| Oh mon Dieu! Not all of us visiting Paris have the | | | | clothes at deep, deep, deep discounts. And mind you, |
| wherewithal to spend $1000 on this irresistible couture | | | | clothes in quasi perfect condition. Clothes worn only |
| blouse, or the all-time favorite little black dress. Let us | | | | once. Well, maybe twice. |
| be realistic: going on a shopping spree in Paris can be | | | | If you come to them with your regular hoodies, or your |
| hard on our finance. Fashionistas of the world, let's sin | | | | last season tennis shoes, or your mall-shopped polo |
| no more, and shop smartly from now on! | | | | shirt for that matter, do not expect to be welcomed. |
| Expensive? A matter of area, mostly | | | | Expect rejection with a disapproving stare instead. |
| Those of you who visited Paris already know that | | | | That's the address, silly! |
| from a shopper's perspective, the city is divided in | | | | Now not all designer depots were created equal, and |
| broad sections where stores of the same trade tend | | | | where you go shopping for |
| to congregate. A mosaic of many colors, tastes, and | | | | practically-perfect-in-every-way designer clothes is the |
| price ranges. | | | | true measure of your inside knowledge of the city. |
| Say, you are on the Boulevard Saint Germain, in the | | | | I would like to recommend you three 'petites adresses' |
| upper part of the Saint Germain des Prés district. | | | | [the French for 'best-kept-secret places'] I selected |
| Designer clothing stores, sidewalk cafés and | | | | amongst a host of others. |
| restaurants abound in this area. Draw nearer the river | | | | For those of you, ladies, who like the classic look, |
| Seine and your footsteps lead you where the art | | | | 'Priscilla' is the shop for you. Priscilla is lady who owns |
| galleries cluster together. Walk a bit to the east, | | | | the place. She reveres such signature names as Yves |
| towards rue de Buci, the clothing stores become less | | | | Saint Laurent, Max Mara, Kenzo, Chistian Dior, and |
| expensive. | | | | Sonya Rykiel. Her prices range from €60 for a |
| From Saint-Germain, walk up the Rue de Rennes, | | | | skirt, to €75 for a jacket, to €130 for a |
| towards the Montparnasse area. You'll be crossing the | | | | lady's suit. Priscilla advises you to rummage around, |
| Rue Du Four where even more expensive clothiers | | | | and come to her place with an open mind. The shop is |
| line up the facades. But continue on to the Saint | | | | located at 4 rue Mouton- Duvernet, in the 14 th district. |
| Sulpice metro station, around which many clothing | | | | The nearest metro station is Mouton-Duvernet. Its |
| stores offer cheaper garments and accessories. | | | | opening hours are between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on |
| Sales season in Paris | | | | Monday, and between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm from |
| In another area of the city, not too far from the old | | | | Tuesday to Saturday with a one-hour break at 1:30 |
| Opera house, the Boulevard Haussmann became the | | | | pm. |
| homestead of the department stores over a century | | | | My next address, 'Le Jupon Rouge', is situated at 9 rue |
| ago. The Printemps store was built there in 1865, | | | | de Rochechouart in the 9th district. The owner, Tania, |
| followed closely by the Galeries Lafayette, in 1893. | | | | describes here designer depot as "colorful, ethnic but |
| Department stores are not unlike Ali Baba's treasure | | | | not hippie, and certainly not classical in style". Tania |
| cave: clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, accessories, | | | | offers a selection of up and coming French designers |
| perfumes spread on a five-story high, gigantic floor | | | | such as Bali Barret (a fencing-style vest for €45, |
| space. | | | | cashmere blend cardigans for €45 to €100) |
| Department stores offer a very convenient way of | | | | and Vanessa Bruno (wool jackets, €90). She |
| shopping for fashion: thousands of upscale items can | | | | also carries more established signatures such as |
| be found over acres of floor space. This includes | | | | Agnès B (her signature black jacket is offered at |
| apparel, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, | | | | €50), and vintage Ungaro blouses for €45. |
| shoes, and other goodies. A great selection, but | | | | Ladies looking for shoes can fall for pairs of Stephane |
| bargains are far and between except during the sales | | | | Kelian low-cut Cuban boots (€100), Repetto |
| seasons. | | | | ballerina shoes (€40), or vintage low-heel |
| The latter are a tightly regulated business in France. | | | | horse-riding boots (€40-70). Tania opens her |
| There are two sales seasons, winter and summer. | | | | doors from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30 am to |
| Their starting dates are a matter of administrative | | | | 7:30 pm with a one-hour lunch break at 1:30 pm. |
| decrees, and each of the two seasons last six weeks | | | | In a totally different style, Griff-Troc is the designer |
| only. The Parisian winter sales season starts at the | | | | depot you need to lose yourself into when you want |
| end of January, the summer one begins in late June. | | | | to go chic-chic-chic. The owner, Beatrice, chose to |
| Designer depot bargains | | | | specialize in perennial, classic basics in perfect |
| But outside the sales seasons, shoppers looking for | | | | condition. Chic has a heftier price tag, of course, but on |
| bargain-basement prices and irresistible clearances | | | | the upside Griff-Troc offers brand names for 15-30% |
| must look elsewhere. It is my experience that the best | | | | of boutique prices. On the shelves at the time I wrote |
| bargain prices on clothing offered in Paris are found at | | | | this article, Beatrice had a Chanel suit for €1000 |
| designer depots. | | | | (vs. €5000 at Chanel's), a brand-new Chloe bag |
| Though it has become a brand name in North | | | | for €800 (instead of €1200), several |
| America, a designer depot is in fact a form of | | | | astounding evening dresses priced between |
| commerce. People like you and me bring in clothes we | | | | €1200 and €1500 (Chloe, Dior, D&G, |
| don't want to wear anymore, and get a little money | | | | Valentino), and Hermès silk scarfs on offer for |
| from the shop owner who will resell our garments for | | | | only €150. She maintains a full selection of bags, |
| a little more money to other people. | | | | jewels, and fragrances. Chic classic never dies, who |
| I can hear your blasé comments: "Tcha! | | | | cares about whether your Chanel suit is this season's |
| Consignment stores! Thrift shops!..." Well, in Paris, | | | | or not? The busy boutique is located in the posh |
| designer depots aren't exactly your regular Salvation | | | | section of the 17 th district, at 119 Boulevard |
| Army-type stores. Not at all. | | | | Malesherbes. The nearest metro stations are Villiers |
| Parisian designer depots are usually owned and | | | | and Monceau. Its opening hours are between 10:30 am |
| managed by ladies with a flair for fashion. A number | | | | and 7:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday. |
| of them have a professional experience in the fashion | | | | More shopping tips to come |
| industry, and if invited to do so, most of them can tell | | | | I will come back to you with other names and |
| you right away which dress fits you well.... and which | | | | addresses in future articles on this topic. I personally |
| skirt makes you look like you dressed with a potato | | | | enjoy shopping these boutiques, and based on the |
| bag. | | | | number of smartly dressed women I spot there, I am |
| In 'designer depot", there is the magic word 'designer'. | | | | not alone in the belief that such bargains cannot be let |
| Parisian designer depots offer designer and couture | | | | pass. Till then, I salute all unrepentant fashion shoppers! |