What to shop for while in Paris???
 

Going for the first time to Paris in late April. I am sure sky is the limit for items and treasures to buy...

Probably will not do clothes. Maybe accessories, scarves, you know, little things unique to Paris or France.

And are there any great places to shop like flea markets?

Is there something one must buy while in Paris to take home? Any help on the shopping would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

try searching "Paris Flea Markets" here and Google or Yahoo.

Such a tough question since I don't know your personality.

I fell in love with the mini Eiffel Tower which transforms into 5 different colours (fiber optics)? I bought it from a street vendor underneath the real Eiffel Tower. My nephew puts it on every night before going to bed.

But then again, I also love all the clothes, handbags, shoes, potpourri, etc.

Some people love finding cooking gadgets that are particular to France. I love tablecloths and linens made in Provence. All these things are available in any good home store in Paris.

I would strongly recommend "Born to Shop: Paris" and "Time Out: Paris" for detailed descriptions of stores by neighborhood. If you study these, you might save a lot of time on your trip.

Part of the fun of Paris is being able to make discoveries while strolling the many streets.

I did not have a chance to hit Paris' many flea markets, but again, these should be covered in detail by the books I mentioned. Cheers!

You need help with shopping? I'll be happy to be your guide :)

I doubt you'll have any problem figuring out how to shop on your own, but here are some things I like to shop for in Paris:

La Vaissellerie - five or six stores in various parts of Paris that sell really cute and mostly inexpensive kitchen accessories.

The stationery sections of the department stores - I always find something really intriguing there (little leather travel journals, beautiful papers, classy stationery, nifty pens....)

Museum shops - always have unique items, good stuff to bring back home as presents

Monoprix - makeup and food, makeup and food, makeup and food.

Gudule - several shops around the city selling silver jewelry (a lot of it from North Africa) by the gram.

A l'Olivier - fantastic selection of olive oils and olive products.

A. Simon , De Choses et d'Autres, Casa, and Verrerie de la Bastille for yet more kitchenware

When I was last in Paris, I purchased several scarves which I wear all the time!

Another thing I purchased were little Parisian buildings that you can stand together to make a corner, or 3 buildings on a street, etc. They are cafes, an apartment building, a perfumerie, etc. The original ones were made by Gault (there is a Gault store on Rue de Rivoli, I believe) and are very expensive. However, J. Carlton makes the same types of "buildings" for alot less money. I purchased mine in a store on Rue de Rivoli which has alot of souvenier-type stores.

Another thing I purchased were refrigerator magnets of various street signs and other Parisian designs.

I purchased small pitchers like the milk or cream come in at a cafe and the small coffee spoons that are served with coffee.

Eiffel Tower key chains -- several of them.

Perfume from Catherine.

And the list goes on ..............


Have fun! I'm going in June and am so excited!!!

Luv

When we were there, shopping was pretty much no fun, because the US dollar was so weak against the Euro (it's even weaker now). We did enjoy shopping at Monoprix (think SuperTarget, with clothes, assessories and food). The accessories and scarves are inexpensive and it was about a year before those same styles hit the US market.

I also wish I had bought more of the "fake pashminas" from the street vendors. The scarves are SO SOFT, cheap (maybe $6-8) and come in every color you can imagine. Sometimes I drape mine over a sideboard, and sometimes I wear it! Watch out if you are paying a lot more for a "real" pashmina...many of the ones we saw had tiny holes in them.

I picked up some beautiful pottery from Maison d'Ivre. It is not far from Le Deux Maggots. The address is 38 rue Jacob. I also pick up prints, unframed of places I've visited. I frame them at home and have a big wall full! I used to stock up at L'Occitaine but there is now a store in my area. I think when you are wandering many things will catch your eye. have fun!!

Paris flea markets are my obsession, and if antiques interest you at all, you MUST go. The granddaddy of them all is the one near the Clignancourt metro stop--you could spend days exploring. It's not what you might think of as a flea market. It's actual shops housed in what look like long-term storage facilities. Don't let that description turn you off though. I'd rather spend a day looking at all the raffish 19th and early 20th century art at this flea market than in any museum. I've treated myself to a treasured painting or two for around $100 each. Also, when you get off the metro, you will have to wade through a few blocks of crappy clothes and bootleg tapes before you arrive at the good stuff. Be careful of pickpockets. Held Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

More manageable is the flea market at Port de Vanves. Also great stuff, but set up on tables along one very long street. More what you might think of as a "flea market" in terms of the way it is set up. I've found treasures here as well. Saturday and Sunday only.

And while you didn't ask, let me suggest you do my other favorite thing in Paris and visit a tea shop. Laduree on the Rue Royale (have them seat you upstairs)or Angelina's across from the Tuileries gardens or Dallyaou (sp?) overlooking the Luxembourg gardens are wonderful places for reasonable meals, not just tea and desserts. While you're at any of these places (actually, I'm not sure about Angelina's on this one), you can purchase gorgeously boxed chocolates as gifts for when you get home!

How about designer products? LV purses, Hermes scarves, are the prices in Paris better than here or no?

And can anyone tell me what is the big thing about scarves in Paris? I hear that all ladies wear them...is that true? Thanks all.

Not sure whether you'd be interested or not, but my very favorite thing to buy in Paris is jewelry from places like Morocco and Bali, and also jewelry from some of the young designers whose shops line rue Francois Bourgeois in the Marais.

I also love to peek into a store called HAREM, which is located on a tiny lane of Blvd. St. Germaine. HAREM has gorgeous one-of-a-kind costume jewelry, but it's pricey.

The other stores I like to haunt are PERLE NOIRE and LA VITRINE on rue Dauphine, as well as some of the beautiful small clothing and design stores on rue St. Andre des Arts.

It's especially nice if you can get to these stores during the January sales, which I did just last week! No wonder I came home broke!

Anyway, have fun. SIGH.....

For souveniers for friends I bought soap from a local grocery. Smelled heavenly and had very Parisian wrappings. I little heavy when you have 10!

I have an excellent paperback book called Flea Markets of London and Paris. It is great for flea lovers, and gives very accurate and detailed information.

My #1 thing to buy in Paris is Fleur de Sel.

One of the paris souvenirs I like most, is a city plan, issued by one of the department stores Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps. You get these free at your hotel´s desk.

These department stores are a good place to get your postcards and these tour eiffel miniatures at a reasonable price. You will also get cosmetics and perfumes there in a wide range.

Top cosmetic brands are sold at pharmacies, indicated by a green cross. This is where to get Roger & Gallet Eau de Toilette and scented soap.

Les bouquinistes, selling out from their boxes at the river Seine embankment also offer second hand books, magazines and postcards.

First hand magazines you get a newsstands, there are also shops who provide them, you need at least "Pariscope", a list of where to go and what to do and what zo see.

You get books at book stores, for example Gibert Jeune at Place St. Michel and Boulevard St. Denis.

There is a suite of three passages couverts: Passage des Panoramas, Passage Jouffroy and Passage Verdeau where you also might find nice things. You enter Passage des Panoramas from Boulevard Montmartre, as well as Passage Jouffroy on the opposite site of the boulevard.

Hi, Dont know if you like perfumes but two places I would recommend if you do like tradionally made perfumes are

Creed
38 Avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie, Paris, France
http://www.creedfragrances.co.uk/site/

Guerlains
on Champs Elysse

I loved the streets on Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis.

Have fun!!! Its magical in Paris and dont forget to stop at cafe's for people watching.

<<And can anyone tell me what is the big thing about scarves in Paris? I hear that all ladies wear them...is that true?>>

In April? Most, but not all, ladies (and men!) will be wearing scarves. All types - from designer to very casual.

So, do I buy my scarf here or in Paris? An Hermes or are there beautiful scarves everywhere. I have never been a scarf person. Just one more accessory. But other people who wear them can look very chic. So, I was thinking it would be fun to play with this fashion statement.

AND Louis Vuitton, can I afford it over there? Or is it just as high as here?

Thanks all, you are such a help.

Pick up a scarf in Paris and everytime you wear it, you'll be reminded of your trip.

You can get inexpensive ones at many shops or the stalls outside the big department stores. Or you can get the designer scarves, probably not at a big price difference but maybe styles or patterns that are not sold in the U.S. I picked up a couple from an artist market that was in the park behind Notre Dame.