Le Shopping

I have been doing mostly two kinds of shopping during this stay in Paris and they're both pretty friendly for the wallet. I've been doing lots of bargain hunting, mostly sales and second hand shops, and even more window shopping, or window "licking", léche vitres, as the french say (or so my dictionary once told me, I have never actually heard someone use that unhygienic expression).
Obviously, if you need to buy clothes, window shopping won't do. But if you don't shop out of pure necessity but more just for the pleasure of beautiful things, in Paris window shopping is a real alternative to actually going in and spending money. You can stand behind a window and lovingly gaze that Chloé bag that's made of leather that looks like it will feel like a perfectly ripe peach and that sells for a four or five digit number of euros. And when it comes to an object like that, you know that juts looking is enough. You know you would never put that much money on a bag even if you had that money. Because that money would buy you a really nice trip somewhere. So you look and leave, feeling relieved that so much beauty can go into such a useful object. And hoping to bump into a Richard Gere in Pretty Woman -character right around the corner as well, because he probably would pay money like that for a bag and wouldn't mind offering it to you.
The category of window shopping also includes walking into a shop and just looking and touching things you know you can't afford now, but maybe on your next visit... I always go and say hi to the K. Jacques sandals that are waiting for me patiently. Same thing with shops like Mellow Yellow, Kooples, Loft and the rest that sell gorgeous things that are not cheap but definately affordable for someone who actually gets paid unlike me at the moment. So you can also call it background research for my future wardrobe. And also background research for the soldes...

For the bargains there are two main things: SOLDES and second hand. It's as simple as that for me. I'm not some fashion industry personality that gets invited to some private fashion people clubs that organize secret sales operations. So if you would like to know more about those, find yourself a real fashion blog.
The great soldes, the big sales take place every winter and every summer and they should not be missed. And obviously if you are planning to do some shopping in Paris, do it during the soldes. They last for a couple of weeks and as usual, the discounts get bigger as the stock gets smaller. This is the time when even an average stagiaire might be able to offer herself something more than H&M. I always use this opportunity to buy some lovely quality underwear, Princesse Tam Tam is my favorite. The summer sales are always end of june, beginning of july and winter sales in january-february. Google "soldes paris" and you will probably get exact dates since they are somehow controlled by law.
And for second hand, there are many little guidebooks around that list the second hand shops around Paris. The overall level here is great but the prices vary a lot. Obviously if you want to buy vintage 60's Chanel that has not been used, it might be more expensive than the latest season Chanel. Then there are the usual second hand/vintage shops that buy their clothes from stocks and choose them carefully, such as Hippy Market (Rue de Turbigo & rue Clignancourt) and Kiliwatch. The thing with shops like this is that they also take big margins and sometimes they are on the expensive side. Especially in comparison to charity shops like my beloved Guerrisol. But on the other hand, unlike in Guerrisol, you don't need to inspect the garment for stains etc. before buying it. But I just can't resist mentioning that I just bought another 3 euro dress from Guerrisol yesterday...