We all love a good discount, especially on designer items. There’s just something about the thrill of the chase!
While living in the U.S. I was an expert at finding designer items on a budget. Once I scored $2,000 Christian Louboutin heels for $200 at a department sample sale. After moving to Paris – the city of luxury brands – I decided, once again, to identify the best places to buy new designer items on a budget.
I have already written about how you can score vintage designer items in Paris (read that post here). But if you are looking for an item from a more recent prior season, vintage will not be much help. If you too want to score some luxury items without the luxury price during your next trip to Paris, check out these three places.
Arlettie
Arlettie organizes sample sales for luxury and fashion brands at their warehouses in Paris and London. You can expect discounts of 60%-70% off the retail price.
In order to gain access to the sales, you have to register for membership on Arlettie’s website. Sales invitations are sent 48 hours ahead of the event. There are two membership options – one free and one paid. If you become a paying member, you will gain access to the sale a few days earlier than non-paying members.
Arlettie has multiple locations in Paris with each hosting 1-2 sales at any given time. You can find a calendar of upcoming sales on the website. Sales do not last long – usually only a week or less or, in the case of online sales, 24 hours. As such, you will want to make sure you plan your visit to maximize your sale time.
Visit Arlettie’s website here.
La Vallée Village
La Vallée Village is an outdoor luxury outlet mall. You will find outlet stores for Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, Chloe, Celine, Armani, Valentino and more at this venue. It is located approximately 1 hour from Paris by train or less by car.
Stores stock recent items from prior seasons (all nicely discounted) and a few select pieces from the current season (not discounted). The sales people are very helpful at the various boutiques and I found nearly everyone I encountered spoke English.
I recommend downloading the La Vallée Village smartphone app before going. The app contains a map of the complex, details about any additional sales, and a link to subscribe to the loyalty program. The complex also hosts a lounge exclusively for American Express cardholders.
I would also suggest visiting during the week as the weekend crowds are intense and you may have to wait in a virtual waiting list in order to gain entry to the store.
Visit La Vallée Village’s website here.
Les Soldes “The Sales”
The sale season in France is referred to as “Les Soldes.” Les Soldes occur twice a year during the winter and summer. Although the sales lasts five weeks, most shopping occurs during the first week. The government actually sets the specific dates for Les Soldes, but the sales typically occur in January and June. The purpose of Les Soldes is to allow boutiques/shops to get rid of their inventory. Hence, why you can score such great deals!
During Les Soldes, even the major design houses, such as Chanel, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, offer merchandise for a discount. You can access these sales one of two ways.
The first option is to visit the shop on the first day of the sale – no small feat! Expect to wait in long lines outside of the boutiques, this includes any boutiques located within the various grand magasins (i.e. Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, or Le Bon Marche). I have seen lines stretched around the block for Chanel. So, if you opt for this option, arrive early!
The second option is to purchase items before the sale goes public and then retrieve them on the first day of the sale. If this is your preferred option, you will have to develop a relationship with a sales person at the particular boutique that you want to visit.
If it is your first time visiting that store, I recommend you contact the boutique before arriving in Paris. You will want to ask the store to pair you with a sales representative who can assist you when you arrive in Paris. Once paired with an associate, confirm the dates of the sale and then specifically request if you can purchase your items a day or two in advance.
I will note, early access is usually reserved for current clients of the boutique, so you may not always have success with this method.
You can learn the exact dates of Les Soldes by visiting this government website.