Galeries Lafayette : http://www.galerieslafayette.com
Galeries Lafayette is a French department store chain that is well known for its luxurious selection of men and women’s fashion. At Galeries Lafayette you can find everything from the latest designer accessories and lingerie, to unique offerings for your home and kitchen.
Glass dome hand-crafted by Jacques Gruber in 1912.
In addition to being known for its chic style and clientele, Galeries Lafayette, in particular its flagship store, is also celebrated for its unique architecture. The flagship store, which is located at 40 boulevard Haussmann (in the 9th arrondissement), is famous for its glass and steel dome and for its colorful balconies. This glass dome was unveiled in 1912 and to this day attracts oohs and ahhs from everyone who walks through the door because the handiwork of master glassmaker Jacques Gruber permits light to show the splendor of the store.
Because shopping (and getting through throngs of summer tourists) can be tiresome, Galeries Lafayette offers a wide selection of cafes and restaurants that you can sink your teeth into as you conduct your retail therapy. At Galeries Lafayette you can get your Starbucks fix, enjoy a treat at Le Pain Quotidien, and take a sip of Angelina’s rich and creamy gourmet hot chocolate (as someone who loves to drink hot chocolate even in the hottest moment – thank you heat wave – it’s a must).
After you’re done with your shopping and eating you can even take a trip to the Galeries Lafayette salon and get your nails done. On a hot summer day having all of these goodies in one place : one trip and you’re done- say bye bye to the long walks and sweltering subway system.
Printemps: http://www.printemps.com
Once you’re done at Galeries Lafayette, the natural thing to do is to walk across the block to check out Printemps (another luxury department store). At Printemps you can find a selection of high end fashion, jewelry, accessories for both men and women.
When I went to Printemps it was in the midst of its 150th anniversary and in prime shopping season (its best to save up and wait for the government mandated 6 week of sale period in the winter and fall…but more on that in another entry). Because of the 150th anniversary celebration and because of the summer timing, Printemps was packed with regulars eager to find their next signature perfume and with tourist (like me) who were mainly in it to have a treat at their maison du chocolat.
In addition to the in-store café, Printemps also had a series of gourmet candy and cuisine carts conveniently located in the shade underneath their decorated outdoor shades. After perusing Printemps selections of Chanel, YSL, Comptoir des cottoniers, and much more- it is necessary to take a bite of their caramelized popcorn and treat yourself to one of the “genuine American” hotdogs.
Although the hotdogs were tempting (at this point it had been months since I had eaten a burger – all in the effort of truly experiencing French cuisine, right?), I chose to go for the croque- monsieur, a grilled ham and cheese sandwich that is a traditional staple of French cafés and bars.
So, whether you’re in it for the food or in it for the shopping (or even people watching?), the flaghsips of both Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are the place to go in the 9th arrondissement. Take an hour or two to explore and when you’re done you can easily hop on the metro and go to your next destination!
(manhattan)islandnotes 