Shopping in Paris
L'Église Saint Eustache
Yesterday I went for the second time to Les Halles, an area of shops, including a big mall, near Châtelet in the center of Paris. Les Halles was the traditional open-air wholesale market of Paris. It was created in 1137, by Louis VI le Gros, and the first permanent structures were built in 1183. In 1632, L’Église Saint-Eustache was completed, located at the entrance to Les Halles (Louis XIV received his first communion there). Napolean III built more permanent structures , different pavilions for different types of products.
But today none of that exists anymore; the pavilions were destroyed in 1971 and the market moved to Rungis. In its place, a big, ugly, underground mall was built, and fountains and walkways placed on top. The Forum des Halles is cramped, crowded, dark, and very oddly laid out. And it is full of shops, in particular, shops I can afford. In fact, the whole area is good for that. One strange thing: many of the biggest stores have equivalents outside, above ground, mere meters from their mall location. I guess you reach the most people that way. The mall is quite popular, especially on Saturdays (like most places in Paris, it is closed on Sundays).
Entrance to Forum des Halles
This is because Parisians love to shop. And I fit right in. There’s tons of eye candy in this city, in the form of gorgeous window displays on long blocks of stores. Of course, I can’t afford the vast majority of those places, which is why I’m glad for Les Halles – the shops are a lot cheaper, and there’s not one but TWO H&Ms. I went to the one inside the mall, which is enormous. I later discovered on my way home that there’s an H&M five blocks from my apartment.
For those of you who don’t know (basically, my mom), H&M is a big clothing chain with inexpensive and trendy clothes based out of Sweden. Those Swedes. They really know how to do style on the cheap (i.e., Ikea). Go to their website, you can watch the clothes fly on and off a model as she walks down the runway in her underwear. (I thought this might not be the case on the US-based website, but it is! Click on different clothes under spring fashion to see.)
As anyone who has shopped in a different country knows, sizing can be tricky. I remember a (very slender) friend shopping in Japan and not being able to fit into anything, even extra large sizes, because the women there are so petite. And of course, we have size deflation in the US, and French women are skinny. (This is not universally the case, but for those that shop at H&M it’s pretty much true.) There are bonuses to this – I fill out the tops in unexpected but attractive ways. But skinny jeans? It ain’t gonna happen. I don’t have super wide hips, but I’m an athlete. I’ve got gluts, quads, and calves. These pencil-leg pants just aren’t going to work. But that’s okay. I’m a strong believer in wearing things that make you look good and feel confident, regardless of the fashion of the time. Incorporating current trends into your look: great. Trying to squeeze a bootylicious bod into Kate Moss clothes: not so great.
Redskins store in Les Halles?
Shoes were another difficulty. Amy would have serious trouble. I’m a size 9 US (40 European); that was the upper limit available, and many shoes did not come in my size. I managed to pick up another pair of heels and some flip flops. I’m rejecting the look of ballet-style flats. My mother will be horrified to hear this, but I much prefer heels, even though they’re killing my feet (especially with all the walking I do).
All in all, I spent a bit, got a lot, and also picked up a SIM card. So if you’re in the US, call this number: 1-425-296-2950 (should be local to Seattle). If you’re in France, it’s 06.64.99.94.29. If you want to talk for an extended period of time, get PennyTalk and call me directly on the mobile.