I just got back from Paris yesterday (I'm writing a trip report in my head right now)! The best thing I bought was a watch at the gift shop at the Salvidor Dali museum. It's face and (head?) are are melted like the clocks in many of his paintings. I love it!

I recently bought a lovely Hermes watch...really love it! I don't visit Louis Vuitton any more since it's always overcrowded!!

L'Olivier and Co. olive oil soap, lotions and fleur de mere (salt). It's cheaper to carry them home than buy them here even with the weak dollar.

Bath towels and bed linens- love the textures, colors and designs. On our last trip we bought a tablecloth and napkins in Arles.

French coffee, Suchard white choco and coconut bars, Orangina.

For my arthritic friends, ibuprofin cream (Cliptol) or Voltarine. These are expensive compounds in the US requiring a prescription. Once we bought some excellent pain plasters and I'm sure they would have never been "over the counter" items in the US.

Books on interior design, historical Paris and my "Paris par Arrondissement". Arty postcards, music CDs, scarves and goodies from the Louvre giftshop.

Haircuts from a divine charmer named Chris at a salon in the 7th.

When we run out of soap and coffee we start shopping for airfares. Now we can arguably return every 8 weeks for a trim.

J

What is Orangina?

sherry,
Orangina is a carbonated orange juice drink that is very popular in France. It's available in a lot of places in the US, too.

Don't forget to say oran-geena!

My Frederic T Backpack/Handbag in Gorgeous French Leather in Camel and Black...The Best!!

tahiti, someone on Destinationparis on msn was asking about Frederic bags, no one knew where to find them.

If you live in the Boston area, Barney's and Louis's carry Creed fragrances and others that major department stores do not sell.
The week-end leather satchel from Longchamp I bought in Paris, costs the same here.

Mimi, Creed is also sold at Neiman Marcus. There is a NM at Copley Place, off of Huntington Ave. BarneysNY also carries Creed.

ttt

1)Mustard jars for the kids at the Maille Mustard shop near Le Madeleine
2)My very small collection from Café de Flore -- a teapot, cream pitcher, cup and saucer, and sugar bowl.
3)My husband and I bought Mephisto shoes for half what they cost in the States.

Best,
Sandy

I forgot... a beautiful little red & white checked outfit for our new grandbaby, that we saw in the window of a store down the street from our hotel. We went back the next morning and bought it! The owner couldn't have been more helpful and wrapped it beautifully for us. The store is called Petit Faune and is located at 33, rue Jacob, 75006.

Best,
Sandy

The best thing I ever bought in Paris was a dinner at Restaurant La Fontaine in April 2003. The food was exceptional, the wine - good and cheap. I could see the Eifel Tower over my husband's shoulder and he had a unobstructed view of the Pantheon over mine. Somedays are diamonds...

"Grand Amour", goldious red bottle of goldious perfume by Annyck Goutal.

Maxim's tea. I originally bought it for the beautiful tin that it came in and didn't try the tea for a long time. Now I'm addicted to it and fortunately, if I can't get to Paris, usually a friend will be going and offers to pick some up for me. I try to stock up on it whenever I get the chance.

Great thread!!

Sue

my favorite (and least expensive--coincidence?) things that I bought on our recent trip to Paris were:
2 small, old photos (real photos, not postcards) from a vendor in the Marche des Rouge Enfants (one of 3 people on bicycles and one of a small girl at the beach with her family and striped beach tents behind her) and
2 pots of yogurt in terra cotta containers. I ate the yogurt while there (delicious! has anyone found yogurt in the US to compare?) and took the containers home to make either small vases or flower pots, I haven't decided yet. I found them at the grocery store! Has anyone seen packaging like this in the the States? sigh.

I bought a tin of cookies at Gallerie Lafayett so I could have the tin. It is covered in purple Irisis. I let my SIL have the cookies, they weren't that great. I have a table cloth that I just love.

There are so many things that I love to buy Paris. I love to get my hair cut, buy fabric, and buy eye glass frames, then have my perscription put in when I return home. Okay one more thing, I buy salt, lots and lots of salt. I get the cheap stuff at the grocery store and it tastes so much better than what I get at home.

Pashminas. Scented candles about 25 Euro each, more expensive than my typical Yankee candles, but these smelled like heaven. I also bought a couple bottles of shower gel that I use when I miss Paris. Bunch of posters and pictures I bought along the Seine.