Craving a bit of outlet shopping? La Vallée Village, with its meticulously manicured storefronts and spacious walkways, is a sophisticated bargain hunter's dream. Located in the up-and-coming community of Marne-La-Vallée, the shops exemplify the spirit of the region.
A part of the newest urban development project by the same name, Val d'Europe is a trendy shopping center which has become one of the most popular shopping destinations in Serris. Aside from a variety of shops selling clothes, gadgets, home decor items, beauty products and the like, and a number of restaurants and cafes like Starbucks, Ben & Jerry's and Veng Hour, the shopping center is also home to one of the branches of the famous Sea Life chain of aquariums. So whether you feel like going on a shopping spree or simply wish to spend an entertaining day out, Val d'Europe is a great place to come to.
Willkommen am größten Flohmarkt der Welt, auf dem sich jedes Wochenende 200.000 Besucher einfinden. Hier findet man alles: Möbeln, Gemälde, neue und gebrauchte Kleidung,... Die Preise sind sehr niedrig, vor allem, wenn man zu handeln versteht.
Was das Ambiente anbelangt, so herrscht Jahrmarktstimmung, mit dem Duft von Essen in der Luft und der bunten Menschenmenge, die sich an Stand um Stand drängt, um ein Lederblouson aus den 70er Jahren oder eine Louis XV-Kommode aufzustöbern. Man sollte mit Bargeld ausgerüstet sein, da die Trödler meist keine Kreditkarten akzeptieren und sich vor dem einzigen Geldautomaten stets eine lange Warteschlange bildet.
Dieses Kaufhaus befindet sich innerhalb eines Monuments. Besonders Frauen sind von der Kleidung, dem Schmuck und den angebotenen Accessoires resetlos begeistert. Bekannte und trendige Marken haben ihre eigene Abteilung, u.a. Chanel, Dior, Gucci, YSL, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney und Louis Vuitton. Der vierte Stock ist neuen Designer gewidmet, u.a. Zadig & Voltaire, Isabelle Marrant und Vanessa Bruno. Männer können separat im sechsten Stockwerk einkaufen. Hausrat ist ebenso im Angebot, von Porzellan bis hin zu Silberbesteck. Der Hochzeitssalon bietet eine reiche Auswahl an Brautkleidern. Zur Entspannung ist der Salon und das Wellness-Center perfekt. Jeden Donnerstag finden ausserdem eine Fashionshow statt. Restaurants und Cafés laden zum Verweilen ein.
Eine der bekanntesten Haute Couture Marken ist ohne Zweifel Chanel - und auch eines der ältesten Modehäuser (1909 eröffnet). Bekannt ist das Label für das Kleine Schwarze, Tweed-Anzüge und natürlich Marilyn Monroes favorisiertes Chanel No. 5. Die Hauptfiliale, seit 1984 unter der Leitung von Karl Lagerfeld, befindet sich im Modebezirk der Stadt: Place Vendôme.
Nestled in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris, Aki Boulanger is a fusion bakery specializing in Japanese and French confections. Small yet cozy, this corner cafe bakes around the clock to provide patrons with the freshest baked goods like their marbled green tea and red bean bread, matcha eclairs, green tea macaroons, azuki bean filled beignets and more. They also serve up fusion gourmet coffee drinks like their matcha au lait. So grab one of the few tables, a sweet treat, and watch the world go by at this popular Parisian boulangerie.
Royalty, business tycoons and movie stars all come here to splurge on jewelry and timepieces. The late Harry Winston, a native New Yorker, is still known as 'The King of Diamonds', and the business empire he founded has an international reputation. High profile celebrities are known to "borrow" designs when they attend the Oscars each year, and even the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre have displayed Winston's exclusively crafted works. The stores, or "salons" as they are called, maintain a high profile, and this one in Paris is no exception. You can expect impeccable service, and to be set back by several thousand dollars if you decide to secure one of the exquisite pieces on offer.
Located in the district of Notre-Dame de Lorette, the shop, Le Sourire Multicolore, is specialized in fair trade: you will find ethical clothing and fair-trade objects. All T-shirts and lingerie are made from organic cotton; sweaters are made of cashmere or wool; Bolivian gloves, hats and scarves are hand-knitted. Available brands are: Ethos, Idéo, Herbe Rouge, Peau Ethique and more. To decorate your house, you will find numerous pieces, many of which are made from recycled materials (candle holders, candlesticks, lanterns). Le Sourire Multicolore sells handbags as well as handcrafted jewelry (from Madagascar for example) made out of grain, horns, mother-of-pearl, pearls, vegetable ivory, or even origami.
In 2012, this jewelery label, opened its store in Paris, delighting Parisians with beautiful Italian designs. Specializing in jewelry, furnitures and decorative items designed with mosaic prints, Sicis brings something new to Paris' trendy scene. With beautifully designed tiled flooring and the artistic displays adorning the shelves, the showroom itself is akin to an art gallery. Nestled in Paris' 8th arrondissement, this store is housed in a historic building, and provides visitors with two floors of beautiful collections.
For the hottest and exclusive designer pants for women, stop by the Philippine Janssens. This designer clothing boutique offers customized trousers from skinny to flare to Jodhpur to wrap around. The trousers are custom made as per one's preference tailored from finest of the fabric, resulting in a unique and classic fashion desirable by many women. From intricate detailing to the finest embroidery work, and you will be presented with the trousers only meant for you. The owner of the shop is available for service only by appointment; so pick up that phone and give them a ring.
A few blocks away from the Bon Marché, on the elegant rue Madame, Odorantes is a timeless flower shop that's long been a favorite with locals and celebrities alike. You can't miss this tiny, chic and fragrant store, with its strange stuffed baby deer and birds in the shop window. Run by tasteful master florists Emmanuel Sammartino and Christophe Hervé, the store specializes in the most romantic of all flowers, namely roses. They only sell top-of-the-range roses grown near Paris, amongst which are the Black Baccara, wonderfully fresh garden roses and more. The fancy wrappings are also gorgeous. -Mary-Laure Neulat