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.

Colette (Paris, France)

This cult store is the first stop for many visiting Paris, thanks to the incredible selection and display of everything that's hip, unique and hard to find. You can expect this boutique to be full of people most of the time, as was the case when I dropped by today for a quick browse. Colette currently has a Cacharel shop-in-shop with the latest Liberty-print line. Yes, it seems the Liberty print is everywhere! You'll also find it on items such as Nike sneakers or toy dolls.

(image: hypebeast)

The ground floor is great for anyone looking for streetwear & sneakers (Bape, Original Fake, Adidas etc.). An entire wall display prominently features the shoes in various styles while the nearby glass cube is where you'll find a good selection of t-shirts and jackets. The first thing you'll probably notice though are the various coffee table books and quirkier toys and gift items around the entrance of the store. Most people end up getting stuck here, browsing and flipping through various publications for what seems like hours. If you do manage to get away head on over towards the back where you'll discover a good assortment of gadgets, watches, CD's and techie items housed either in glass cases or on minimalist shelves - I sighted everything from Swarovski adorned Hello Kitty laptops to reggae CD's.

(image: hypebeast)

If you're wanting designer, the first floor is where you need to be. Dozens of mannequins are positioned throughout the area, each one immaculately dressed, accessorized and with the appropriate footwear. It's like walking around a contemporary fashion museum! All other clothing (from YSL to Viktor & Rolf) hangs on nearby racks for convenient browsing. I also spotted Proenza Schouler bags, which I have yet to see elsewhere in Paris. The selection isn't huge, but I'm not even sure people come here to buy ready-to-wear. Most of Colette's business seems to stem from the ground floor purchases. The numerous staff members on floor 1, while friendly, look more like they're there to prevent shoppers from knocking over the dummies, instead of selling the actual product.

(image: hypebeast)

Don't forget to check out the cosmetics section with beauty items ranging from Kiehl's to Bliss, as well as the jewelry displays or the men's designer section. The back area is split into to levels which is where Colette will host exhibitions or special collaboration events.

(image: hypebeast)

If you need a drink, go on down to the water bar (lower level), which boasts over 100 different kinds of water. While some might deem this store overrated or pretentious, I would definitely go at least once. The store design itself - lots of sleek white walls, glass and metal - is worth the visit alone.

(image: hypebeast)

(individual images: Colette homepage)

Address: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Colette Homepage & Online Shop