Paris is an incredible city especially for shopping. Last year I had a friend stay with me for a few days and when we were discussing her upcoming visit, I wasn’t convinced that she was coming only to see me. The lure of buying Chanel in its native land captured her heart… and later her wallet. But I totally get it. Something magical happens in Paris. Everything looks so gorgeous. (Is it the light?) They have my size in most things I like, lust and covet. The jewels really sparkle there. The colors seem more vibrant. The perfumes smell more fragrant. The knives appear sharper. The scarves! Oh, the scarves! And the styles are all so chic. But the city is big with so many stores that you might need a little help to navigate. So I’m breaking down this French shopper’s paradise so that when you go, you’ll know.
In Paris proper, you have an impressive amount of schmancy designer boutiques, the five major department stores, a ton of local Parisian faves, well stocked outlets, treasure filled flea markets, and a whole circuit of incredible vintage shops. This post gives all the deets on the designer boutiques and the spectacular department stores. A follow up blog will (attempt) to cover the massive balance. So who’s ready to shop?
It IS Paris so you can imagine that French brands Hermès, Chanel, Goyard, Dior, Lanvin, Moynat, Balmain, Courrèges, Céline, Chopard, Cartier, Christian Louboutin, Christofle, Longchamp, Givenchy, Pierre Hardy, Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton need no introduction. They all command quite a presence on both the Right and Left Bank with multiple stores, signage, dedicated foot traffic and sometimes very long lines. You can practically throw a croissant in any direction from any arrondissement and you’re guaranteed to hit one of ’em! But please don’t. Those pastries are way too good to waste.
And yes of course Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Balenciaga, and Fendi are represented in spades as well. New York might be the center of the universe (come for me people) but Paris is undoubtedly the fashion capital of the world. And in the capital, prices may be steep, but they are much more gentle than paying full boat in the States. Plus you save on the VAT tax so remember to carry your original passport everywhere. And if you’re going to buy a big ticket item anyway, Paris is definitely not the place to curb your urge to splurge.
I think the point of going to a foreign land is to experience a little bit of life like the locals. So although I do love a premium designer get as much as the next fashionista (Ok! Maybe more.), I think the Big Five are much more exciting and interesting since we have many if not all of those designer labels in America. Not that I’m a regular at the biggies, but you get it. So let’s get shopping.
The major stores are the big specialty and department stores that take up lots of real estate and offer the largest selection of goods under one roof. And what better way to start than with Le Bon Marché. You can think of Le Bon Marché like Bergdorf Goodman– it’s super lux and they carry many independent labels… think casual separates by Sweet Pants, Violette FR’s gorgeous makeup line, American Vintage upscale cotton basics, Polène leathergoods, and favorites by Paris-based Sézane. Yes, you’ll find Gucci, Prada, Chanel and the rest as well. The crowd here is very well-heeled. The shoe floor is impressive and the customer service is fantastic.
Owned by LVMH Group, I love Le Bon Marché for shoes, scarves, clothes, discoverables, and handbags. They always have an immersive pop up on the main floor and during the holidays their gift section is unmatched with pet products, food items, gloves, art, charms, trends, and collectibles. The kids floor is simply extraordinary and includes toys, plush stuffed animals, clothes, shoes and outerwear. The lower level men’s shoe department is obscene and the fashions here for men are equally gorgeous.
LBM’s sister food haul Le Grand Épicerie next door is beyond your wildest dreams with over 300,000 items sprawled over several floors and includes a cluster of tables and chairs for you to enjoy your snacks and drinks onsite if you wish. Le Bon Marché is the only department store on the Left Bank. And if I could only shop one major in Paris, hands down this would be my overall pick.
La Samaritaine. This stunner had a recent glowup and now shines brighter than ever. It is located just a block from the Seine, close to The Louvre and owned by the LVMH peeps as well. They carry a lot of edgy brands like Off White and Palm Angels, their cosmetics are fantastic and include Victoria Beckham’s exclusive line. The hat section is regal and they have a great blend of high and low end jewelry in addition to shoes and clothes, their own La Samaritaine Collection, and fun ground level giftables that you can grab and go.
Considering themselves “The Temple of Parisian Lifestyle,” their covetables include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Carven, Celine, Patou, Loewe, Saint Laurent, and Isabel Marant. A few attached floors in an adjacent building showcase up and coming designers and emerging fashion that is truly cutting edge. This store is the closest thing you’ll see to the old Barney’s New York experience but with more twinkling lights and French fanfare. I say viva la France!
Galeries Lafayette. The biggest and most bustling store in Paris is Galeries Lafayette. It’s massive. Men have their own building and ladies do too. There is also a corresponding food hall across the street with restaurants plus a full on grocery store on the lower level.
Galeries is probably most like Saks Fifth Avenue but on a grander scale. They have an entire floor dedicated to shoes just like the SFA flagship on Fifth Ave. (swoon), and an extreme amount of store in store boutiques for every designer you can think of– Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chloe, Fendi, Burberry, Loewe, Cartier, YSL, Tiffany and more.
They boast multiple cafes and restaurants, terrific coats, belts, watches, costume jewelry, sunglasses, and a stunning rooftop with a view of Paris. It could be a browse and go destination or a full day trip– depending on what kind of shopper you are. (I’m sort of a day tripper. Yeah.)
Le Printemps. As big as Galeries but with a different feel is Le Printemps, located a few doors down on the same Boulevard. To me Printemps is like Bloomingdales. It’s also huge with luggage, scarves, a separate building for cosmetics and skincare, and another building for mens. They have great cashmere, hats, handbags, and sunnies. Like Galeries Lafayette, they also have a gazillion store in store boutiques for all the serious designer brands. Le Printemps stands apart offering the only Goyard boutique housed in a department store (drool), and the exclusive makeup brand Typology (whoa).
They have a rooftop as well and invite all shoppers upstairs to take pictures and marvel at the views. You could get lost in this multi-floor experience for hours happily exploring and the customer service is terrific.
Le BHV Marais. The comparably lower end Le BHV Marais is most like Macy’s with more affordable brands mixed into some luxury labels, an impressive selection of clothes for men, women and kids, cosmetic staples you know, and lots of housewares.
BHV is great for luggage, books, posters, sneakers, beauty, sweaters and foodie gifts.
I have a very fashionable friend named Scott who lives in Chicago and only buys his suits, ties and shirts at BVH. And he’s always on point. So there ya go.
Every seasoned shopper knows that each department store has its own flair, flavor and allure. And although many of them carry a lot of overlapping merchandise, the experience can feel very different. It’s why some Le Bon Marché shoppers never set foot in BHV and vice versa. Not only is there some sort of unspoken loyalty regarding the whole retail experience (points!), repeat customers tend to know the floor layout, location of the VAT Tax desk, where the restrooms are (critical!) and might even have a helpful store associate who hooks them up with sales, style tips, and exclusives.
The selection of goods in Paris is extraordinary so whether you chose a favorite store to frequent or plan to spread the love equally amongst the big five, you’re sure to have an absolutely magical time popping tags.
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