A Chanel frock from the Spring 2012 Collection
“Oui” ring from Christian Dior
Feu de Bois Large Outdoor Candle by Diptyque
Goyard trunk filled with Assouline signature books
A girl came dream, right?
Posts Tagged ‘Dior’
4 Super-Luxe Gifts From Paris On My Wish List
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011Mode à Paris – Fashion Week
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Ready to Wear. That’s what we like to hear during fashion week. Currently, in Paris, fashion week is debuting the Ready to Wear (RTW) lines. Valentino, Stella, Chloe, Hermes, Louis Vuitton…the gangs all here. RTW means that the clothes are typically manufactured for sale in stores worldwide. They are made in a range of sizes and are accessible for the public to buy. This is very different from the haute couture collections that normally won’t make it to stores in the same numbers.
Fashion houses that produce a women’s haute couture line, such as Chanel, Dior, and Lacroix also produce a ready-to-wear line, which returns a greater profit due to the higher volume turnover of garments and greater availability of the clothing. Relative to couture, ready-to-wear clothing is often more practical and informal, though this may not always be the case. The construction of ready-to-wear clothing is also held to different standard than that of haute couture due to its industrial nature. High-end ready-to-wear lines are sometimes based upon a famous gown or pattern that is then duplicated and advertised to raise the visibility of the designer. Bespoke is custom tailored clothing.
The RTW shows attract the most retail buyers. The buyers work closely with designers and attend trade shows and fashion week to determine what items will be stocked in a store, based on his or her predictions about what will be popular with shoppers. The buyers study the collections, trends, color schemes and price points to ensure that they are getting everything they need to adequately stock their store. Some are small boutique owners that are responsible for all types of merchandise or they might just be the woman’s dress buyer for Neiman’s. The decisions they make can greatly affect the fashion business.
Whether you are in Paris for fashion week or just following the shows online, take a look {here} for all the details and show times. If fashion is your first love, then you may want to think about renting a luxury Paris apartment in February. The RTW shows are already scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th until Wednesday, March 7th, 2012.
Shopping in Paris
Friday, May 13th, 2011
For a shopping enthusiast, no trip to Paris is complete without plenty of time spent on their favorite activity – shopping! Lucky for those of you have saved a few dollars by staying in a Paris apartment rental instead of a hotel, fashionistas, foodies, and those looking for flea-market treasures will all find plenty of opportunities to collect their own personal treasures.
Haute Couture
Travelers in search of Haute Couture styles will enjoy exploring the shops on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne. Here, well-known clothiers and jewelers, such as Chanel, Cartier, and Christian Dior, and others, can be found. For leather goods, such as shoes and handbags, shoppers should look to Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Grenelle.
Shopping Centers and Department Stores
After purchasing some high fashion luxury items, shoppers may also want to check out some of Paris’s excellent shopping centers and department stores. At Forum des Halles dedicated shoppers can look through the 180 stores to find many different clothing styles. While some shoppers have difficulty with the large size, some dedicated digging can turn up lower-budget copies of Parisian trends.
Boulevard Haussmann houses two of the most famous Parisian department stores, Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. There is something for all shoppers in these rival stores, which carry designer, brand name, and private label stock. Shoppers looking for clothing and elegant food should head to Le Bon Marché in the Left Bank. After purchasing some trendy clothes, shoppers can head to one of the adjoining food establishments and enjoy a relaxing lunch before heading back to your short term Paris rental or hotel.
Flea Markets
Those looking for more of a challenge will love to dig through Paris’s flea markets for treasure. Major markets can be found in Porte de Vanves and Porte de Montreuil. Early risers are more likely to reap flea markets’ rewards, as many of the best bargains are gone as early as six or seven in the morning.
Open Air Markets
While there are now a number of convenient supermarkets in Paris, locals often choose to frequent the many open-air markets instead. With nearly seventy open-air markets specializing in everything from organic vegetables to fresh flowers, there is sure to be a close market that will meet anyone’s needs.
Book Collecting
Books in Paris may seem expensive to the average reader. However, collectors will enjoy browsing the shops along the Seine River for rare or first-edition copies of their favorite books. For French language books, the FNAC is the place to be. Two of the better-known English language book dealers are Brentano’s and Shakespeare and Co.
Whether the plan is to window shop or purchase a little of everything, Paris has many opportunities for shopping and many of our Paris vacation rentals are only steps away. From haute couture, to flea market bargains, to rare books, there is something for everyone in Paris.
