Page 319 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

SHOPS AND M ARKE T S  317

Couture and High-End are Giorgio Armani, Pierre “stock” shops sell end-of-line
Designer Fashion
Cardin, Kenzo, Lanvin (also and last season’s collections
Paris is the home of haute good for accessories) and Saint- at substantial reductions; try,
couture. Original couture Laurent. On the Left Bank, for example, Le Mouton à Cinq
garments are beautiful Michel Axel is known for ties Pattes or Défilé de Marques.
one-off creations, and their and elegant suits. APC, Paul If you’re planning to go to
astronomical prices put them Smith and Sandro are rather Disneyland, you could also
beyond the reach of all but a more contemporary, and check out La Vallée discount
few people with immensely Loft Design By is chic without shopping outlet, boasting more
deep pockets. However, haute being overtly trendy. than 100 luxury brands, both
couture is also the lifeblood of Independent and cutting- French and international.
the fashion industry, providing edge men’s designers abound
inspiration for the mass market. in the Marais. French Trotters
Most couture houses make stocks covetable own-brand Children’s Clothes
prêt-à-porter as well – ready- Breton shirts, as well as more The city has a delightful range
to-wear clothes fitted on a unusual French labels, such of stores where you can buy
standard model. They’re still as Commune de Paris. A all you need to transform your
not cheap, but they give you stylishly revamped pharmacy children into little trendy
some of the elegance and sets the tone for Christophe Parisians. A concentration
creativity of a couture designer Lemaire’s elegant coats and of children’s clothes shops
at a fraction of the cost. everyday wear, while Nodus can be found on Rue Vavin,
The highest concentration of has an unbeatable range of in St-Germain, and the big
couture houses is on the Right classic and fashion shirts and department stores also stock
Bank. Most flagship stores are ties. At Printemps Homme a wide range. Popular brands
on or near Rue du Faubourg- you’ll find all you need to such as Jacadi and Du Pareil
St-Honoré and the classier look fashionable. au Même sell colourful clothes
Avenue Montaigne: Christian at reasonable prices. The more
Dior, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, Vintage, Second-hand upmarket Tartine et Chocolat
Gianni Versace, Givenchy and offers delectable classics with
Nina Ricci are all here. Hermès and Discount Stores a contemporary twist, while
offers timeless chic, while Lanvin, There are some wonderful Bonpoint stocks adorably chic
the oldest fashion house still in shops to plunder for a retro clothing for mini-Parisians. Petit
existence, embodies Parisian look. The best of the bunch is Bateau is coveted as much by
elegance. Karl Lagerfeld has Didier Ludot, which elegantly adults as it is by children.
a shop where the latest displays an Aladdin’s cave of Kids even have their own
creations from his own line are vintage haute couture. From concept store in Bonton, which
exhibited. Designers such as Courrèges dresses to excellent- stocks baby toiletries, stylish
Kenzo cluster on Place des condition Chanel suits, this is clothing, toys and furniture
Victoires and Rue St-Etienne the place for top-of-the-range for children’s rooms. Parisian
Marcel. retro. The Marais has a good teenagers flock to Citadium,
St-Germain, especially Rue number of less expensive a department store near
du Cherche Midi, also has a vintage shops; try Free “P” Star Printemps, for its wide range
large concentration of high-end for 1970s floral dresses and of streetwear and trainers.
designer shops. Here you’ll find Mamz’Elle Swing for 1950s For little feet, Froment-
Sonia Rykiel, famous for her fashions. For great-condition Leroyer probably offers the
stripy skinny ribs, and her less second-hand wear of more best all-round classics. Six
expensive offshoot, Sonia by recent vintages, Violette & Pieds Trois Pouces has a vast
Sonia Rykiel. Barbara Bui is Léonie stocks both designer choice of styles.
popular for her soft, feminine and high-street labels, while
clothes, while Saint-Laurent Kiliwatch specializes in Jewellery
and Jil Sander are hard to beat streetwear and jeans.
for their exquisite tailoring. Another way to get your For seriously expensive
For a good collection of hands on recent designer jewellery, head to Rue de
designerwear in one shop, fashion is to head for one of la Paix and Place Vendôme,
try Kabuki Femme (there’s a the many consignment stores where top jewellers such as
men’s branch down the street). (dépôt-vente) in the city. Chic Boucheron, Mauboussin,
Parisians discard their outfits Poiray and Cartier cluster.
with the seasons, so it is very Also here are Dinh Van, which
Menswear easy to pick up some quality has some quirky pieces, and
In addition to the outlets items that are normally in top Mikimoto, a must for pearls.
mentioned above, Paris has condition from places such as On nearby Rue de Castiglione,
many excellent menswear Réciproque in Passy or Dépôt- H Stern has some innovative
shops. At the designer end of Vente de Buci-Bourbon. In designs that feature semi-
the scale, on the Right Bank, addition, a number of dedicated precious and precious stones.

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