fashion babylon

fashion babylon

Paris Wonders off the Beaten Track

In this edition I have yet more Parisian shopping deals and discoveries in store for readers paris-eiffel-tower-news.com: designer leather and furs direct from the manufacturer's workshop, fine crystal and more!

Rue de Paradis - A paradise of crystal?

Another thing that will strike you when you visit the Rue de Paradis is the number of stores offering Limoges porcelain world-class dishes and tableware, as well as fine crystal products, glasses and decanters of wine for chandeliers.

Crystal is a type of glass containing a small percentage of lead that provide clarity and brightness than ordinary glass. The crystal is usually cut to enhance its reflective qualities, making it a very nice, great value (and more expensive) the type of glassware.

Most shops on the Rue Paradis sell "Baccarat", an expensive and prestigious brand with a long glass and distinguished history dating back to early 1800, and known for supplying royalty with its production.

Those of you who do not want to fork out a lot of money, there is a shop at number 52 called "Decoration et Cristal 'that leads to a different type of glass. Its origin is from a factory in eastern France, the "Cristallerie des Vosges du Nord." Although not Baccarat, yours is still of high quality, and - I said the shop - even in the dishwasher!

Prices are great too: some models of crystal glasses retail at 6 euros per piece instead of the usual 30 euros. The products are offered in 20 to 60% discount.

Et Decoration Crystal is located at No. 52 rue de Paradis, 75010 Paris. Their phone number is: 33 (0) 1 4824 5733.

Release yourself at Le Grand Comptoir

If you are in the 7th district, take the time to stop by 116 rue du Bac, and check out the Grand Comptoir (Counter Grande), a luminous and refined shopping full of a motley collection of weird and wonderful items in Paris.

The entrance courtyard is filled with a variety of paintings in homage to the cow Vach'Art, "the French version of CowParade, a movement that began in Zurich in 1998 and now encompasses around the world (and for cow fans, you will find some miniatures for sale inside).

The upper level of the Grand Comptoir offers a full range of prêt-à-porter clothing for men and women. Beauty products and foodstuffs on the ground floor, along with many shops selling accessories for the interior and exterior home and lots of other things: old photo albums with pictures of Paris style, with their own pillows in black and white photo printed on them, dishes, bottles, boxes of wine, lights, clothing, art, etc. You can also buy beautiful rustic pieces of heavy wood furniture and wrought iron (and typically Parisian) banks. These elements are of course unlikely that fits in your suitcase, but they are quite pleasing to the eye anyway.

Prices are everywhere, but there are plenty of things available to bargain hunters.

Le Grand Comptoir is located at 116 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, and can be accessed from the "Sevres-Babylone station 'Metro. Their phone number is: 33 (0) 1 4049 0095.

Leather and skins Paris design - directly from the manufacturers!

I I could not believe my luck when, walking down the street Paradis to further bargain hunting shopping for readers of paris-eiffel-tower-news.com, saw the exhibition and workshop Jekel. Since 1947, Jekel has been bringing French fashion know-how for the designer of leather and fur.

I know that fur is the most popular in the States United States, and is much less used in Europe in 1920-'50. The art of fur coats and accessories are rapidly disappearing, one less than a hundred artisans remain in business in Paris. Find leather clothing may soon be as difficult as finding an authentic Rembrandt in the attic.

I met with the owner by Jekel, Sylvain Jekel himself who explained that his shop makes and sells the exclusive design models, leather and clothing and accessories.

Jekel distribute their products internationally to prêt-à-porter and the names of quality retailers such as Galeries Lafayette, Sonia Rykiel, Darel, Apostrophe, etc. The workshop is located at No. 22 Rue de Paradis.

The clothing available ready-to-wear of the grid is made to order, but Sabrina, the wizard I met beautiful, Jekel confirmed that items could fit in the place for you (and indeed, she was too busy to add a button to a customer as we were talking about).

Prices start at 300 euros, and can even ship your purchases monitors what you do not have to overload your suitcases.

Again, the address of the workshop is Jekel 22 Rue de Paradis, 75010 Paris. Their phone number is 33 (O) 1 4770 7390, and can be reached from the following stations: Gare de l'Est, 'Poissonniere' and 'Castle' Eau.

Discover your own Paris: do not miss the next issue of the newsletter paris-eiffel-tower-news.com by Phil Chavanne Paris veteran and author. Each issue brings you tips on everything that Paris, a place to walk in places of interest beyond beat-track, maybe in real time Parisian restaurants.

About the Author

About the Author:
Phil Chavanne shares with you a 30-year knowledge of Paris, France. Get scores of precious tips to ready yourself for your next trip at Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News, a free Paris guide offering great insider information.

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