AH, April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom, holiday tables under the trees, tra la la la la. Well yes, the romance of Pan's is all very attractive but so too are the city's fabulous shopping opportunities. Maybe no one, has yet written a song about these, but now at least an astute author has produced an irresistible book on the world's fashion capital.
A Shopper's Guide to Paris Fashion is written by seasoned journalist Alicia Drake who lives in the city where she reports for such publications as Women's Wear Daily, Vogue and the Times. Her guide is divided by arrondissement with a special focus on those sections of Paris in which fashion shops tend to congregate. There are helpful maps to ensure you don't get lost and, just as important, lots of suggestions of stylish places to stop for a revitalising lunch or cup of coffee and even smart hotels for longer stays.
All the well known French names are included but so too are the cheap chainstores such as Tati together with second hand and permanent sale shops. As well as the basic address and telephone details, each entry includes opening hours, local metro stops, a list of accepted credit cards and price range. This hook ought to be the first puchase for any would be Paris shopper.