Alongside New York, London and Milan, Paris is one of the
premier fashion destinations in the world, host to semiannual ready-to-wear and
couture fashion shows. Some of the
most world-renowned brands were established here: Chanel, Louis Vuitton and
Christian Dior. This, in part,
explains my desire to have studied abroad in Paris and why I returned with an
extra suitcase (sorry, mom and dad).
But it would be selfish of me to keep my newfound knowledge to myself,
which is why I’m sharing with you some of my favorite stores in the beloved
city. Now, I’m not going to pretend
that this list is in any way exhaustive but rather the musings of a
20-something who spent 10 weeks here and managed to pick up a few things along
the way.
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Le Bon Marché |
24, rue des Sèvres, 75007
Stocks: The American version of an outlet, Paris hosts several “stock” stores. For example, Sandro Stock in the Marais carries the previous season’s collection at a heavily discounted price. And unlike American outlets, which oftentimes produce merchandise specifically for the outlets, therefore deceiving its customer about the true discount, the Paris versions are genuine. Tip: Skip the Maje stock in Saint Germain (read: snooze), hit the Azzedine Alaia stock.
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Alaia 2012 Collection |
Uniquely French
Brands: Maje, Sandro, The Kooples, Zadig and Voltaire, Claudie Pierlot and Comptoir
des Cotonniers. While you can now
shop these contemporary French brands stateside at Bloomingdale’s, make sure to
check out the authentic outposts littered throughout the city for the authentic
je ne sais quo style.
Colette is what
you call a concept store: T-shirts, fashion books and magazines, unique CDs and
DVDs, cutting-edge technology and kitsch merchandise line the first floor with
avant garde menswear and womenswear (think the flat Comme des Garçons 2012 Fall
RTW collection), accessories and its own beauty boutique with exclusive
international brands hosted on the second floor. And don’t forget about the Water-bar in the basement floor
once browsing has left you famished.
Tip: Follow their Instagram account for posts about celebrity book
signings, which include the likes of Kate Moss and Pharell. And try to avoid
weekends when the store is mobbed.
213, rue Saint-Honoré, 75001
Tel. +33 1 55 35 33 90
Sure, you can find Kenzo
at Colette or Le Bon Marché, but their boutiques deserve mention of their
own. Kenzo has recently taken the
fashion world by storm as Opening Ceremony founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim
were appointed the new creative directors in 2011. You can find their in-your-face prints and logo-emblazoned sweatshirts
here.
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