(This is the second in a series of posts on department stores in Paris, read the first here)

Of all the Parisian department stores, Le Bon Marché is by far my favourite.
It’s exactly how I imagined a Parisian shopping experience would be; beautiful architecture, fabulous design and layout, with excellent and well-selected collection of merchandise and attentive staff.
Often regarded as the ‘world’s first department store’ it opened circa 1830s on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche).
The store’s ambiance encourages luxurious leisure shopping, which is its advantage over the other department stores; Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. It’s never overcrowded and the staff is actually nice and helpful

A short 8 second clip

Bon Marché has everything – and I mean EVERYTHING!
From the best and fabulous designer clothes in mini boutiques to furniture from designers I’d only read about in books.
I could spend the whole day there and never get bored, I’d be just happy riding the those cool escalators all day…
I literally spent an hour browsing the bookshop and I can’t even read French!

And when I felt a little peckish I headed for Primo Piano, the indoor and terraced café with colourful décor and great food.
And then there’s La Grande Epicerie, a gourmet food emporium so epic and awesome it deserves it’s own post.

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
24, rue de Sèvres
75007 Paris
France
www.lebonmarche.com

There was a supermarket close to our house when I was a kid, it was a big unimpressive building at a busy intersection close to the Kroo Town Road market, I don’t think I ever knew its name.
We didn’t shop there much, my mom would sometimes buy baked beans and cheese from there; and once, I remember, laundry detergent.
It wasn’t a particularly fancy store, but it’s was the closest we had to a gourmet store; one time I saved a bit of money and got a bar of Lion Bar just because of a cool ad I’d seen.
As a kid with an overactive imagination who read a lot, I’d make up these dazzling characters in my head and wonder about the mundane bits that came with living, like where they’d buy their groceries or the kind of toothpaste they used.
I imagined them in futuristic looking stores with neon lights and carts designed to follow them around the aisles.

For whatever strange reason, these are the two things I thought about when I went into Fauchon… the old supermarket from my childhood and the imaginary places I’d made up.
Fauchon is one of those haute gourmet places everyone recommends you visit when you’re in Paris.
The main store on Place de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement has been opened since 1886, but you can’t tell from its chic pink and black and white décor.
The flagship store occupies three addresses over three levels that include a patisserie, deli, bakery, café, a bar, grocery store and an amazing wine cellar.
And there’s so much amazement to Fauchon, you can’t help but feel like a kid in a candy shop – it’s like something I’d imagined.

(This is the first in the series of posts about the big department stores in Paris)

The start of the shopping season seems like the perfect day to start a series on shopping.
I didn’t do any shopping this weekend or today since I’m on a shopping ban, so I’ll do the next best thing; write about shopping.

BHV stands for Bazaar de l’Hôtel de Ville and it’s one of Paris’ oldest stores – second oldest, according to some.

It stands next to the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) on Rue Rivoli in the 4th arrondissement.
I imagine it started out as a small market next to city hall, and later when it opened in 1856 as a big department store, the name stuck.
Either way, BHV is awesome, it has eight floors of general department store fare including an impressive DIY/hardware store in the basement and café on the 4th (or 5th?) floor with beautiful views of Paris.

There’s a separate men’s shop that is fully stocked with all the favourite brands. there’s also a pet store and travel agency.
The only strange thing about BHV is its lack of a shoe department!
It has an extensive women’s department with clothes, handbags, accessories and everything else you could think of except shoes.
Now, BHV isn’t high fashion, don’t go there looking for those Maison Martin Margiela boots or that Isabel Marant top. Here, you’ll find quality affordable French brands plus favourites like Longchamp.
The home, appliance and kitchenware section is most impressive, they stock brands like Staub, Le Creuset, Bodum, Alessi etc and brands you’d only find in Europe.
The groceries section carries Kusmi tea, fancy coffee, sweets and Fauchon products.
BHV was a quick walk from where we stayed, in historic Paris, and there was a huge six day sale that seemed to go on forever. This was a very tempting situation for me; sometimes I’d go in several times in a day, just to browse because it was so close and convenient and the sales were amazing; up to 60% off.
I got some cashmere sweaters from the Galeries Lafayette house brand, an epilator, sweets and gifts for friends and family.
BHV is a little like Sears, except fancier and very French.

BHV
52 Rue de Rivoli
75004 Paris France
http://www.bhv.fr/

From the department of better late than never, comes these pictures from last month…

During the Olympics last month, the Milan based designers DSquared made an appearance at Holt Renfrew to launch their special edition Olympics hoodie.

The designer twins, Dean & Dan Caten originally from Canada also designed the outfits for the Canadian talent at the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies.

The Holt Renfrew event as I remember (it’s been over a month after all) was pleasant and relaxed.

Lots of fashionable people showed up, which was great because I spent time chatting with some very stylish people.

I met a couple who drove all the way up from Everett just for the event.

The guy had on an awesome DSquared belt buckle, I think I might have stared at his crotch a little longer than appropriate.

The event served as a good opportunity for fashionistas to get to meet one (two?) of Canada’s finest designers and also especially great for aspiring designers to meet and talk to real-life successful designers

More pictures below… enjoy!

Next in the ‘Better Late Than Never’ Series; Tinariwen

Westfield London, the largest urban shopping centre in Europe is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend with a series of events and activities.
I bet opening a retail centre developed at £1.6bn amidst a recession last year wasn’t lost on the finance-types or the owners.
It seems like it’s had a good year so far, managing to establish itself as London’s most exciting shopping destination.

My BFF J. mentioned several times how stunning the place and wonderful the shopping experience was.
She was very excited and couldn’t wait for me to see it.
To be honest, I didn’t really share J.’s excitement.
I cringe a little whenever I hear another supermall has opened somewhere in the UK, because I feel it diverts from quaint High Streets, which I prefer and feel is more British.
Also, I couldn’t imagine how excitingly different a shopping mall could be, I use to spend a ridiculously insane amount of time at Westfield Montgomery, (when it used to be Montgomery Mall) a lifetime ago.

As for upscale, I imagined Tyson’s Galleria – which National Geographic called “the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast”, an out-of-the-way suburban shopping centre with very exclusive shops.
Thankfully Westfield London turned out to be a little different… in a good way.

It has a distinctive set up.
It combines shops, restaurants, bars, exclusive services and public services in an architecturally beautiful complex located in an urban setting.

Its central location makes it easy to get to; it was a short ride to Shepherd’s Bush tube station for us.
There are about a dozen or so restaurants outside lining the terrace on one side, and an informal sitting/meeting area.

The Village is an exclusive section of the mall with high-end retailers like De Beers and Prada.

At the centre of the Village is an elegant champagne bar by Searcys.

(more…)