Sizi in Paris
Bienvenue à Paris! Please have a look through the luxury fashion highlights I have listed for you. I have organized each shop by what they offer and why they are important. I have organized them by arrondissement, with other places nearby you can check out. I have also included some extra resources, such as shopping and fashion exhibitions.
Overview
Dior: 31 Avenue Montaigne, 10 - 7:30 (Sun 11 - 7)
This luxury shopping street makes up one side of the “Golden Triangle”, a luxury neighbourhood if there ever was one. I wouldn’t spend too much time on the Champs Elysées aside from the Louis Vuitton or Hermés if you can get in. Some famous luxury hotels are here as well, including the Plaza Athenèe and the Georges V. Almost every luxury brand is represented here, so this will exemplify what the brands are that are considered at this level.
Since you are already going to the Dior Galerie, you need to visit the flagship store at #31 Avenue Montaigne. He started in 1948, where he changed the fashion world with his “New Look”, wasp-waist, hourglass silhouette. There were subsequently six designers after he died in 1958, and the latest changeover at the brand has just happened. The Creative Director (what designers are often called now, as they are responsible for the entirety of the brand’s identity) is now Jonathan Andersen.
The Galerie has a history of each designer/CD, including my favourite, a room with the toile (sample mock-ups) from some well-known haute couture designs by many of the designers. There are even some haute couture craftspeople offering demonstrations. Fashion museums typically curate their exhibitions with haute couture, as these are the most exaggerated examples of the designer or brand.
Once you are done here, head to the corner to enter the shop. They are so friendly, and sometimes they will also offer to show you around the store. There is a restaurant here as well as a café if you haven’t already indulged at the museum café. There is a lot of storytelling and iconography of Dior that you will see throughout the museum and the shop, the giant rose representing his love for flowers.
If you want to visit the LV or Hermés on the Champs Élysées, try to go early, and if you can’t get in, try the Hermés store in Saint Germain des Prés and the Louis Vuitton store on Rue Saint Honoré. And of course, there are a plethora of luxury brands to check out while you are here.
Place Vendome, Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef & Arpels museum and store
Since you are already here this could be an easy look around.
Starting with the Van Cleef and Arpels museum. Hidden from view, you need to walk to the VC&A shop, and in the corner of the Place Vendome, there will be a little sign for the Museum, and you just follow it into the courtyard to the door. This is the heritage museum for the brand, featuring a curated selection of historic gems and jewels. Someone is working to answer your questions, and you can ask them to explain the pieces and guide you through. This is a great way to go deeper into what some of the brand’s storytelling is like, especially with jewellery, as it is such an important part of luxury fashion.
If you'd like, you can continue your visit and feel free to ask if you can see any of the high jewellery in the store. Also, make sure you’re going to the correct one, as there are a few next to each other, all VC&A. There are many other historic jewellery brands here, Chaumet, Boucheron, Cartier and more. Dior and Chanel also have their luxury jewellery here, and Chanel has a number of very coveted watches, alongside many major watch brands. The Dior collections are usually quite pretty, using a lot of opals and pretty gemstones.
The Louis Vuitton store here is a flagship store and is worth a visit. This is also where you can see their high jewellery if they have any available for viewing. Often, high jewellery is already with clients, as it's made to measure and sold before it’s showcased in the press. This particular store was designed by Peter Marino, who is an architect darling of the fashion world and the biggest retail designer in the world, probably.
Nearby for lunch is the Hôtel Costes, where all the fashion people go if you want to see what the glitterati are wearing.