The sales...Les Soldes.....

Sorry I have been MIA. The holidays came and went and then I had to prepare for the winter sales. It is a strange and tense time of year. The anticipation is thick and everyone feels they have been waiting for months to get what they didn't get for xmas. Women create strategies from what to wear to the sales ( easy to try stuff on) to what area to shop in while maximizing the good brands. My husband doesn't really understand the need and desire to acquire more goods during the sale. He thinks my version of economics is seriously flawed. I don't understand why he doesn't see that 50% off Lanvin shoes is really saving money!!! He thinks I am alone in this mindset, but I have assured him that he is in the minority. Just look around Printemps or rue faubourg st honore and he will see people who share my philosophy.

So, earlier this week, I ventured out into the shopping tundra to see what was my destiny.....

First stop was Printemps. Luckily it was a weekday and the second day of the sales. There were no big queues in front of Prada, Gucci or Dior. Normally you see loads of Japanese fashionistas drooling in line ready to buy as many bags as possible. Granted, it was fairly early in the day, so I may have been ahead of the crowds. The store was lively and they had an announcer saying what brands were on which floor and what percent was being reduced. Most of the store was 50% off. The entire Vanessa Bruno collection was 50% off. I touched, lingered, and almost tried something on, but I chose to keep trucking. The thing with the sales is that as time passes, they often mark things down more. So if it isn't a 'to die for' item, them it pays to wait a few weeks to see how low it will go. I stopped on the 2nd floor which is the Luxe floor. I breezed in Dior, Celine, Gucci, Prada and finally really took a look at YSL. As some of my friends know, I have a big thing for bags. We all have our achilles heel and mine happens to be YSL bags in general. They had loads of bags at half off!! But as luck would have it, my Easy bag in black/grey was of course not on sale. Prices were good if one was looking for this seasons colors or patent leather bags. One could get a 1000 euros bag for 500. See, good economics! The glass is half full.

Today I headed to the luxury street of rue Faubourg St Honore. The minute you walk on the street, you feel transported to another planet. Chanel on one side, Prada on the other. Fashioistas walking around with multiple shopping bags from the labels we all covet. I had bought Lanvin flats at the boutique and they give you a fabulous shopping bag. I noticed a very slick asian fashionista eyeing my bag with jealousy and curiosity. That is the accessory during the sales; the shopping bag from these glorious boutiques. Everyone checks out each other. I love Paris....

There were lines outside these boutiques. From the glorious Eric Bompard cashmire store to the slick Moncler store. Also on rue Faubourg St Honore, we see the lights at the Hermes store. Their sale is at the end of the month at the Palais de Congres. You know I'll be there.