London / Paris 2015

London / Paris 2015

 We arrived in London in the early hours of the morning, and hit the streets after refuelling with a trusty breakfast at Pret-A-Manger by Marble Arch. We spent the day trawling the endless shops on Oxford Street, while taking in the trends and inspiration from the many fashion leaders that strut the streets. We ended the day with a hearty meal at AskItalian, a wonderful bistro just around the corner from Primark, while resting our feet after a successful day of shopping.

Day 2 took us to the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, where we dashed from shop to shop in search of the perfect pieces. We took a short break for lunch at Giraffe, where we recapped and discussed strategy for the rest of the day. After fitting in a few more shops, we then took the bustling underground to Picadilly Circus and Regent Street. 

With only a few hours before closing time, we sprinted along Regent Street, with the gentle fall of snow, as the sun began to set on another successful day. To end the day, we met with a fellow buyer over a meal at Prezzo, to discuss trend analysis and strategy.

Before we knew it we were on our flight to Paris. Our arrival was greeted with the inevitable icy chill of winter, but this did little to hinder the pure inspiration that this incredible city has to offer. The sense of effortless style, so characteristic of Parisians, was hard to miss. This was echoed in the countless fashion boutiques and retailers that adorn the cobbled streets, ranging from the international high-end brands, to the many boutiques that are unique to Paris.

We spent the first day exploring the endless array of shops offered on Rue de Rivoli and the Champs Elysees (to name a few), taking in the inspiration that this fashion capital and its breath-taking landmarks have to offer.  We walked the streets flat in search for one-of-a-kind pieces, and we were not disappointed. With frozen hands and aching feet we took a short break to experience the warmth of the renowned Chocolat Chaud at Angelina’s, where the romantic setting quickly reminded us that we were indeed in the city of love, as a nearby couple whispered sweet nothings in each other’s ear. Our voyage also included shopping centres such as the magnificent Galleries La Fayette and Le Forum Des Halles. Along our journey back to the hotel, we were bid goodnight by the midnight glisten of the Eiffel Tower, a much-appreciated sight after a busy day.

On the last day of our trip, we ventured further out to the fashionable areas of Saint Germain Du Pres and Montmarte, where we found even more small boutiques, which are highly recommended on any shopping expedition.

Our trip quickly came to an end, in what felt like a heartbeat! Farewell London, Bonjour Paris! Until we meet again...