Bargain Shopping in Paris: Discount French Fashions
Special report by Madelyn for Paris Perfect Apartments
I’m no Parisian fashion plate, but I love a bargain as much as the next person. My ‘copines’ or French friends have been telling me about two clothing stores for years, both located in the 16th arrondissement. It took me forever to visit, but what a discovery! Reciproque and Catherine Max are two of the best bargain fashion stores in Paris! (more…)
Paris Foot Fashion: Repetto French Ballet Slippers
Story by Tory Hoen, Haven in Paris Correspondent
When it comes to footwear, there is one word that sends fashionistas around the globe swooning: Repetto. The brand is a well-kept secret that Parisians have known about since the first pair was created in 1947, but (as usual) the rest of us are just catching on. Frankly, I’m not the type to squeal over a pair of shoes—or so I thought, until I had a Repetto-related epiphany that made me realize what all the fuss was about. (more…)
Paris Fashion Has Je Ne Sais Quoi
Story and Interview by Linda Donahue
Mireille Nagourney believes that every woman should have five of each season’s essential pieces in her wardrobe. She calls them the “five must-haves.” The founder of Je Ne Sais Quoi (JNSQ), a unique, multi-brand e-boutique, further offers that it’s the combination of edgy-yet-elegant accessories that adds that certain, well, je ne sais quoi to anyone’s personal style. And this is the key to Paris style. (more…)
A New Fashion Bui-tique in Paris
Story and photos by Linda Donahue
Fashion shouldn’t be intimidating, at least not according to Nathalie Bui. The petite fashionista spent ten years working with her sister, the European designer Barbara Bui, all the while cultivating her own sense of style. And now she’s bringing her creative energy to the Paris fashion scene with the opening of her own boutique, make my d. (more…)
Just Be COS in Paris
Story by Linda Donahue
Fashionistas in Paris have discovered a relatively new mecca on the rue des Rosiers in the Marais. That’s where global budget fashion group H&M opened a new store at the end of March, launching a new fashion concept combining the meticulous attention to detail of ready-to-wear design with down-to-earth pricing. (more…)
What to Wear In Paris This Winter
Story by Julie Blakley, Why Go Paris for Haven in Paris
Despite the fact that I have an ample amount of French blood pumping through my veins, I still find myself to be the fashion and style inferior to all the fabulously dressed French women when I’m traveling in France. After living in Paris through the winter, and doing enough shopping while I was there, I learned a great deal about how to dress so I wouldn’t look like a tourist when I was going to class, sipping my cappuccino or shopping. Here are a few tips on excellent winter wear in France, so you won’t stick out quite so much when walking the streets of Paris, visiting the vineyards of the Loire or bundling up in the mountains of the Alps. (more…)
A New Paris Showcase for L’Éclaireur
Edited by Linda Donahue
A Paris concept store offering a combination of fashion, interior decoration and design, L’Éclaireur has opened a new space at 40 de la rue de Sévigné, in the Marais. Spanning over 5375 square feet, the women’s collections include prestigious brands like Lanvin and Balmain and, in keeping with its avant-garde reputation, numerous designer brands, such as Dries Van Noten, Gianni Barbato, Koi, and Alexander Mc Queen. Owners of four other stores across the capital (on the Champs-Élysées, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Place des Victoires and Rue Malher), Martine and Armand Hadida have turned L’Éclaireur into a chic and unique brand, offering perfumes, jewelery, accessories and artworks. In the early 1990s, this was one of the first places in Paris to experiment with this marriage of fashion and design, providing a showcase for Philippe Starck, Garouste and Bonetti, and Jean Nouvel.
L’ÉCLAIREUR
40 rue de Sévigné, Paris 4th
Tel +33 (0)1 48 87 10 22
www.leclaireur.com
You Can Never Have Too Much H&M in Paris
Some people (like Parisien Salon’s editor in chief) make sure they know the location of every single H&M in whatever city they’re visiting. Well, Paris has plenty of them all. They’re over the city. There are even two on the rue de Rivoli, in case you can’t go a few blocks without your fix. (more…)
Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes at Galeries Lafayette
Shoe lovers have a new mecca, and it’s at Galeries Lafayette in Paris. The basement level of this landmark department store on boulevard Haussmann is now home to the world’s largest shoe collection. with over 32,000 square feet of shoes. Designed by Patrick Jouin in partnership with Sanjit Manku, the Galeries Lafayette shoe heaven hosts over 150 brands of fabulous footwear spread out by theme. But there are other services like shoe repair and a private “changing room” for those who prefer to try on their shoes in private. There are even lessons for how to walk in high heels. Makes you want to go a pied in Paris, doesn’t it?
Galeries Lafayette
40 bd Haussmann, Paris 9th
Tel +33 (0)1 42 82 34 56
www.galerieslafayette.com
Paris Insider: Unleash your Inner Parisienne
Story by Ashley Bruckbauer
Parisian women don’t simply dress in the latest season’s fashions or buy the most expensive clothing off the racks….They have something more about their air…an aura…a presence…a certain je ne sais quoi? It’s called style.
Here are some tips of how you can insert that style into your everyday wardrobe and routine and unleash your inner parisienne you chic, classy, fabulous, sophisticated woman you!
1. Color: How to use it effectively
The common perception of the typical Parisienne is that she only wears black. Recently fashionistas around the world have sought to debunk this myth and bestow upon the Parisienne eye-popping colors. Sorry, world fashionistas, but this just isn’t so. The tried and true rule that black goes with everything is still very much present in and an important part of the modern-day Parisienne’s style. Don’t get me wrong bright colors may be present in the overall ensemble, but it is used as an eye-catching accent amid neutrals which dominate the outfit. Black and other neutrals immediately offer a sense of sophistication. By using them often and pairing them with bright camisoles, wraps, purses, shoes, and other accessories you will avoid being boring, while achieving a more elegant look.
2. Simple lines and great fits
Likely the most important secret of the Parisienne’s success in defining a style: her clothes fit! Parisian women go for quality not quantity. They spend a little extra on a few items that are classic and fit perfectly complimenting their individual shape. They don’t necessarily follow the fashion of the seasons, but instead what looks best on their particular figure. Parisiennes wear extremely well-tailored clothes (many times professionally tailored) with classic lines. This goes back to not forcing fashion but embracing style…your style…what makes you look your best. When your clothes fit, you always look timeless and fabulous!
3. Accessories: purses, scarfs, and jewelry
These special pieces are where the individual personalities are allowed to come out. Purses, scarfs and jewelry are not thought of as simply accessories but style statements that communicate to the outside world just who you are. This is where most Parisiennes insert a little extra color, texture, and visual interest into their wardrobe. Important is that since these are not solely accessories, they should be rich-looking and not rinky dink (this doesn’t necessarily require a large expense).
4. Shoes
Women (and men for that matter) in Paris judge you based on your shoes. This is the easiest way to spot a tourist: of course there are the tell-tale sneakers but also the worn loafers, scratched patent leather, and the American in the ridiculously high-heels on the metro. Parisiennes invest time and money in their shoes. A worn or sloppy pair of shoes can destroy and outfit and nothing about that says fabulous!
Another myth of the Parisienne is that she always wears 4 inch heels. This is simply untrue! A large majority of the Parisian women I’ve seen during my time in Paris wear flats or more modestly heeled shoes. Do you think high-heels are accomodating for climbing up and down the metro stairs ten times a day? The key is to have clean, well-cared-for shoes that have a flattering shape and distinctive details.
5. Pamper yourself: perfume, macquillage, and spa products
Parisiennes do not skimp on “the necessities”! Why do you think there is a pharmacy around every corner? This is where they can load up on the best in face creams, moisturizers, and many other products this American-born will likely never fully grasp. So, have a signature scent, buy the nice moisturizer, and splurge on the luxury bath products.
Experiment and have fun, but always keep it simple! You deserve it, and your inner Parisienne will thank you!
Ashley is a recent college grad turned expat who is living in Shanghai, China and teaching English to kindergartners. She specializes in 18th and 19th century French and late-Imperial Chinese art history, as well as international advertising and French and Chinese language. She wears many hats, and her blog - La Vie en China? - serves as her platform to share travel tips, book reviews, photos, and any other tid-bits that come up along the way.
My Private Eye: The Bold and the Beautiful
Story and photos by Meredith Mullins for Eye Prefer Paris
In Paris, there is a story waiting to be discovered down each alleyway, behind each coded gate, and inside even the most innocent looking cafés and shops. You find yourself wishing you had an infinite amount of time to explore every one of these hidden worlds. (more…)
Merci: Shopping for a Cause in Paris
Photo courtesy of www.modelista.com
Text by Tory Hoen for Haven in Paris
As the global economic climate has forced consumers to shop more selectively, it has also forced retailers to sell more creatively. Merci, Paris’ newest concept store, provides a breathtaking space where visitors can shop with a conscience. Created by Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, founders of renowned children’s clothing line Bonpoint, Merci donates all of its proceeds (after breaking even) to a co-op for young women in Madagascar.
By Appointment Only: Empress of the Undergarment
Story and photos by Zeva Bellel, Paris by Appointment Only
A 21st century super hero of sartorial sensuality, artisan lingerie designer Louise Feuillère empowers women by building their bras, not burning them. Since she opened her adorable atelier-boutique on the aptly named “rue des Dames” in 2004, 35-yr-old Feuillère has been perking up the private lives of her privileged patrons with her couture and made-to-measure lingerie.
From superfine cotton panties with delicate lace trimming to sexy waist cinchers with velvet-covered ribbing, Feuillère’s confections are masterpieces of sensuality, technique, comfort and form.
“Lingerie sets the mood for the day,” says Feuillère, a sprightly, petite brunette with a mischievous smile and large coy eyes. “It’s the first decision you make when it comes to dressing. When you think of its impact on our daily disposition it takes on a dimension of well-being.” (Hear that ladies? Forget meditation, buy made-to-measure!!)
