Shopping Around the World: Top 5 Tips for Shopping in Paris
“I traveled all the way to Paris not for the food...but to SHOP. And in this blog I am going to tell you my top 5 tips to shopping in Paris”
If you follow me on Instagram @annavmora you have the inside scoop on my recent Trip to Paris. It was originally scheduled for my 40th birthday in August. However, my husband discovered his passport had expired! And this was only 3 days prior to the original trip in August. So the trip was pushed to October. However, the weather was perfect and I was able to then shop for my favorite season, FALL!
During our trip we stayed in a very chic and very French apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower and a balcony. While this area tends to attract more tourists, it is stunningly beautiful and romantic. My last trip to Paris I stayed in the 3rd Arrondissement where I discovered most of the cool boutiques, think West Village or Soho. I knew I had to make it back there during this trip.
When I travel I am typically not a big planner, unless we are talking about shopping THEN I make plans. Paris fashion incorporates some of the most luxurious fabrics, the most skilled craftsmen, and a lovely personal touch to shopping that is hard to get in the states. However, shopping in Paris can be a bit overwhelming so what are my 5 tips for shopping in Paris.
1. Walk Everywhere:
Part of the Parisian charm is found by becoming curious again. A walk familiarizes you with the city and its quirks and It is a very European thing to do. Living in a fast paced city like New York, it took a while to catch on to the “walking without rushing to be somewhere” from my eastern European friends. I finally realized it is about the journey, not how long it will take us to get to the destination. My husband quickly caught on to me saying let’s go for a walk as code for “I want to shop!” But he was a great sport and enjoyed himself too!
2. Know Where to Look:
I spent time googling where the stores are that I already know. Where is Rick Owens, Comme de Garcones, Isabel Marant? This gives me an exact idea of the areas I want to be in. I usually like to buy brands from the local area that I can’t get at home. So while I may not shop at these locations I look up, I might at the neighboring store as it is within the scope of stores I would typically visit.
Some brands are less expensive in Paris, like Dior, and you end up being able to buy these items tax free. So do your research, compare prices to home, and be sure to have your sales consultant walk you through the tax refund process.
Also , like many cities, the main roads are the most expensive real estate. If you wander to the side streets, you will find the smaller, independently owned boutiques where many of the designers or design assistants also work the retail floor.
3. Ask Questions:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I know this is easier said than done. I remember my first trip to Paris, I was too scared (and broke) to even walk into a boutique, let alone speak to a sales rep. So, I window shopped. But let me tell you, I still to this day remember a dress I saw in a window and appreciate the work that went into it. So, it wasn’t for nothing! But if you do have the gift of gab, ask questions about the brand. Where is it made? Who is the designer? We met the most amazing people on our journey just by striking up conversations. This is the personal touch that Paris has that is not always common in the day to day shopping in the states.
Here are some of my favorites and my new favorite Parisian brands I stumbled following these tips:
This company constructs all of its glasses in France and for each pair you buy, they give a pair of glasses to someone in need (They just celebrated their 600,000th donated pair this year!). The store clerk was incredibly friendly and didn’t mind that I tried on probably 20 glasses. My husband and I both found a pair we loved and mine were under 100 euro! They champion eco-friendly, well designed products at an accessible price point.
Icicle is a brand that stands out by its origin, philosophy and strategy. Icicle turns heads for being a Chinese brand with an Atelier in Paris, while also having the philosophy of “Slow-Fashion” Slow Fashion is coined a term for developing Eco-friendly, high quality products. The styling of this brand is sleek and timeless. The store had only opened three days prior to my visit. Icicle is a great brand for the eco-conscious shopper.
For those of you fond of handyman jewelry, Corpus Christi has so many intricate pieces, my husband and I could have spent hours in the store. The style is dainty with a little “Rock n’ Roll”. Corpus Christi uses many symbols like the “sword in the stone” to give the pieces a unique look and everything is handmade by a local french artisan.
This one is only menswear, but absolutely worth the mention. Marcel was the best! Although like most of my clients, she too is underpricing her goods. She designs and makes small batches, sometimes even one offs! My husband bought a plaid jacket for 250 euro and tweed coat for 350 euro, that easily could’ve gone for double this! When we had mentioned that we had a friend in her store the week earlier, she said “Michael?!” (being a fellow blonde American, she assumed we must be friends, lol). Weirdly, that was him! She told us what he bought, how much fun they had in the store, and that they follow each other on IG (we do now as well!). She told us to keep in touch and that if we ever needed anything shipped from France (from her store, or outside of), she would take care of it for us. She genuinely meant that.
This I found from the tip “use the side streets”. It was a tiny little storefront with white silk flowing from the ceiling, which created womb-like nooks. As many of you know, I adore Japanese design aesthetics and surprise surprise, I wandered here. There was a sewing room in the back and adjustments to the garment I bought were made immediately by the design assistant that also worked the sales floor. Although they had many “one size fits small” sizes, which is very common for Japanese brands, I was able to find a beautiful black silk dress with pintuck detailing at the neckline (that my husband approved me buying, as I have almost a full wardrobe of black, he said this one is “special” and it was) and a blue embossed asymmetrical button up top with a black sheer back with embroidered flowers.
4. Size Guide:
Think French sizing is the same as European sizing? Of course not. But if any region deserves its own rules, I would allow Paris. French sizing, while it may look like European sizing, is different. Here’s a guide below. I found myself asking for 38 or 40 in most items (back home I wear a 6/8 or a M)
5. Taxes :
You do not have to pay taxes when purchasing clothing in other countries, but it takes patience and a little extra work. The sales clerks will need your passport (many if not all will accept a photo of your passport). Afterwards, they will give you a paper with a barcode to scan at the airport to have the funds returned to your credit card in 2-3 weeks. The tax refund is BEFORE security. I went through customs and security and had to run out through customs AGAIN to find the machines to scan the bar codes given to me at the stores. I was stressed but it was worth it with all the shopping I did.
I can’t write a blog without noting the street fashion of Paris. People dress there. But what I was most impressed by was the mens fashion. Women dress nice in America too, but the men in Paris put ours to shame. Even the jumpers and sweats are fit properly, worn with a leather man bag and look incredibly sleek. My husband and I went to the football game Friday night (he did a lot of shopping so our last night I agreed to “sports”). I missed the only goal they made because I was looking around at what all the men were wearing. They were in cashmere Pea Coats with soft leather grey shoes, chunky knit turtlenecks with felted letter jackets, and a simple team scarf to represent Paris Saint Germain. No beer belly, belching, sports bros to be found! I loved it!
I love to travel and soak up the culture, find new brands and see what it’s like outside of New York City but it is also a breath of fresh air to come home to a beautiful and intricate New York City and embrace what we do here at V.Mora. I love being able to help designers create their story, through fashion. Even if you never went to fashion school, at V.Mora Consulting and Development we take you through all the steps from concept to customer.
From starting your fashion brand to helping with production V.Mora can help you every step of the way in the fashion process. For inquiries and questions please contact us at: vmorainquiry@vmora.com