller chain boutiques in Paris -- H&M, Kookai, etc. Really, if you go to where these stores are, you'll see others so just check some out, if you are in a mall area.
It will probably be pricier, so my feeling is what's the point if you find the same stuff as you would in the US, or very similar.
Zara is a Spanish chain so there are more of them in Paris than in the US. There's one on the Champs-Elysees, plus others around town. I don't even know what Express is, but there are some other smaller chain boutiques in Paris -- H&M, Kookai, etc. Really, if you go to where these stores are, you'll see others so just check some out, if you are in a mall area.
It will probably be pricier, so my feeling is what's the point if you find the same stuff as you would in the US, or very similar.
Sep 2nd, 2004 | 11:18 AM
#5
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Subash, what is your age, your taste (trendy, top designer, tailored, or...?).
I prefer shopping on the Avenue Victor Hugo between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place Victor Hugo (in the 16th arrond). A nice range of good clothing shops there...many of them carrying things you won't find in the U.S. OTOH, there's also a large Gap store too...it's an upscale non-touristy neighborhood.
Expect prices to be higher than in the States for some things and perhaps lower for some others (but not much; given the current exchange rate, I can't think of any French clothing available in Paris that would be cheaper in the States, excluding chains like the Gap, etc. You might find cheaper French prices for leather goods at places like Longchamp...I do know my Longchamp bag that cost 200 euros here in Europe sells in the Chicago Nordstrom's for over $300 plus tax). You will find good deals on French skincare items in Sephora and pharmacies. Lines like Darphin, Lierac, Avene, Caudalie and so on will be cheaper in Paris than you could find in the U.S.
I prefer shopping on the Avenue Victor Hugo between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place Victor Hugo (in the 16th arrond). A nice range of good clothing shops there...many of them carrying things you won't find in the U.S. OTOH, there's also a large Gap store too...it's an upscale non-touristy neighborhood.
Expect prices to be higher than in the States for some things and perhaps lower for some others (but not much; given the current exchange rate, I can't think of any French clothing available in Paris that would be cheaper in the States, excluding chains like the Gap, etc. You might find cheaper French prices for leather goods at places like Longchamp...I do know my Longchamp bag that cost 200 euros here in Europe sells in the Chicago Nordstrom's for over $300 plus tax). You will find good deals on French skincare items in Sephora and pharmacies. Lines like Darphin, Lierac, Avene, Caudalie and so on will be cheaper in Paris than you could find in the U.S.
Sep 4th, 2004 | 10:14 AM
#7
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hey btilke i'm 21 - to be honest i do not even know the french stores that you are mentioning. i am familiar with h&m + zara which i have seen in the states.
where style is concerned - i like trendy (for night time wear) and pretty much shirts, and fitted pants for work during the day.
we come from the caribbean so the clothing that comes here is nothing like U.S. or Europe quality so when we do travel - we pretty much need to buy new wardrobes
the only thing is - subash will want to see the sights and i really need to get clothes, shoes, handbags, cosmetics everything and we only have like 5 days in france, so we would like to get as much as we can in one place. so that we have time for the rest of paris!
thanks much for all your help!!
where style is concerned - i like trendy (for night time wear) and pretty much shirts, and fitted pants for work during the day.
we come from the caribbean so the clothing that comes here is nothing like U.S. or Europe quality so when we do travel - we pretty much need to buy new wardrobes
the only thing is - subash will want to see the sights and i really need to get clothes, shoes, handbags, cosmetics everything and we only have like 5 days in france, so we would like to get as much as we can in one place. so that we have time for the rest of paris!
thanks much for all your help!!
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Sep 4th, 2004 | 10:16 AM
#8
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I think Galleries Lafayette is your best bet for finding Saks/Bloomingdales shopping.
You can get more variety in price there too.
For the best shopping for your money, go to the Marais and go from boutique to boutique. I always find something wonderful that way.
On the Left Bank there are small shops with great prices in sweaters, jewelry and handbags.
I would think Bon Marche is closer to Macys ..
Best thing to do is forget about those chain stores in the US and just enjoy discovering new stuff in Paris. You will enjoy it, believe me
You can get more variety in price there too.
For the best shopping for your money, go to the Marais and go from boutique to boutique. I always find something wonderful that way.
On the Left Bank there are small shops with great prices in sweaters, jewelry and handbags.
I would think Bon Marche is closer to Macys ..
Best thing to do is forget about those chain stores in the US and just enjoy discovering new stuff in Paris. You will enjoy it, believe me
Sep 4th, 2004 | 10:20 AM
#9
Joined: Sep 2004
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A very big dept. store(The biggest in Europe) is The Quatre Temps which is in La Defense. The High fashion stores are or at Avenue Montaigne or at the rue Faubourg Saint-Honore or near place Vendome.There are alsoother dept.stores in Paris:
a.Au Printemps
b.Galeries La Fayette
c.Les Halles shopping mall
d.Samaritaine
e.BHV
f.Bon Marche
a.Au Printemps
b.Galeries La Fayette
c.Les Halles shopping mall
d.Samaritaine
e.BHV
f.Bon Marche
Sep 4th, 2004 | 12:50 PM
#13
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Ahh, subash, that info helps a lot! Some brands to look out for are Mexx, Kaliko, Sophia Pigozzi (spelling approx on that one), and Alain Manoukian--very popular with your age group. Re bags, etc., look for Mandarin Duck and Le Tanneur. For makeup and skin care, you sound like an ideal candidate for a spree at Sephora on the Champs Elysees. Ask one of the sales staff to help you and whatever you buy, make SURE you ask for "echantillons"--that is, free samples. You should get loaded up with enough to last you a nice long time.
Sep 4th, 2004 | 05:47 PM
#14
Joined: Oct 2003
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I don't think you will find the taste the same. You will find the range of goods the same - ie mid range priced adult sportswear, housewares etc. I think you will find that the styles will vary considerably from what you can expect to find in the US - as well as the quality (europeans - and the French in particular tend to have fewer clothes of higher quality than in the US). And you can expect the prices to be considerably higher.
Sep 10th, 2004 | 08:03 AM
#16
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nytraveler- i don't plan to buy much housewares - it's pretty much cosmetics and clothing for hubby and myself
thank god one less thing to think about
we only have 4-5 days so housewares is the last thing on my mind
thank god one less thing to think about
we only have 4-5 days so housewares is the last thing on my mind
Sep 10th, 2004 | 08:10 AM
#17
Joined: Apr 2004
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Hi Subash!
The above mentioned chain brands are correct. If you like Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti are from the same owners. Etam can be nice too. For a little more expensive and trendy youngsters stuff, look for Diesel and Miss Sixty. For trendy and comfy shoes: Puma, Adidas, Le Coq Sportif,... but make sure to get the trendy collections, not the bright white running shoes
If you want to see what's HOT in fashion: go to Colette on the Faubourg St Honoré. It's pretty expensive, but you get an idea of what's in fashion and then you go to the chain stores to find a copy ;-)
The above mentioned chain brands are correct. If you like Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti are from the same owners. Etam can be nice too. For a little more expensive and trendy youngsters stuff, look for Diesel and Miss Sixty. For trendy and comfy shoes: Puma, Adidas, Le Coq Sportif,... but make sure to get the trendy collections, not the bright white running shoes
If you want to see what's HOT in fashion: go to Colette on the Faubourg St Honoré. It's pretty expensive, but you get an idea of what's in fashion and then you go to the chain stores to find a copy ;-)
Sep 10th, 2004 | 08:32 AM
#18
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Hi Subash wife!
Here's a quick rundown of the main shopping areas and malls in Paris.
Rue de Rivoli, particularly the section between Louvre-Rivoli and St Paul metro stations. There's the Samaritaine department store here, which has a good range of collections. Also, there's a huge Etam store which has a wide range of affordable fashion, from casual to office wear. Oh, and BHV is around here too. If you want designer stuff, head to rue Saint Honoré which runs parallel to Rue de Rivoli as far as les Halles.
Just north of place du Chatelet/rue de Rivoli is Les Halles, a huge labyrinthine shopping mall. You have to go down an escalator to access it, as it's below ground level. It's pretty charmless but there are a lot of shops, especially shoe shops! Avoid at all costs on Saturday afternoons. It's overrun.
Boulevard Haussman and surrounding streets: Paris's two best known department stores are here: Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. Both have an excellent range of fashion, from cheap teen stuff to high fashion. There are various other chain stores, including a huge H&M, in this area, but on the whole it's not my favourite shopping area in Paris as the shops are quite spread out.
Rue de Rennes and Montparnasse - there's a small shopping mall beneath the Montparnasse tower, and northwards on rue de Rennes you'll find many of the usual chain stores (Kookai, Etam, H&M, etc.). Le Bon Marché department store is nearby on rue de Sèvres.
Italie 2 shopping mall on Place d'Italie - this is quite a good bet if it's raining. Again, it's got all the usual chain stores such as Zara, Mango, Kookai, Etam, a small Printemps, etc.
Les Quatre Temps shopping mall at La Défense. Huge mall with all the usual stores. Again, one to avoid on Saturday afternoon.
Le Carrousel du Louvre (entrance on rue de Rivoli).
This small mall has a few boutiques and an expensive food court. It's quite fun to wander through and see the upside down pyramid. There's an entrance to the Louvre here too.
That's all I can think of for the moment! Those are the main areas I used to go when clothes shopping in Paris, anyway.
Oh, if you want to shop on a Sunday, most things are closed, but if you head to the Marais in the afternoon, you'll find it's one of the few areas where shops are open. Lots of kooky boutiques and quirky bars round this area.
Here's a quick rundown of the main shopping areas and malls in Paris.
Rue de Rivoli, particularly the section between Louvre-Rivoli and St Paul metro stations. There's the Samaritaine department store here, which has a good range of collections. Also, there's a huge Etam store which has a wide range of affordable fashion, from casual to office wear. Oh, and BHV is around here too. If you want designer stuff, head to rue Saint Honoré which runs parallel to Rue de Rivoli as far as les Halles.
Just north of place du Chatelet/rue de Rivoli is Les Halles, a huge labyrinthine shopping mall. You have to go down an escalator to access it, as it's below ground level. It's pretty charmless but there are a lot of shops, especially shoe shops! Avoid at all costs on Saturday afternoons. It's overrun.
Boulevard Haussman and surrounding streets: Paris's two best known department stores are here: Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. Both have an excellent range of fashion, from cheap teen stuff to high fashion. There are various other chain stores, including a huge H&M, in this area, but on the whole it's not my favourite shopping area in Paris as the shops are quite spread out.
Rue de Rennes and Montparnasse - there's a small shopping mall beneath the Montparnasse tower, and northwards on rue de Rennes you'll find many of the usual chain stores (Kookai, Etam, H&M, etc.). Le Bon Marché department store is nearby on rue de Sèvres.
Italie 2 shopping mall on Place d'Italie - this is quite a good bet if it's raining. Again, it's got all the usual chain stores such as Zara, Mango, Kookai, Etam, a small Printemps, etc.
Les Quatre Temps shopping mall at La Défense. Huge mall with all the usual stores. Again, one to avoid on Saturday afternoon.
Le Carrousel du Louvre (entrance on rue de Rivoli).
This small mall has a few boutiques and an expensive food court. It's quite fun to wander through and see the upside down pyramid. There's an entrance to the Louvre here too.
That's all I can think of for the moment! Those are the main areas I used to go when clothes shopping in Paris, anyway.
Oh, if you want to shop on a Sunday, most things are closed, but if you head to the Marais in the afternoon, you'll find it's one of the few areas where shops are open. Lots of kooky boutiques and quirky bars round this area.
Sep 13th, 2004 | 09:57 AM
#19
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thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaankkkk youuuu
hmmm ... now if only i can get hubby to increase the shopping budget for myself
I love mango! i completely forgot about that brand! very naughty of me.
And subash loves his diesel jeans! thanks for reminding me of those as well!
p.s. for anyone out there in the nieghbouring island of grenada - we here in st. lucia are very very sorry for all your losses. may god be with you.
hmmm ... now if only i can get hubby to increase the shopping budget for myself
I love mango! i completely forgot about that brand! very naughty of me.
And subash loves his diesel jeans! thanks for reminding me of those as well!
p.s. for anyone out there in the nieghbouring island of grenada - we here in st. lucia are very very sorry for all your losses. may god be with you.
