After arriving in Paris and taking all of the obligatory Eiffel Tower pictures I could stomach in one afternoon, I knew that I couldn't possibly travel over 4,000 miles to the City of Light and not explore what makes Paris truly dazzle – its love for fashion.
Since visions of haute couture and designer labels would have to be just visions for me, I reluctantly settled on roaming the cobblestone blocks for some good, old-fashioned window shopping.
Those who have visited Paris before know that the city is divided into many broad sections when it comes to shopping. From the bustling department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Les Printemps situated in the 9th Arrondissement to the chic and posh shops of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Hermes in the Faubourg Saint-Honore district, I quickly discovered that the Parisian shopping experience is a mosaic of many colors, tastes and price ranges.
Let the floodgates open
With major discount season in full swing, locals and tourists alike are taking the initiative by heading to their favorite stores to take advantage of great buys. After walking through Galeries Lafayette one afternoon, I couldn't help but find myself completely stunned (and, to be frank, irritated) with the masses of people crowding the store.
One of our guest speakers mentioned that sales in Paris are state-regulated and exist during two periods of the year: winter and summer. I've always wondered how Parisians maintain such impeccable style: price tags on designer loot are slashed down to sometimes 80 percent!
Recession Ain't No Thang
With so many urges to buy, I found myself wondering if Parisians are as bombarded with the same type of recession news as we are in the US. When talking to different locals, I gathered that while there is a definite bite in their economy, many find it silly to live in constant fear that they are going to enter an economic depression. For once, I felt as though life and the media existed without talk of money and the end of the world as we know it.
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