The Essential Parisian Shopping and Sales Guide

Paris is the fashion capital of the world, and shopping in and around Paris is simply an amazing experience. No only will you find some of the most fabulous designer and couture clothing stores, but there are hundreds of gorgeous boutiques and department stores, the will keep you busy for days on end. Read on to find out more about the famous Paris sales, and where you can find the best bargains in this beautiful city…

When do the Paris sales take place?

Unlike other cities around the world, Paris only has two sales each year. The summer sales have now finished, but the annual January sale will be taking place from around the 7 th January 2010. Paris sales always last six weeks, and the prices become more and more reduced throughout this 6-week period. Towards the end of the sales you can expect to find many items reduced to as much as 80% off. If you’re visiting from outside of the EU, you could also get a 12% tax refund on all of your purchases.

Annual sale dates…

Summer – End of June to July

Winter – Early January into February

The exact starting dates for both sales periods are announced each and every year. So, if you’re thinking about taking a trip to this amazing city, you might want to plan your vacation around sale time.

These biannual sales allow shops to clear their old stock ready for the new season. But, it’s not just fashion and clothing stores that offer these sales. You’ll find the same reductions at all stores in and around Paris . You’ll find that most shops are open from Monday to Saturday. Some may close from between 12pm and 2.30pm for lunch, and usual open hours are from around 9am to 8pm.

How to grab a bargain…

Yep, you’ve guessed it, the sales periods in Paris are the busiest times to shop. So, make sure you’re prepared for the sales rush. People can get a little crazy when there is a bargain at stake. You may need to fight for your sale items, and be quick before someone else snaps them up. If you’re planning to shop till you drop, you’ll have to dress appropriately. Make sure you wear cool, loose fitting clothing, and heels are a big no no. If you’re planning to bag yourself some bargains, you’ll need to shop around, and being comfortable is very important.

The best places in Paris to shop…

Paris has some of the greatest designer shopping in the word. Along the streets of Paris you’ll find stores from all of the leading designers and fashion houses including – Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel, to name but a few.

Before you embark upon your first Parisian shopping trip, you’ll need a good map to help you get around. Use your map to find some of the best shopping areas in Paris, and make sure you check out the following:

• For the best Couture shops you must visit the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne.
• To check out some of Paris’ oldest department stores, head over to Boulevard Haussmann. Here you’ll find Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. Two of Paris’ most famous and classic department stores.
• Make sure you also pay a visit to Rue du Four and Boulevard Saint Germain, which is situated in the Saint Germain des Prés district. Here you’ll find some of the best designer clothes stores, and a huge selection of small Parisian cafés and restaurants to luncheon in.
• To find some of Paris’ finest boutiques and designer clothes at discount prices, head over Les Halles and the Marais district. You also have to visit La Vallee Village, an amazing open air discount village just outside of Paris, that is home to 75 outlet stores that all offer up to 60% off retail prices.