After its cultural attractions, Paris is surely best known as a shopper’s paradise. From the chic designer boutiques on Rue du Faubourg to the imposing department stores on Boulevard Haussman Paris’ reputation as one of the shopping meccas of the world has never been so strong. Paris fashion is above all distinguished for its classic lines and chic style rather than inventive designs or experimental fashion, so Paris sales are the ideal opportunity to invest in some quality timeless garments.
Since 1999, when the regulation was put in place to define the official dates that shops are permitted to have sales, the Paris January sales experience has in many ways become much simpler. The 2008 Paris sales will hit the window displays and rails from 9 th January for a period of six weeks in which price tags will often be slashed by a whopping 70% or more.
The large department stores on Boulevard Haussman are the first logical port of call. With a long standing reputation in the Parisian fashion world, dating back to 1865, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the best known department stores in Paris and great starting point for attacking the sales. This is the ideal opportunity to snap up luxury goods and classic style garment at severely reduced prices. Forget rock bottom last season’s fashion items, look carefully and select quality items and brands which would otherwise be out of price reach. Another popular department store is La Sarmanitaine, a mammoth five storey complex located in the 1 st arrondissement between Les Halles and Port Neuf.
For those seeking offers in smaller boutiques and a more personal approach, rue des Franc-Bourgeois in the Marais (4 th arrondissement) is the ideal shopping destination.
Soldes by Paris
In order to develop Paris as the ultimate sales shopping destination, the Soldes By Paris’, event was launched for the first time last year to encourage visitors to travel to Paris for the January sales whilst facilitating a potentially overwhelming experience. The event, which will take place between the 9 th and 20 th January, brings together over 1500 shops and over 500 hotels and restaurants with the idea of coordinating certain shopping routes in order to meet the needs of the visitor.
The five themed shopping routes complete with trilingual guides have been developed to suit different tastes, needs and personalities, under the titles of chic, trendy, extraordinary, romantic and creative. Visitors who are willing to participate in this will be able to pick up a welcome pack from one of the participating hotels and a magazine to guide them through the complex maze of the sales. Furthermore a series of shopping stations will be located on each of the shopping routes to give the weary shopper advice (and the courage to go on).
Whether self organized or with the help of Soldes by Paris, a short winter break in Paris is the ideal way to combine sightseeing with some serious sales shopping. From the base of a comfortable Paris apartment the visitor can make the most of a January city break.
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