Shopping is quite an art. Sometimes it’s a hobby. More particularly in France. Because the French and shopping is a long love affair. Indeed, France has a huge place in fashion, in all types of brands, ranging from luxury to the most accessible. Shopping varies from person to person as it depends on a person’s style, budget, frequency of purchase, and time spent shopping.
Shopping has become, in recent years, a major tourist attraction in large urban centers. While dressing trendy isn’t everyone’s priority, that doesn’t stop you from exploring four of the big, fashion-forward cities in Europe. So let’s discover the 4 most stylish shopping destinations in Europe.
It is considered one of the most elegant and sophisticated fashion capitals. French trends mark new styles internationally. The most prestigious brands and the best stylists choose the French capital to present their latest collections by organizing events throughout the year. Paris Fashion Week is the major event in the fashion industry. It brings together hundreds of brands and stylists every year.
Where are the best districts to shop in Paris?
It’s impossible to go shopping in the City of Lights without taking a detour through the charming Marais district. Typically Parisian, the district is full of good addresses. From very popular stores to more confidential addresses, including the must-see thrift stores in the area. There is something for all tastes and all budgets. Between two shops, take advantage of the Place des Vosges and the cafes that surround to take quiet breaks. Most of the local shops are open on Sundays.
Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton… all the big names in French luxury are concentrated on the most beautiful avenue in the world. Even if your finances don’t allow you to fall for an overpriced room, there’s nothing stopping window shopping. Especially since the avenue des Champs-Élysées also has its share of inexpensive signs. What to have fun without straining your wallet!
During the walk, it’s impossible not to stop at the Guerlain boutique. Located at number 68, the place is clearly worth the detour. Later, stock up on macaroons at Ladurée (unfortunately, on sale right now due to the Covid pandemic shut down) and continue on Avenue Montaigne where temptation is at its height. As the crowds on the Champs are particularly high on weekends, I strongly advise you to go there in the morning on weekdays.
A few meters from the Opéra Garnier, Boulevard Haussmann is home to, among others, the two great temples of Parisian shopping: Les Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps. Overlooked by a magnificent dome, the first brings together the biggest names in Haute-Couture and Prêt-à-Porter, but not only. Luggage, jewelry, cosmetics, delicatessen or even household linen. You can find everything you need for your wardrobe and interior.
The journey continues in Le Printemps where you will find (almost) all the same brands with a few exceptions.
During the festive season, the two buildings light up and the animated windows offer a magical spectacle to young and old alike. Behind Printemps, streetwear lovers will go to Citadium to find the latest pair of fashionable sneakers or goodies and accessories not found elsewhere.
From the Marais district to the Concorde, rue de Rivoli is the ideal place for a shopping spree with friends! From Etam to Zara via Mango or C&A, all the low-cost brands are juxtaposed next to each other. If the weather is not in your favor for an outdoor walk, you can always fall back on Les Halles just a few steps from the street. Recently renovated, they bring together all your favorite shops in one place, on several floors.
On the Left Bank, there is plenty to do in the Saint-Germain-des-Près district, where designer boutiques mingle with the houses of great couturiers and international brands. What to satisfy the least of its visitors. The Kaiser, Karl Lagerfeld, took up residence there a few years ago for the opening of his very first point of sale. After a well-deserved break at Café de Flore, you can walk to rue de Rennes to rob major brands such as H&M, Zara or UNIQLO. And if your heart tells you, continue rue de Sèvres where the Bon Marché is located, known for making the Ladies’ Happiness.
London fashion is on the streets. When it comes to punk and street fashion, the capital of England has gradually established itself as a benchmark city. Its strong point? She breaks the stereotypes of classic fashion to focus on novelty. London is avant-garde. Indeed, it is the cradle of new trends and this can be seen in districts like Brick Lane or Carnaby Street where stylists exhibit their creations without forgetting the Portobello Road market. London is a great city for anyone who enjoys shopping. London fashion week is gaining influence year after year.
It has been THE city of fashion since the Renaissance. Besides the beauty of its architecture, Milan stands out as one of the richest and most influential cities in the world in the fashion sector. This is why some of the most prestigious fashion and business schools have made their home here.
Milan Fashion Week is renowned for being a key industry event. Also, at this time as with the rest of the year, it is not uncommon to see celebrities with many bags in their hands walking the streets. The streets of Milan are teeming with shops of prestigious brands. The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, in addition to being an architectural gem, houses boutiques like Louis Vuitton, major art galleries, cafes and bookstores. On Via Montenapoleone you will find luxury stores like Prada, Versace, Armani and Dolce & Gabanna.
Are you passionate about designer clothes and accessories? Not far from the luxurious Via della Spiga and the fashion district, luxury outlets are gradually establishing themselves in the heart of Milan. The opportunity to find good deals.
Right in the center of Milan, the outlet is a true Ali Baba cave for luxury lovers. Branded clothing for men, women and children but also many accessories including beautiful bags are available. The premises are located between a concept store and an art gallery. On more than 2,500 m2, some 400 brands are offered such as Versace, Lanvin, Yoshi Yamamoto, Kenzo. The collections remain recent, all sizes are available and the store offers up to 70% off.
The places were originally the haunt of fashion addicts and lovers of the Italian brand Marni, a secret address that over the years welcomes more and more tourists. This outlet offers good deals for those who love the brand, synonymous with design and quality, all in an atmosphere that does not betray the joyful spirit of the brand.
Established in the fashion district, D Mag is an outlet dedicated to fashion victims, they can find in the places of big luxury brands like Prada and Versace. Clothes and accessories are arranged alphabetically on shelves and prices are on average half the price of luxury stores.
It has become a benchmark for designers attached to the concept of ecology in the world of fashion. Indeed, the city hosted the first sustainable fashion show in all of Spain. Ecological concept stores are flourishing in the capital of Catalonia. 080 Barcelona Fashion Week is gradually making its way among the most important fashion shows in the world. Do you want to know the must-see places in Barcelona for shopping?
Passeig de Gràcia Avenue is one of the busiest and most commercial streets in the city of Barcelona, somewhat the equivalent of the Champs-Elysées in Paris for Barcelona. The wide sidewalks of this avenue allow window shopping and make it a very pleasant place to walk.
Originally, Passeig de Gràcia is a path that connects the walls of Barcelona and the village of Gràcia. Gracia became a district of Barcelona in the 19th century. The avenue then becomes a place to walk for all Barcelona residents. It was from 1890 that the avenue became the privileged place of residence of the Catalan bourgeoisie, notably with the construction of houses by Gaudi.
In this avenue, there are many high-end brand boutiques. Luxury boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Yves-Saint-Laurent, Hermès, Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel, Gucci and Cartier are located at the top of the avenue, near the Gràcia district.
The Gothic Quarter, Barri Gotic, is the historic heart of Barcelona. The district owes its name to the large number of Gothic monuments. It is made up of many narrow streets.
Avinguda del Portal de L’Angel is a busy pedestrian street. It starts from Plaza Catalunya and goes down to Barcelona Cathedral. This is an axis that has been opened to allow easy access to the cathedral district from the Eixample and Passeig de Gràcia.
Many fashion boutiques are concentrated on this avenue. There are many clothing stores such as H&M, Desigual, Pull & Bear, Massimo Duti, Blanco, Bershka and Zara but also shoes, glasses, underwear … There is also another El Corte Inglés store, in a very beautiful building, which offers clothing for young people, sporting goods and electronics.
The Carrer de la Portaferissa connects the Ramblas with Avinguda del Portal de L’Angel. It is one of the liveliest streets in the neighborhood. The Spanish brand Mango is present and also Kiko, a brand of make-up products.
If you prefer to shop a little more typical of Barcelona, get involved and lose yourself in the small alleys of Barri Gotic. You will come across small shops that offer clothes or accessories that cannot be found elsewhere.
Las Arenas in Barcelona served as a backdrop for bullfighting until 1977. They were transformed into venues until the decision to rehabilitate them was taken and in March 2012, the inauguration of the Las Arenas shopping center took place.
The building has been completely redesigned inside without affecting its exterior appearance. The shopping center has 116 points of sale, spread over 3 floors. You will find brands like Mango, Desigual, Calvin Klein. The highlight of the shopping center is the rooftop terrace where you can enjoy panoramic views of Barcelona.
Maremagnum is a Barcelona shopping center located on Port Vell. It was built before the 1992 Olympic Games and is part of the Barcelona seaside development plan. It is in the continuity of the Ramblas. You have to take the “rambla del mar”, a wooden bridge with a very contemporary design to access the shopping center.
It is not the largest shopping center in Barcelona, but its proximity to the sea gives it a unique character. Thanks to the bay windows in the center, you have a superb view of the port of Barcelona and the sea. It is a good fallback solution if the weather in Barcelona is very bad. The shopping center has the advantage of being the only one open on Sundays and public holidays in Barcelona.
