While on vacation, I haven’t had much time to get to my computer and type out much of anything. Truthfully, there was the week between my friend visiting Paris and the week I spent in Scotland and the Canary Islands where I could have posted this.

I’m not used to seeing stars; in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a star. Showing my friend the Champs-Elysées about three weeks ago, we walked by a group of people crowded around a theatre. Able to a sneak a peek between the crowds of people, we realized that coming out of the limousine was Daniel Craig, who made an appearance for the Paris premiere of his latest film, Defiance (Les Insurgés)

Barb :: Jan.31.2009 :: Culture, Life :: 1 Comment »

Whenever I was eating lunch at home, I would always have the television on; occasionally, I’d watch the news. One time, the news was covering Black Friday (think mega sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving), and I was surprised by the hordes of people crowding into malls and lining up for stores. That said, it made me think about how crowded the Canadian equivalent, Boxing Day, got.

Every year, my mother and I trek to the big malls by public transit (partially because I don’t fare so well in parking lots, and partially because I’d have to get up insanely early to even consider getting a spot) in hopes of finding good deals. There would be huge lineups to get into stores by the time we’d arrive at about 10 AM. Think about going later? The lines would just get longer.

This year was a complete disappointment though. There were no huge savings and no huge lines. All the stores that usually had lines only had the security guards standing outside. Really, only three stores had lineups: BCBG, Lululemon, and Coach.

Judging how busy a store by lineups during sale season doesn’t seem applicable to France though. When the tourist guides say that there are major sales in January-February, they really mean it. Many things are slashed up to 60% to 70% off their regular prices. Instead of lining up to get into these stores with big discounts, it’s just a mass crowds fitting themselves into a store. The only time you find yourself waiting outside is when you cannot stand the intense crowds inside the store and need a breather.

Need a picture? Take a look inside the H&M found next to Galeries Lafayette in the 9th arrondisement.

Barb :: Jan.16.2009 :: Fashion, Life :: No Comments »