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