Like every year, the time has come for the summer sales : from June 24th to August 4th, the big and small shops of Paris will reduce their price... and make the shopping addicts among us very happy ! So during your stay in the French capital, why not look for the best way to enjoy them ? They are a great opportunity of finding good deals during a nice walk in Paris. Whatever your prefered style, your budget or your current desires, the city is full of all kinds of shops in which you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. Did you fancy a treat, for yourself or as a gift for your relatives and friends, but do you not know where to begin looking ? Here is an overview on a few Parisian shops and neighborhoods that could well be worth a little detour during these summer sales...
Luxury and great fashion houses on the Grands Boulevards
The Printemps (Boulevard Haussmann / metro line 9 Havre-Caumartin or RER A Auber)
The Printemps is particularly popular amongst tourists ; for fashion enthousiasts, it is an essential stopover. This temple of Parisian « chic » hosts the creations of great luxury houses and Haute-Couture, and is divided in three buildings dedicated to men fashion, women fashion, and all things beauty. It is the place to go if you are searching for luxury idoms : there, you will find all the famous names of fashion clothes and accessories, jewelry and Haute-Couture... But do not worry if you were hoping to find slightly more affordable idoms : the Printemps is also full of less expensive brands, though just as trendy, such as Sandro, Maje, Comptoir des Cotonniers, etc.
The Galeries Lafayette (Boulevard Haussmann / metro line 9 and 7 Chaussée d'Antin-Lafayette)
Located just a few steps away, the Printemps' little sisters Galeries Lafayette have no reason to be jealous of their elder brother. In a gorgeous building with a brilliantly designed rotunda that would justify the trip in itself, the Galeries Lafayette present a very comprehensive collection of clothes and accesories, from the more luxurious to those that would ravish slightly tighter budgets. A special mention goes to their tremendous shoes collection, that occupies the store's whole basement, and will without a doubt make the « addicts » very happy.
Wandering from shop to shop
In the Marais (metro line 1 Hôtel de Ville or Saint Paul)
If you like to walk around and follow your whims in the small streets of the old Paris, the Marais is definitely a neighborhood that you should not miss. The Marais is full of all kinds of small shops in which you will find clothes (new or second hand) as well as interior design, cosmetics, make up, jewelry, etc... The Rue des Francs-Bourgeois is a particularly good one to go to if you are a shopping enthousiast, whilst those who feel a little bit hungry during the walk will enjoy the famous falafels of Rue des Rosiers. Good news : in the Marais, most shops are open on Sundays !
In the neighbourhood of Hotel du Danube : Saint-Germain-des-Prés (metro line 4 Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, around Hôtel du Danube, is one that Parisian « chic » lovers will most certainly enjoy. There, you will find a lot of shops of the great names of French fashion, from Haute-Couture to everyday clothing. In this neighborhood, the best option is still to get lost in the small streets and walk around to your desires. And if you are an Art lover, you will also want to stop by a few of the numerous Art galleries that make the soul of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. If clothes, shoes and accessories are your targets of choice, make sure not to miss the many shops of the rue de Grenelle, de Rennes, Bonaparte and rue du Four, etc.
Nowhere else : the Champs-Elysées
Essential stopover of a stay in Paris, the Champs-Elysées are a world of their own. While walking up this gigantic avenue towards the stately Arc de Triomphe, you might want to take the opportunity to do some window shopping, and to fill your bags in the numerous stores that enliven the avenue.
On Champs-Elysées, there is something for every budget, the stores are huge and offer the most comprehensive collections in Paris, and most of them even stay open everyday until midnight, sometimes even later ! The most difficult part might well be to pick a side of the street...