Paris is widely considered the fashion capital of Europe and it's easy to see why-even the less immaculately preened, non-designer, bedhead hispster girls seem effortlessly styled and the Metro is like a Vogue fashion shoot. So, while in New York anything goes Paris requires a bit more planning in packing your case.Good staples for a Paris trip are:
Ballet flats (you will walk a lot)
Nice heels for dinner/cabaret show at night
The skinniest skinny jeans you own
An over-body bag (trendy but less likely to be pickpocketed/stolen)
A pretty brolly or PacaMac as I have been in all seasons and rain is about as Parisian as the Eiffel Tower
Make up -see on the plane
Tea/day dresses are good in all seasons and perfect for anywhere.Wear with flats and bare legs in the summer and with tights and a cardi in the winter
Stripy top's are totally do-able but dont wear with a beret and a string of onions- wear an oversized/dress version with leggings or bare legs.Shorter tshirts are good with skinny jeans and flats.Knitted stripy tops/cardis are good with block colour dresses/skirts.
Shopping:
Champs Elysees-A shopping mecca with a choice of designer and Parisian High St stores. Get off the Metro at Charles de Gaulle Etoile, see the Arc Di Triomphe and work your way along the hundreds of stores and restraunts.Stores include Louis Vuitton, Sephora, Morgan de Toi etc.
Latin Quarter-Traditionally the student quarter but the Latin Quarter has been expanded and has a range of stores. Gift/souvenir shops are a lot cheaper here than around the Louvre/Rue de Rivoli.As well as clothing/souvenir stores there are several book stores, market stands along the Seine selling paintings and books, a great glove store and several restraunts. Metro stations are plentiful in the area- St Michel, Maubert and Cluny are to name but a few.
Rue de Rivoli- Offers several souvenir shops,art shops, Quicksilver, Etam, H & M and a Pronuptia wedding shop for brides to be. Again, several restraunts are nearby and the underground Les Halles shopping mall.Metro stations-Louvre Rivoli, Chatelet Les Halles, Les Halles.
Also visit, Fabourg St Honore, Galeries Lafayette,Printemps, the Marais.
Tip:Monoprix is a huge store selling food,make up, toiletries etc and there are several around the city.Look out for them as they often sell great clothing/accessories and the sale items are fantastic.
Look out for sales (soldes) when visiting. I managed to get a 40eur bag for 7.50 eur in Monoprix and it's rather lovely :) Other sale items we tracked down include a beautiful floral skirt in Morgan de Toi (45eur to 9eur) and several tops down to as little as 6eur in Morgan de Toi. Sale seasons are (winter) beginning of January and (summer)the end of June and they usually last around 6 weeks.
Must buy's
Compact Mirrors-Buy in the Latin Quarter for about 5eur.There is a huge range of designs and they are all very pretty.
Scarves-Various designs,shapes and textures on offer and prices start from around 7eur.
Food/drink-Wine is wonderfully cheap so stock up and bring home, also you can buy absinthe pretty cheap.Maxim chocolate is gorgeous, beautifully packed and starts froma round 4 eur.
Souvenirs-Get something to mark your visit-an I heart Paris hoody from (25 eur), bookmark(from 1 eur),pen(from 2 eur), eiffel tower keyring(from 6 for 1eur), pictures (from 2 eur)etc.
Also, make up from duty free!
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