Paris may be known as the City of Love, but it’s also the home of world famous fashion. From Paris fashion week to the designer boutiques of the Champs Elysees, the French capital is the very epitome of chic style and haute-couture.
Experience the life of luxury with a weekend at one of Paris’ boutique hotels, sipping champagne with the industry stars and shopping in the home of Channel!
Where to Stay
First things first – book into a boutique base from which to enjoy the bright lights of the city. Although luxury hotels aren’t hard to find, there are two hidden gems which fashionistas will die for.
Situated in the vibrant Marais quarter, Hotel du Petit Moulin was transformed from the oldest bakery in Paris to a hip hangout for young urbanites but none other than Christian Lacroix. The exuberant, extravagant interior is full of delightful surprises and opulent touches.
Hotel Bellechasse is the second of Lacroix’s makeovers. A cosy bolthole in St. Germain, left-bank cool is infused in every detail.
Where to Shop
Head to Faubourg Saint-Honore – between the Louvre and Opera – for a mix of avant-garde boutiques and classic stars like Versace, Hermes and Yves Saint Laurent. Next, get lost in the vast department stores of Boulevard Haussmann browsing for belle époque style. For more contemporary designers, Saint-Germain-de-Pres is the favoured quarter – Sonia Rykiel and Paco Rabanne have shops here. The puces (flea markets) at the northern tip of the city, meanwhile, are the place to head for vintage bargains and antiques.
The notorious Champs Elysees Avenue, however, is still a promenade of the stars – stop for a cafe au lait and a croissant (or a cocktail when darkness falls) at a pavement cafe to spot celebrities enjoying Dior and Chanel amongst the tourist crowds
Where to Party
Aside from its excellent shopping, Paris is also the home of ultra trendy nightlife. Oberkampf has been the most popular quarter since the 90s and remains a draw for the Parisian cool crowd, although it can be very busy on the weekends.
A younger, more cosmopolitan vibe pervades at noisy Bastille. Bar hop along Rue de la Roquette to get the party started, then enjoy salsa, marenge or live music till the early hours.
Place Vendome and Faubourg St.-Honore is the luxury shopper’s dream by day and the fashionista’s playground by night. Stars and models gather here to sip cocktails and flaunt their purchases in opulent venues.