Eat the Designers with AnOther Magazine & Selfridges (London, UK)

With so many events and exhibitions going on during LFW this past week (not to mention the shows themselves), there was one showcase that literally left me drooling. Since I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, I might have been better off staying away, but a girl can rarely resist the combo of fashion and dessert. Some may remember my coverage of the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, where dresses were created out of cocoa ingredients. This time around, big-name designers themselves were asked to envision their ultimate fantasy cake.

To celebrate AnOther magazine's 10th birthday, Editor in Chief Jefferson Hack (also of Dazed & Confused fame) asked a few luxury designers to come up with their dream birthday cake design just for fun. The idea snowballed when some of UK's most prestigious cake makers decided to actually execute a few of these ideas. The result was hosted by Selfridges, who presented these creations in their (appropriately titled) 'Wonder Room' concept store under the name 'Eat the Designers'. A birthday bash in-store with special guest Daphne Guinness also saw a real live model emerge from the 8-foot Lanvin cake. Now why can't I have birthdays like that?

Below you'll find a few photos I took while browsing the cake selection the day the presentation launched. As tempting as it was to plant my face in one of these beauties, I didn't feel like getting arrested (or worse yet... being banned from the store) and let's be honest... many of these are just too pretty to eat. I have included the descriptions and ingredients though. Just so you can imagine what it would be like if you were to take a nibble...

So tell me, which cake would you want for your own birthday?

Calvin Klein Collection by Francisco Costa

(Top right image: AnOther).

“Interactive floating mobile cake. Small, matchbook-sized cakes covered in edible silverleaf suspended in a dégradé presentation. Cake flavour: lavender. Approximate size of each cake: 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square. Thickness of each cake: 1/2"” ~ Francisco Costa. Made by Brett Redman, featuring silverleaf marshmallows.

Gucci

Right: Overview of the space at the Selfridges concept store.

Made by Andrew Stellitano. According to the tag description, the ingredients are: bakery selection (doughnuts, cupcakes), gold candles, pink marshmallows with green/red/green web, liquorice strips, strawberry marshmallow, caramel fringes, pink meringue, silver icing, chocolate logo on biscuit, Christmas hard candy mint stick, cream, dark chocolate, Gucci diamante pattern icing, silver sugar praline, milk chocolate, lollipop, biscuit.

Philip Treacy

“I would imagine it could be made with fondant icing as it is sculptural, but as you can see it should be made by somebody who really knows what they are doing!”~Philip Treacy. Made by Julie Walsh of Le Cordon Bleu. The final cake was made of pulled sugar.

Dolce & Gabbana

“Inspiration: memories of embroideries from a Sicilian hope chest and the Sicilian baroque. Shape: heart; a tribute to passion for food. Description: a sponge cake imbued in a light and sweet-smelling citron juice, Sicilian orange blossom custard, wild strawberries, blueberries and small passion fruits. For the glazing: marzipan glaze, orange-flavoured dark chocolate coating, citrus and fruits of the forest- flavoured red and maroon small chocolate flowers (inspired by baroque velvets). The micro, white flowers are made of soft marzipan, whilst the darker ones are caramelised violets”~ Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

I don't believe these cakes were actually made (right images: AnOther). Top: Christian Louboutin, bottom: Dolce & Gabbana. Illustrations and magazines decorated part of the store walls (left).

Christian Louboutin

“Bûche de Noël Bottée: chestnut cream, chocolate, vanilla extract, Génoise cake (flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, sugar, vanilla), chocolate ganache (chocolate and heavy cream), covered in shaved chocolate (to make the bark), egg whites, sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder dusting (for the meringue mushrooms), marzipan (for the sole), almond sugar, red food colouring, cocoa powder dusting” ~ Christian Louboutin


Gareth Pugh

(Images on the right... top: Annie Nichols, bottom: AnOther).

“A simple cube shape with the pattern tiled onto the surface. The triangles forming the design should be in relief and the gaps should be sunken – very crisp and sharp. Something around 6" square would be a nice size”~ Gareth Pugh. Cake made by Paul Wayne Gregory: 6" x 6"' chocolate quilted cube dusted with powdered edible sugar.

Missoni

(Right image: Annie Nichols).

According to AnOther magazine: "The multicolored cake is made with smoothy creams, layers of flavours such as cherry, cream, pistachio, nut, chocolate, raspberry, blueberry, apricot and strawberry. The layer tops are covered with colored marzipan and little biscuit, candies and sugar or chocolate flakes. The cup-holes are in creams, crunchy nuts and candies." Cake made by Caroline Hobkinson.

Burberry

(Left image: AnOther).

Burberry Lights: light, soft lemon sponge cake with sugar icing top, illuminated with miniature studded lights. The cake is wrapped in a metallic iconic check casing.

Vivienne Westwood

"It is heart-shaped and can be made out of chocolate, strawberries or vanilla; it is absolutely up to the baker’s imagination"~ Vivienne Westwood. Cake made by Fabien Ecuvillon at Mark Hix (consisting of chocolate and an exoctic fruit of sea/buck thorn jelly).

Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

"Ten candles, lace and sugar. Another Magazine as a temple of modernity. Happy Birthday"~ Karl Lagerfeld. Cake made by Peggy Porschen.

Lanvin

(Right image: Annie Nichols).

“I wanted to make a luxurious, tasty, happy and colorful yet chic birthday cake. I took inspiration from 1950s girls who jumped out of cakes – even though they were covered in cream they looked amazing! There are some pearls, and we use meringue at the centre, with cream, white chocolate, and truffles. The cake is big enough so that a real size girl can fit in it”~ Alber Elbaz. Cake made by Bompass & Parr.

Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

This was the most elaborate and also most provocative cake hidden in a black box, only viewable from the top or via peepholes and mirrors. For adults only (a sign nearby said it was for 18+), this orgy of a sculpture was more like a work of art than an actual cake (and who knows where Tisci would have put the candles... I won't venture a guess). It was truly amazing.

(Left images: Annie Nichols).

“Dark decadence, sensuality, something that recalls pure pleasure”~ Riccardo Tisci. Made by Simon Smith out of pure margarine.

For more, head over to Annie Nichols' blog for additional images or visit the Selfridges page for videos of the 'making of' and the party.

All illustrations and cake descriptions courtesy of AnOther magazine.

Grace Kelly: Style Icon - Exhibition (London, UK)

Dress by Maggie Rouff - on the the steps of the Princely Palace of Monaco in 1956 (top image: V&A).

As this past weekend (Nov 12) would have marked Grace Kelly's 81st birthday, I realized I hadn't gotten around to posting about this exhibition. I had planned on seeing it back in April, but couldn't make it and ended up postponing subsequent visits until I finally dragged myself to the V&A museum - two days before closing. While the presentation was relatively small, the moderate selection of her surviving clothes aptly explored the story of her transformation from Hollywood actress to a princess of one of Europe's oldest royal families. It's no secret that Grace Kelly, one of the most photographed women of the 20th century, had an impeccable style: a kind of low-key glamour that inspired millions of women around the world. Yet apart from simply showcasing pretty clothes that once belonged to someone famous, the one thing I got out of this exhibition was a distinct feel for what made Grace Kelly so classy and chic.

That 'something' wasn't her selection of designer gear which she amassed after she became a princess. In fact, it's the exact opposite. If there's one thing I realized during my visit, it was just how thrifty Princess Grace actually was. This might be rare for someone who's not just famous but a member of royalty. Yet considering how most regular people these days seem to embrace throwaway fashion (let's not even talk about today's celebrities), I think Grace Kelly's view on style is aspirational and more relevant than ever. So instead of just taking this as a presentation of all things beautiful, I'd like to think this exhibition was something most people could learn from.

V&A had split the exhibition into four categories, each representing a period in Kelly's life or career. Every outfit was accompanied by photographs of her wearing that specific piece, while video footage of her wedding, movies and other events played in the background - bringing her style to life.

Actress

Most of Grace Kelly's dresses during her movie career were created by costume designers, with whom she worked closely with - notably MGM's Helen Rose and Paramount's Edith Head. The gown she wore to accept her Oscar for 'The Country Girl' in 1955 had previously been worn to the movie's premiere and made another appearance on the cover of Life magazine. Likewise, a pale pink dress by Oleg Cassini was worn by Kelly in Cannes (1955) and on several other occasions including her journey from NYC to her new home in Monaco a year later.

Grace Kelly's Oscar gown by Edith Head (lower left) and another favorite dress by Oleg Cassini (top right) were worn during several public appearances. Other items on display: a no-name dress from NYC (lower center) and her Academy Award (top left image: V&A).

Some of the movie gowns, incl. dresses from 'High Society' by Helen Rose (left and lower right), 'Rear View' by Edith Head (center) and a simple cotton number from 'The Swan'.

Bride

Grace Kelly first met Prince Rainier III during her trip to the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 when French magazine 'Paris Match' organized a photo shoot between the two. The famous floral dress Kelly wore for the first meeting was labeled by the press as 'Dior inspired', though it was merely an 'easy to sew' garment from a McCall's Pattern Book - a last minute solution after a power cut in her hotel forced her to select the only item that didn't require ironing. This dress had also been previously worn by her, when she modeled it for the magazine. Kelly's love for simple classic American style was also evident from her choice of shirtwaist dresses and jacket-skirt ensembles. Many such outfits were worn throughout her engagement and formed part of her wedding trousseau. Helen Rose ended up designing dresses for both the civil and church ceremony.

The silk taffeta McCall dress worn to the first meeting - Grace Kelly had previously modeled it for McCall (top right image: V&A).

Above: Bodice & skirt worn during the civil wedding ceremony (stock image: SNAP/Rex Features).
Below: shirtwaist dress from Branell, worn during the official engagement announcement (stock image: Bettman/Corbis).

More outfits from the trousseau from mainly American designers. The Dior suit, which Kelly wore when departing for her honeymoon (above right) was an exception.

Princess

In her new role as princess, Grace Kelly, like other members of European royal families, started patronizing the grand couture houses of Paris. Her approach: "Our life dictates a certain kind of wardrobe", but also "I think it is important to see the person first and the clothes afterwards". Though more extravagant, many of her designer outfits were still classy and elegant. During this time she became especially associated with the fashion house of Christian Dior, who supplied her with an array of formal but eye-catching clothes. Once again, it needs to be noted that various outfits were worn to more than one public occasion, whether it was the green Givenchy number, the polka-dot Dior gown, the Chanel suits or dazzling Balenciaga outfits.

Dresses by Hubert de Givenchy (top left, lower center) and Cristobal Balenciaga. The green dress was worn to a White House lunch with JFK/Jackie Kennedy and several times more, incl. a trip to Dublin (top right image: V&A).

Other favorite pieces included a beaded Balenciaga outfit (center), a Dior gown worn for the cover of a magazine and other occasions (left) and two Chanel pieces worn throughout her role as princess (right).

Kelly owned several dresses by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior (top left image: V&A). Also on display: a selection of gloves and shoes (lower right).

More Dior dresses. The polka dot gown (top left) was another favorite: Grace wore it at Cannes in 1970 and again in 1972 for the cover of Vogue.

Enduring Icon

Even as fashion and silhouettes changed in the 60s and 70s, Grace Kelly remained true to the classic, streamlined style she had favored as an actress, adapting her look only slightly to include fine jewelry and elaborate hairstyles for parties or balls. She disliked many of the new fads, such as short skirts, commenting: "After all, who has pretty knees?" further stating that she avoided ‘too blatant curves, too tight dresses, too lavish furs’. Despite other women taking the fashion lead during this time, the media never stopped paying attention to her and she was frequently featured on magazine covers. Her savvy accessorizing skills were adopted by women around the world, whether it was her love of sunglasses, the use of bright scarves and hats (to draw attention away from her pregnant belly) or the famous Hermès bag which was later named after her.

Fancy dress ball gown by Andre Levasseur (left). Sequined silk gown by Dior with a pretty incredible head piece (center, lower right). Sketches of various Grace Kelly hairstyles (top).

More dresses, incl. a black/white shirtwaist dress (top), a Dior gown (lower left), the purple Yves Saint Laurent dress she wore to a benefit gala in 1981 where she first met Princess Diana (center) and the famous 'Mondrian' dress by YSL. Small images showed Grace wearing the dresses (lower right).

Draped gowns by Madame Grès. The middle dress seemed to be rather boring, but looked spectacular on Grace herself (top right; image: Camera Press Digital).

It's all in the accessories: jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, the famous 'Kelly' bag by Hermès, monogrammed suitcases, chic shades, more bags and a selection of hats (stock image: Corbis).

While the exhibition revealed many details about Grace Kelly (did you see how tiny her waist was?) - the one thing I noticed was how worn some of the items were, whether it was the scuffs on the Hermes bag, the cracks on the shoes or the washed out look on some of the clothes. When asked why she didn't donate some of her garments to charity, Kelly replied: "I am not eager to give away my things just because they’re worn. I keep my things longer than most people [do]." She was also said to be 'loyal to her old clothes' just like she was loyal to old friends, and held on to them for sentimental reasons, stating that "I just buy clothes when they take my eye, and I wear them for years."

With regard to her clothing budget, she said "The truth is, I don’t spend a great deal of money on clothes. There are other things I’d rather use it for." - though her husband enjoyed taking her on lavish shopping trips which counterbalanced her thriftiness a little.

In a day and age when most celebrities (and others) latch on to the newest trend which sees them wearing shouldered Balmain pieces one day, then Celine capes the next only to be replaced by Burberry shearling a month later - it was incredibly refreshing to realize that someone as high-profile as Princess Grace not only stayed true to her style, but had enough common sense to re-wear outfits in public - something that is almost unheard of today. Most current celebrities expect to be gifted with the newest expensive clothes by designers or borrow them for the Red Carpet, further fueling the thought that wearing something more than once isn't really cool. But thankfully there are still reminders of how being timelessly elegant and staying thrifty can go hand-in-hand.

Official Grace Kelly exhibition site (V&A)
The official book "Grace Kelly Style" can be ordered via Amazon

(text sources/quotes: V&A, Daily Mail, Telegraph UK, F.Tape)

Sample Sale-ing in Paris

Who got up early last Thursday to check out The Outnet's 1$/1£ birthday sale? Many of my friends and some fellow bloggers did - and the verdict was unanimous: it sucked. Of course since most people didn't end up with a purchase, it was to be expected.. But while I only logged on five times (a half hour late mind you) only to be greeted with a time out screen or 'we're sorry' messages and finally the actual homepage two hours later (by then the 'sold out' stickers were plastered on almost every item), I was still frustrated. I hadn't waited up the whole night nor set my heart on scoring anything, but this experience made me realize that as much as I adore online-shopping and the convenience or occasional great deals it comes with - when we're talking big sales, I might actually prefer the 'real life' version... this coming from someone who hates queues and crowds. And as fate had it, three hours later I ended up heading to two old-fashioned sample sales by Maison Martin Margiela and Givenchy - where the experience was so completely different to the online one, I felt like doing a comparison post.

The very frustrating apology screen that greeted customers on The Outnet's UK site during the birthday sale (above) and the dreaded pink 'sold out' stickers that popped up within seconds of entering the sale.

This isn't going to be a rant about The Outnet, because to be honest, we all know this event was more like a lottery that was meant to increase their PR and global brand recognition. But I can't help feeling that every time there is a great online sample sale, whether it's on Gilt or HauteLook... your chances of getting the item you want are based on pure luck, sometimes dependent on server speed and the retailer's bandwidth to name a few.

Yesterday's Decades Two sale on HauteLook... 1 minute after logging on. The best stuff from Chloé or Bottega Veneta was already on hold.

This is how I've experienced the average 'coveted' online sample sale - i.e. the one that doesn't just sell junk or steak knives: you eagerly anticipate the start time of the sale by sitting in front of your computer and nervously clicking the refresh button every two seconds (make that one second if it's your favorite designer). The sale opens and you click to enter. Sometimes the server crashes or takes too long to load, in which case nervous refreshing is in order again. You're in the sale, find an item you love, put it in your shopping cart and check out (ideal situation). More often than not, you are greeted with 'sold out', 'on hold' stickers or depending on the retailer (Outnet and Yoox work this way sometimes), it's in your cart and you're told when checking out, that the item isn't available. In even worse cases, you've checked out and are informed days later the product is no longer in stock (Barneys and Harvey Nichols, I'm looking at you). Annoyingly enough, while online sales allow even those in the furthest corners of the world the possibility to shop great brands for cheap, going up against a global population of online shoppers means the competition is that much stiffer.

Gilt's Marc Jacobs handbag sale early this week. Five minutes after logging on, half the items were sold out.

Of course regular offline sample sales aren't necessarily better. In fact, nothing can evoke as much dread and excitement at the same time, as the mere mention of a sale. Think sample sales, and chances are these images will pop into your head:

As demonstrated by Isla Fisher in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' - sample sale mania, starting with the ridiculously long queues (top), crowds surging towards the entrance (middle) and grabbing random items you see (bottom).

To an extent, those images ring true. I once witnessed a woman literally throw herself on a table of Stella McCartney shoes during a sample sale in London, in order to secure her must-have item (I'm sure she almost broke a rib). I can't say I've seen women fight over dresses and bags, but I'm certain it happens (wedding sample sales are supposedly the worst). Generally there's a lot of queuing involved, you end up getting there well in advance to secure a spot, you wildly put anything remotely interesting in your shopping bag, strip down to your undies in the middle of the room to try stuff on and wait even longer at the cash desk.

The fight scene: Isla Fisher aka Becky Bloomwood wrestling another shopper for a pair of Gucci boots.

However, I've found Parisian sample sales to be incredibly tame - with the exception of the Hermès bi-annual event which involves queuing for 4 hours and where eBay sellers with empty suitcases form half the line (thankfully I have never felt the need to go to this). Last year, I already posted about how refreshingly normal the seasonal sales in Paris are. Sample sales are pretty much the same. For both Margiela and Givenchy, I showed up on the first day of sales, one minute before doors were supposed to open. There were long queues but I only waited in line for 15 minutes. Once I got in, I was surprised by how empty the place looked, even though there were plenty of shoppers there. I started browsing - I was never pushed or shoved. Girls who wanted to browse my section of the clothes, would wait patiently until I was done. I tried on a few pieces, proceeded to the cash desk where I waited for another 10 minutes. I was in and out of each sale within an hour and it was probably the most relaxing shopping experience I could have had.

The venue: ranging from grand and majestic at Fendi (left, please note the lack of queues) to a loft warehouse for Vanessa Bruno (right).

Queues can of course be more or less horrid - last year I waited for two hours to get into Maje (which is merely a high street brand) and waited one minute to get into Fendi, but the actual shopping experience has always been the same: fellow Parisians respect you and don't feel the need to push or snatch away a dress that's right in front of your nose. The staff is generally very helpful. Margiela SAs running around in white lab coats would tell me which season each item was from and were kind enough to double-check the prices of the pieces I was planning on buying (a black dress and a grey cardigan).

Neat and organized: racks of clothes during a Chloé sample sale (left) and the coveted Vanessa Bruno totes categorized by color (right).

The best thing about 'real' sample sales though? They're straightforward. You know that even if you're last in line, chances are, not everything will be sold out by the time you enter the venue. If you're first in line (or on time), you'll definitely get in. Show up on the second day and chances are you won't even have to queue. Once you're in, you won't see 'sold out' stickers on clothes you may have wanted. If you have something in your shopping cart... it's pretty much yours and no one else can take it away. You get to see the clothes, try them on (albeit in a very public setting) and most importantly... take your time deciding whether you want something or not. And when you've finally checked out... the item is definitely yours and you're spared the whole ordeal of credit card authorization or cancelled orders.

Racks of YSL goodies and Kris van Assche gowns at a multi-designer sample sale.

Best of all? There's always a camaraderie going on with fellow shoppers, both during the wait outside and while browsing or trying on clothes. The most fun I had during these two sales was seeing girls and guys try on the craziest Margiela pieces or watch them attempt to walk in even more outrageous studded Givenchy heels. It's nice to see someone stand in front of a mirror with a glow in her eyes after having found the perfect LBD or hear squeals of delight when a shopper finds a pair of strappy platforms in her size for 90% off.

The Maison Martin Margiela sale I went to last week... taken 20 min after doors opened. Yes, it really was that spacious, with pieces dating back to 2007. The top floor catering to menswear (top right) and the relatively short queues at the cash desk (bottom right).

Am I saying online sales are worse? No, because I've scored great items both on- and offline. But I am saying that if you're lucky enough to have sample sales going on in your area and are terrified of the idea... to give them a chance. They're not all as bad as they're cut out to be. And if you're in Paris, depressed by the prices of designer goods but wanting to look as chic as most of the locals (who rarely pay full-price anyway), then definitely check them out. Despite being the fashion capital of the world filled with hardcore style addicts, Parisian shoppers are very well-behaved. The experience can be more fun than browsing overfilled department stores buzzing with tourists.

So what's your verdict on sample sales or sales in general? Online? Offline? Or would you rather spare yourself the stress and just shop at regular prices? Do tell!

Les Soldes à Paris! A Haute-Shopper's Experience.

I was going to blog yesterday and share yet another wonderful Spanish (or French... haven't decided) store with everyone, but I got distracted by one of the biggest shopping events in France: the first day of summer sales. So instead, I have decided to share this sometimes crazy, mostly surprisingly civilized experience with you. You can consider this a virtual sales shopping experience through my eyes, complete with a bizarre anecdote towards the end. I will even show you the stuff I bought... kind of.

In any case, pre-sales have been going on for a while in Paris now, but it's the official sales that deliver the true bargains. Mainly because a lot of the big designers (Balenciaga, Lanvin etc.) won't mark down anything until the first sale date. And others will only pull out all the goods from stock once the real thing is underway. Because I never buy designer full-price, (unless I know it will never ever go on sale) but unfortunately also have shoe and clothing sizes that sell out immediately, I wanted to get there early. It was also pretty convenient I didn't have to work yesterday. The greater part of the retail world opened it's doors at 8AM. I thought 8AM was pushing it, so instead I chose to go at... 8:20AM.

First stop: Department Stores

I started out at Printemps (Haussmann), which is also the first place I visited during the winter sales. I don't really enjoy department stores (artificial light, enclosed space...), but when it comes to sales, they somehow manage to pull out stuff that's sold out elsewhere (the same goes for Galeries Lafayette, but I prefer Printemp's layout). I would also recommend Le Bon Marche, though it's a little further away from the main shopping area.

Where are the people? Alexander McQueen (above) and Balenciaga (below).

Bi-annual sales in bigger cities tend to be crazy. In Harvey Nichols (London), I witnessed a lot of shoving, pushing, screaming and when the doors opened early in the morning, women were actually sprinting towards certain sections of the store. Printemps? Not really. The women's RTW clothing section was scarily empty. Except for one silly person I'll get to later...

50% off Balmain at Printemps, including all variations of the shoulder jackets.

I finally found out where the masses had gathered... in the shoe section of course! This gave me a chance to take some pics of people spending too much money. The logo brands were doing very well with long lines in front of Chanel, Dior and Gucci. The below pictures were taken at 8:45 AM.

I wonder what they're waiting for...

But no one cared about Prada, YSL, Sergio Rossi or Giuseppe Zanotti. Some of these areas were so empty, I actually tried on shoes because I felt sorry for the bored staff. Yes, I'm nice that way.

Where's the love?

Second Stop: One Flagship, Two Boutiques

I was so intrigued by the queues in front of the various Chanel sections within the department stores, I was curious to see how busy the main flagship on rue Cambon was. It was busy, but no queues. And way more shoes. It's 10 mins away... why don't people come here instead?

Chanel rue Cambon: two rooms were dedicated to shoes alone.

I also ended up visiting two multi-brand boutiques. The first, Maria Luisa stocks everything from Margiela to Manolos (one of the few places in Paris that sells the brand). I then took a bit of a detour to Ave. Montaigne to visit Montaigne Market (stocks Balmain, Alaia and Ann Demeulemeester). Both were shockingly empty.

Maria Lusia (left) and Montaigne Market (right). Both very empty.

Montaigne Market: 50% off the YSL cage boot anyone? A young girl was browsing, happily toting her Balmain purchase.

Third Stop: Rue du Faubourg-St. Honoré

By the time I hit the main high-end shopping area near rue Royale, the streets were full of people. It was around 10AM by then. Almost every single person was carrying shopping bags - most of them by luxury designers. I had already purchased Lanvin shoes in Printemps (50% off), but I love the way the boutique displays the shoes during the sale season. The ballerina flats were only marked down 30%. Pretty weak... especially considering Lanvin did a full 50% discount half a year ago.

Lanvin flagship. The shoe section. My vesrion of heaven.

Givenchy: Does no one love you... except me?

Oh no, Givenchy is so empty! I must save them!

Left: Busy YSL - 50% off everything. Right: Louboutin was busy as well - 30-50% off.

On the street

In a sad attempt to show you some pseudo-streetstyle images and to make myself feel better about spending money, I started taking pictures of people with shopping bags. They were everywhere. France isn't officially in a recession, which would explain why even children are hauling TODS bags around...

TODS, YSL, Dior and Chanel were hot favorites.

And speaking of TODS, I must have missed something, because they had the longest line of people ever.

Are there freebies? Right: Buggies can be practical...

More shopaholics...

The guy in the picture above (right) was excitedly telling his female friends that he had purchased some shirts, a wallet and a belt from Lanvin, YSL and Prada. He couldn't have been older than 20. The girl toting the Balmain shopping bag a few pictures up was around 18. And while I was trying to get a pic, two girls approached me, wanting to know where the Balenciaga flagship was (they were both around 18 as well). Don't know about you, but when I was that age, it was all about vintage and H&M. I'm intrigued...

The orange invasion...

I was a little surprised by the amount of people carrying Hermès bags, considering they don't have regular sales (they have bi-annual private sales). But I'm guessing the purchases might have been of the classic will-never-go-on-sale kind.

The crazy shopper

I'm just going to briefly mention one person who towards the beginning of my shopping spree proved that people do go psycho during sale season. During my first stop in Printemps (McQueen section) I was happily browsing and checking a price of a scarf, which was in my hand when I suddenly felt a tug... and nothing. A woman, who I will refer to as crazy shopper (CW), sporting a baggy t-shirt, jeans and a sun visor had actually pulled this item right out of my hand, merrily proclaiming to have seen it first. Her left arm was loaded with at least 5 other scarves and many more items. I started arguing but she looked at me like she didn't understand English (to be fair, she didn't speak it very well). I couldn't be bothered, especially as I had no interest in the product and didn't want to waste my own shopping time so I continued.

Two minutes later, I suddenly feel a tug at my own scarf. CW is standing next to me asking "are you going to get that scarf? I think I also saw it first". I tried explaining to her, that this was actually my own (McQueen) scarf from FW07. Her hands were still on it. I was getting slightly irritated (to put it mildly). When she realized there was no security or price tag, she finally got it, laughed, slapped me on the shoulder like we were BFF's and took off towards the Cavalli section. Wow, I wonder if she was on something. Actually I think she might have been an eBay seller. I was tempted to tell her that all the stuff in her arms was actually from FW09 and not on sale, but I guess she'll realize sooner or later...

CW ended up causing more havoc in other areas of the store, when she made an alarm go off twice after yanking various Balenciaga bags off shelves. Security ended up secretly following her around the store after that.

Have you ever experienced nutcases while shopping? I've been to sample sales, and whatnot, but I rarely encounter individuals who actually take stuff you're holding or trying on. It's like something out of a chick-lit movie. I realize there's something about a 50% off sign that triggers irrational behavior and a rapid decline in a person's IQ level, but some people need to get a grip.

Anyhow, for the sake of my credit card, I decided to end my spree after the above mentioned flagships. I might check out more stores next week, but there's nothing else I had my eye on. For now, I'm happy with these:

The damage done.