You are probably well aware that the Winter sales began in Paris on the 11th of January and run till the 14th of February! 5 Weeks of shoppers heaven with discounts going up to as much as 70% off. But how to attack the sales without going nuts is a skill for some and an art form for others. Shopping guru and our guest blogger, Gwen Evans of Paris Found, is often asked by her clients to purchase items for them during her numerous trips to Paris when she is not leading a group of energetic shoppers on one of her tours. In today's post she shares her tips for navigating the sales in style.
If you've never been to the soldes in Paris, there are a few things you need to know. The best selection is toward the beginning of the five week sale period, when it is common to see almost everything at 30-50% off the original price. If you are looking for something specific or have been lusting after that little black dress at the Bon Marche for 400 euros, be first in line and grab it for probably 30-40% off. Not all sizes will be available because the sales are limited to what's already in the stores. In fact, by law, French stores are not allowed to bring in special merchandise just to sell at the soldes, as is common in the states. If you aren't looking for anything in particular and want to get the best prices, then you can wait until toward the end of the five week sales period, and even take your chances that the little dress you want will be 70% off instead of 40%.
If you haven't already done some scouting and tried on a few things before the soldes, be sure to wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of. Tights jeans are probably the worst bet for taking on and off; better to wear a pair of tights, a skirt and sweater or jacket and easy to get off shoes or boots. Don't over-bundle because you will be going in and out of stores and they get crowded and hot quickly. Normally polite and restrained Parisian women can get pretty aggressive and will think nothing about practically grabbing something out of your hands. If you see something you might want to try on or buy, carry it around with you - chances are by the time you come back to that part of the store it may be gone. This is especially true of the larger department stores like Le Bon Marche and the Galeries Lafayettes where the selling floor is a maze to begin with. Be sure to know your French equivalent sizes before you shop; it isn't necessary to speak french (it does help to know a little); you can always write down your sizes and get a salesperson to help. This will be more successful in some of the smaller boutiques - you will still be at a disadvantage with little or no french at the soldes because everyone is busy and you are less likely to get personal assistance. But do remember to always greet the person in the store with "bonjour madame/mademoiselle" - it's impolite not to do so and you won't get treated well if you ignore this expected courtesy.
Be sure to eat something in the morning if you plan to be out all day; shopping is hard work; and be sure to carry some water with you. It is easy to get caught up in the frenzy and realize that it's been 8 hours since you ate! I often think I will stop and have a little lunch, then I see yet another store with the big SOLDES sign and I just can't pass it up.
The biggest difference I have noted between French and American women shopping patterns is that the French will often go for fewer items at better quality and higher prices; they wait for the soldes so they can afford a few special things. A lot of American (myself often included) will go for bang for the buck, both because our dollar doesn't go as far and we tend to buy more clothes in general. It is awfully tempting too when so many of the clothes in Paris are so fabulous and not what we can find at home. And even when the soldes aren't occurring there are a lot of great places to shop that aren't too expensive - they are of course even better during the soldes. Stay tuned for my daily shopping places, buys and tips.
A bientot!
Stay tuned next week for another guest post from Gwen.
All photos ©Gwen Evans - Paris Found
Gwen Evans is an American clothing designer and co-owner of Paris Found Tours. She and her daughter Sophie specialize in personalized small group tours to flea markets, fabric and fashion districts, food and fun! Gwen divides her time between Port Townsend, WA and Paris. When in Paris she is available to visitors for shopping tips and tours. Contact Gwen at gwen@parisfound.com for more information Visit parisfound.com for tour information and Paris Found Tours FB page."
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your comments with us.