Printemps Loves New York (Paris, France)

A short while after NYFW, the Parisian department store Printemps launched a 'Printemps loves New York' special, which included store windows dedicated to NYC, in-store displays, a large assortment of items hailing from the U.S. and a few limited edition pieces. Curious to see what the French deemed typically American (or NYC), I was greeted by what I assume to be a paint-splattered King Kong sitting near the corner entrance. Other icons presented, included everything from giant doughnuts and cupcakes to SpongeBob and Superman - the latter could even be found in-store. Not to be ignored of course: the lovely clothes on display, ranging from the likes of Marc Jacobs to Proenza Schouler.

For some reason the above display was changed to this a few weeks later:

Shearling leather coat by Rick Owens, ltd. edition Vogue t-shirt.

Close-ups of some of the outfits:

From left: Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren.

From left: Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Rick Owens.

The fun continued inside, where I spotted foodie items, such as the fairly conventional Campbell Soup cans or the slightly more hard-to-find Dean & Deluca treats. Special edition t-shirts designed by brands such as Opening Ceremony were on sale, as were smaller gift items from MOMA. And if you really want to take it to the next level, I suggest you pick up an Obama brooch or a hot dog necklace. There was also a wonderful selection of cupcakes and cheesecakes on the lower level, though my drooling prevented me from taking any pictures there...

Giant spray cans in-store and special edition t-shirts.

Another superman (above). Neon lights and wall art adorned the stairwell area (below).

Some of the goodies included Jackie O and Obama pins, a hot dog necklace, MOMA souvenirs, Dean & Deluca coffee and an assortment of soups, salad dressing and Marshmallow Fluff.

For previous Printemps events and window displays (including the much-loved Alice in Wonderland feature or the Christmas special), please click here.

Printemps - Cracking Art Group (Paris, France)

Imagine you're taking a nice stroll through Paris with your loved one on a somewhat sunny day. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and because it's a Sunday, the streets are not too busy. Then from afar you spy something odd. Something very colorful and surreal. It reminds you of a Sony Bravia commercial. No, you're not dreaming - you're looking at the rear end of two giant red and magenta bunny rabbits, taller than your average basketball player, standing in the middle of a pavement. I wasn't even sure this had anything to do with Printemps, one of the big Parisian department stores. Then I saw the shop windows had even more (smaller) bunnies in different colors and according to a display some could also be found inside the store.

Two giant bunnies near Printemps Maison.

I found out that these installations were created by an Italian team of six artists called the 'Cracking Art Group'. According to their official website, it's the 'group’s intention to change art history through both a strong social and environmental commitment and the revolutionary and innovative use of different plastic materials that evoke a strict relationship between natural life and artificial reality'. Basically they use recycled plastic (which is derived from natural resources to create an artifical material) and mold it into animals in various bright colors. After each installation, the materials are destroyed to create new pieces.

Previous installations have included placing 1000 gold dolphins in front of Milan's Duomo or lining up 34 yellow penguins along the river in Prague.

All the windows of Printemps Mode.

I still have no idea why Printemps is hosting this, because for some bizarre reason, they've mixed the bunnies with their current Marc By Marc Jacobs 'Country Romance' special, so most mannequins in the windows are wearing MBMJ and the respective designer section in-store is the only one to have gotten the most bunnies as well.

Smaller bunnies in-store, in the main Mode area (above), in the MBMJ section (below)

Oh, and if you love the bunnies as much as I do, no worries - they can be purchased! The giant ones, measuring an impressive 3 meters, cost a whopping 20 000 EUR, whereas the smaller 95 cm ones will only set you back 1800 EUR. This means that for once, the Balmain in the store window isn't the priciest item on display. As I won't settle for anything less than a giant bunny, it's probably time to start saving. Or I have to find a way to kidnap the ones on display outside the store...

Yes, this giant bunny is actually attached to the main entrance ceiling.

Another giant bunny near the Printemps Mode entrance.

The installation will be on until June 20th, so if you're in town, go check it out!

Address: 64 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 9:35-20:00, Thu: until 22:00
Printemps Official Homepage

TAD (Rome, Italy)

One of Rome’s more unique and popular shopping paradises is TAD (short for 'Tendenze e Antiche Debolezze'), the city’s first and only concept store situated near the Spanish Steps. Unlike most boutiques of its kind TAD has divided its 1000 sqm floor space into separate rooms, thus creating a shop that resembles a private home (a very rich person’s home mind you).

The first thing that will draw you to the store is the brightly lit entrance ‘tunnel’ that changes its colors every few seconds and is patterned with the silhouette of what looks like ivy (or some other foliage). I guess this is appropriate, because this hallway leads right into the flower section courtesy of Alessandra Rovati Vitali, with floral arrangements that look more like art than greenery.

If this isn’t your thing, keep moving, the next room is where you’ll find the first designer clothing area - a beautifully open space with dark wood floors, giant potted plants and rattan armchairs. I spotted the usual suspects such as Chloe and Marni, but also found racks full of elegant Ossie Clark dresses and Hussein Chalayan tops.

The adjacent ‘TAD Lab’ room is filled with high-tech gadgets, art books and various international fashion and lifestyle magazines. It also had a power plate, though I’m not sure if it was solely for decorative purposes (it was out of order) or if people are actually supposed to use it.

Moving along, I found myself in the beauty and fragrance area, which had quite an impressive selection of products from all over the world, including Fauchon perfume (I didn’t even know they created scents!), bath products from the London brand Nougat and Jo Malone candles. For those who need a bit more pampering, TAD also offers manicures and hairstyling services thanks to Roberto D'Antonio’s in-house salon.

Next up I was greeted with more fashion, this time the designer section also featured accessories, shoes and bags. A lot of Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney, but no Alexander McQueen, although supposedly this is the only place in Rome that sells items by the British designer. Oh well, better for my wallet I guess, so I kept browsing the endless racks and shelves filled with expensive goodies. Another room on the opposite side had even more luxury items, although thankfully there was also a nice collection of more affordable basics (shirts, knitwear etc.).

Probably the largest and most impressive room is the homeware and furniture area – all products produced by and for TAD. This includes everything from couches to cushions to vases. An adjoining room houses a very good range of fabrics (again, exclusive to TAD) so you can customize any item you may be interested in. If you’re into art, there’s a ‘Living Gallery’ which features exhibits showcasing upcoming talents – all works available for purchase of course.

Once you’re done with all this, you can recover from your thorough shopping experience in TAD’s own café (check out the beautiful winter garden!) where you can indulge in yummy delights or relax by sipping their aperitifs. Overall, a nice place to unwind if you want to get away from sightseeing, but beware… this shop is popular with fashionistas and tourists alike, so you’ll get your fair share of people browsing, snapping pics and posing next to flower displays.

Address: Via del Babuino 155 A, 00187 Rome 

Opening Hrs: Mon: 12.00-19.30, Tue-Fri: 10.30-19.30 

Sat: 10.30-20.00, Sun: 12.00-20:00 

TAD Homepage

Galeries Lafayette - Haussmann (Paris, France)

I believe this ranks as the most popular department store in Paris, but I have to admit - I find shopping in the main "Mode" building to be quite a pain. Although you'll also find a lot of locals here, Galeries Lafayette is a bit of a tourist trap, probably also due to the Paris maps they issue and that can be found in every hotel lobby.

The interior dome-shaped façade is nice to look at, but once I had gotten over that - 2 seconds later - I got annoyed just trying to find my way around. Shoes, designer clothing and high street brands are not distinctly separated on different floors. This wouldn't be a problem if the store were slightly smaller. But if you're looking for something specific, be prepared to hunt for it... for at least 15 minutes.


Most luxury labels (ready-to-wear) are slightly easier to find, as they have their own sections on the left side of the 1st floor. My biggest headache however was the shoe department where certain brands are lucky enough to have their own sections (e.g. Marc By Marc Jacobs) but other lesser-known brands are clustered side-by-side in one main area together with designer shoes. While browsing, I found some YSL Tributes randomly sitting on an unmarked shelf in a corner.


The thing I do like a lot is the Gourmet department next door, especially if you’re looking for international cuisine and pre-prepared meals. And those with time on their hands should head over to the "Galeries des Galeries" which holds art and design exhibits.

If you do happen to be in the neighborhood, don’t let this post discourage you from checking out this store. The product range is large and I did score a great find here during the sales.

Address: 45 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 9:30-21:00, late shopping on Thu: until 21:00
Galeries Lafayette Homepage