Coquette

Travel to Paris: Shopping at Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette
40, Bd Haussmann
75009 Paris
haussmann.galerieslafayette.com
wwww.galerieslafayette.com
Personal Shopping Service

My favorite department store in the world is the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. I first stepped inside the grand department store back in 1997, my first trip to Paris and I've been shopping there every since. In fact, many of the things I have bought at the store over the years are still in my wardrobe today. This August, I was lucky enough to have a private tour and given access to take photos inside. I was also lucky to be able to experience Galerie Lafayette's personal shopping service.

What I love the best about Galerie Lafayette is that there are so many different brands under one roof (a very big roof!). Not only can you shop expensive luxury goods from Chanel to Louis Vuitton, you can also shop for midrange to inexpensive brands such as Topshop. I love walking through the beauty department that sits oh so dazzlingly under the neo-byzantine dome built in 1912. All the lipsticks and perfumes, smell all the more sweeter here of course. And unlike most stores, shopping abroad is best because it's tax free and you can choose to get your tax refund (12%) via cash back or credit. Learn more about the tax free details.

My fantastic tour guide was Indré (pictured right) who gave me such an amazing detail about the history of Galeries Lafayette. While we were under the dome, Indré showed me the art installation by Phillippe Ramette that was up from July to the end of August, titled "Eloge de la contemplation (le temps suspendu)" which means place of contemplation (suspended time). Galeries Lafayette holds art dear to its heart so it's no surprise that they showcase different artists and exhibits throughout the year in the store.

Galeries Lafayette's art gallery is on the main floor and is called the Galiere des Galieres. This year the Galerie des Galeries invites the photographer Philippe Jarrigeon to exhibit his work. With "Grand Magasin" (means department store) he has created a series of images inspired by this place and people’s experiences of it. (From September 23 to November 14, 2014.)

Every August, there is some sort of installation exhibit on the 4th floor. This summer it was the L'Excellence a la Française which showcased all the famous French brands and what region of France they came from.

If you spend most of the day shopping in here (which we pretty much did), you can dine at many of the great restaurants inside. We chose Angelina, of course.

After all these years of going to Paris, I had no idea that there was a rooftop with the most amazing view of the city! You could turn around 365 degrees and see everything from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré Cœur. You definitely won't want to miss this gorgeous view where you can also sit and take a break. I loved that it wasn't crowded up on the rooftop at all so you could really enjoy the breathtaking view.

My Visit to a Real French Bakery

(This post of mine was originally published on CRAFT in April 2011)

Last summer while vacationing in the southwest of France (the region where my husband is from) I got addicted to Pastis Landais, a sweet brioche that I literally would snack on throughout the day (related CRAFT post here). The pastries I enjoyed during my time there were all from this local bakery in Parentis en Born called Patisserie Bled Frédéric, run by a husband and wife team, Katia and Frédéric Bled. My mother-in-law frequents this patisserie and Katia and Frédéric were nice enough to open up their shop doors to give me a behind the scenes look at how french pastries are really done. What I observed was Frédéric's amazing attention to detail - every pastry looked beautiful and symmetrical - as well as his ability to multi-task between each projects of pastries and breads. Every pastry was a work of art as you can see and quite delicious as I taste tested most of them as my "research". If you ever get a chance to visit this enchanting town and summer lake vacation spot, you'll have to stop at this wonderful local patisserie for it's delicious treats and French charm.

Patisserie Bled Frédéric
20 Av du 8 mai 1945

Parentis en Born, France
41 place Marsan
Biscarrosse, France
Web site: http://www.patisseriebledfrederic.fr
Facebook: Patisserie Bled Frédéric

See more photos from my visit after the jump!

Louis Vuitton City Guides 2011

It's no secret I love Louis Vuitton and illustrator Ruben Toleldo. Now the new Louis Vuitton City Guides for 2011 collection also includes a City Guide Postcard Box ($115), a set of 100 postcards in fluorescent colors that is a retrospective of his city guide illustrations since 1998.

Each of the guide books are only $34 each and cover New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Rome, and Kyoto/Nara. Or you can pick up a box set of all the European cities for $135. Which guide am I picking up? Why the Louis Vuitton City Guide Paris – bien sûr! The guide covers everything from neighborhood cafes, luxury hotels, fashion and design, galleries and secret museums.

La Droguerie in Paris

La Droguerie
9 et 11 rue du Jour
75001 PARIS
Phone: 01 45 08 93 27

Hours:
Monday: 2pm-6:45pm
Tuesday-Saturday: 10:30am-6:45pm
Sunday: Closed

If any place could be called crafting heaven, the craft shop La Droguerie is just that and more. Nestled in a small little area of the Les Halles area of Paris, I could feel the excitement inside me as I stepped inside and was immediately greeted "hello" by the hanks of candy colored yarn that spanned all along the wall. The store feels like an old apothecary with large wooden cabinets lining the back area which contained tiny drawers filled with buttons. Colorful beads lived in large jars that were lined up and down a large bookcase and seemed almost to call out for someone to "take a scoop home". Pretty and ornate fake flowers in little glasses decorated the window area. A wall of ribbons and bias tape spanned the back wall. (I now regret not buying some of the cute Liberty of London bias tape. Ah!) Under a glass table, patterned fabric lay neatly organized and color coordinated.

Read my full review of La Droguerie on CRAFT