RT2015

Thanks Tulips!

RT2015

Hi all,
So I ended up buying leather bags in Florence, and then in Rome I picked up the last leather skirt on the rack at La Rinascente. It was a French label incidentally - Comptoir Des Cottoniers. Then on the way to Via del Corso we got lost and accidentally went down Via Sardegna. We found a cool looking vintage designer store but thought we had missed out because it was closed. Then along came the owner and opened up! I found myself a beautiful Max Mara tailored denim jacket and a stunning beige/pink toned Twin Set leather jacket, all up for €190. I'd recommend anyone else go there too - the owner is super lovely. She has closed for August but will be open again in a few weeks!

RT2015

And now all I'm wondering is will Gap (for me) and Vans (my son) be better here in Paris or in London? Will the price be more expensive in London because of the pound?

Cathinjoetown

Can you consolidate your clothes shopping so you can claim back VAT? I believe the miniumum is around £180 or 200€ per shop. That in itself is a significant savings, about 12-14% after fees, but you have to reach the store's minimum. They provide the paperwork.

As to whether Gap is cheaper in France or UK, the answer is the US but believe you are from Oz so that's no help. Try comparing online although sometimes the prices vary, but should give you an indication.

Christina

Barring unusual sales, prices are generally higher in the UK than Paris for things like Gap which is made internationally. it will end up costing you about 10 pct more probably (in your $$$).

I don't think it's because of the pound, but I don't know how to evaluate that. The prices aren't identical in pounds or euro, of course. UK is very expensive.

annhig

until recently, many garments that had dual pricing [£/€] seemed cheaper in £, as the price tags had too great a differential between the two currencies.

eg a shirt might be £23 as against €30; a year or so ago it would have been cheaper in £.

Now, the same shirt is cheaper in €.

Depending on where you shop, and what you want the UK can be very cheap. but it's harder for tourists to do this, as they don't have enough time to find the cheap stuff. the same applies almost anywhere, being a tourist is expensive, and the shorter the time you stay in a place, the more expensive it is likely to be.

RT2015

Thanks guys. I think I will get a couple more things here in Paris - another pair of shoes and a classic Longchamp bag for the aeroplane, and then maybe just a few things at Primark in London! I don't really need anything now, maybe just a couple of shirts/tops.

northie

RT2015- not sure if you realize that Vans are in Australia- there's outlets as well. Great you could get some shopping. I got a pair of boots in Le Printemps in May - 40% off the sale price . I just had to go to the visitors desk and get the discount card .

RT2015

Thanks northie, as a mother of a young adult boy I do know where Vans are but always interested in a price comparison. There were great prices in Italy last week for example, much cheaper than Australia but I didn't want to risk overloading my luggage (it was already overweight the intra-Europe limit), but unfortunately the sales have now finished in Paris. Never mind though because I bought him something better - a book on the current exhibition of the late French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue, now showing at the European Centre for Photography. My son is studying photography so this is a perfect gift he can keep forever. I am also arranging to ship a book about the centre's history (it weighs 4.5kg!)

Many thanks,
RT

YMark

Italy has much better shopping than Paris. Especially for clothes, leather goods, and shoes. Can't speak for London. Hit up Italy for a nice Rolex too. Great prices with the VAT.

northie

Sounds like a great present RT2015