Travel Notebook

I adore shopping and try to bring home a little something from each of my travels. No place excites my fashion-forward side as much as Paris and thanks to our client, Découvertes, I’m able to get an inside peek at the latest fashion exhibitions and the best places to shop.

If you have never had the pleasure of attending Paris Fashion Week, there’s still time this year. This unforgettable experience (being held from September 26 to October 3, 2017) is a must for fashionistas. The hitch is that there are no “tickets” – instead, those who attend fashion shows must be invited either as a client of one of the fashion houses, or by professionals, journalists or celebrities. The good news for you, though, is that Benedicte, Découvertes’ fashion expert, can arrange invitations to these shows. I would suggest planning well in advance as even her supply of these exclusive invitations is small in number. In addition to the last week of September, fashion week is generally also held the first week of March.

The most fashion-forward among us absolutely must arrange for a VIP visit to Vuitton or Chanel in Paris. My day included an exceptional presentation of vintage pieces and a personal tour of the boutiques at Place Vendôme. Then it was time for the special treatment at the only flagship Louis Vuitton store on the Champs Elysées. A dreamy day, to be sure. Pull together your show-stopping new wardrobe with an exclusive one-on-one makeup session with a Chanel artist – he will even meet you at your hotel, making it a perfect indulgence for a special occasion during your time in Paris.

Explore the Marais, an avant-garde neighborhood brimming with on-trend fashion shops and designer boutiques. It is a lovely spot to stroll – many of the streets are pedestrian-only – and you’ll find everything from concept stores featuring the collections of Maje, Sandro and Claudie Pierlot, to skincare and perfume shops.

The opportunities are endless here in one of the world’s most fashionable cities. Explore one-of-a-kind vintage stores in Palais Royal, the city’s most beautiful garden, enjoy a private visit of Yves Saint Laurent’s former studio, and duck into a fashion designer’s workshop for a behind-the-scenes tour and conversation with the designer (and get a peek at their latest creations). Follow along in the crafting of Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, shadowing their skilled craftspeople. And, until January 7, 2018, take the chance to visit the Christian Dior, Couturier du Rêve at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs – an exhibition of his fashion photographs, illustrations, sketches, letters, notes, advertisements and fashion accessories.

Feeling inspired? For more information on fashion happenings in Paris, and what VIP experiences are possible, view Découvertes’ recent webinar at https://youtu.be/pU0_Wsie6wg.