French speakers in South Africa




Francophones en Afrique du Sud
French speakers




Paris is the fashion and haute-couture capital of the world where shopping is an art form practised by all and sundry and from a very young age. Note that shopping hours in France are from Monday to Saturday (stores are usually closed on a Sunday), so keep Sundays either for relaxation or for sightseeing. Opening hours are usually from 9H00 to 18H00 but this can be later for the department stores and stores on the Champs Elysées - Note that some smaller stores are close on Monday.


When are the sales on

The sales are on twice a year and last a month: after Christmas (January /February) and at the beginning of the summer (June/July). These times are legislated by law.


Clothes and shoe sizes

Clothes sizes:
France USA GB Italy
34 extra small (XS) 6 32
36 small (S) 8 34
38 medium (M) 10 36
40 large (L) 12 38
42 extra large (XL) 14 40
44 extra extra large (XXL) 16 42

Note that you should use these as indications only
in order to try on the correct sizes.		 Shoe sizes:
France USA GB
36 L 6 3.5
37 L 6.5 4
38 L 7.5 5
39 M 7/F 8.5 6
40 M 7.5/F 9 6.5
41 M 8.5/F 10 7.5
42 M 9/F 10.5 8
43 M 10 9
44 M 10.5 9.5

Unravelling DVD zones

Be sure that any DVD you purchase here is compatible with your equipment at home. For commercial reasons, in order to avoid a film being available on DVD at the same time as its general cinema release, the DVD market is split into several regions: Region 1: USA and Canada Region 2: Europe, Middle East, Japan and South Africa Region 3: South East Asia Region 4: South America and Australia Region 5: Eastern Europe and Africa Region 6: China So in France, you are in zone 2 and that DVD will work in South Africa - make sure you check the zone of any DVD's that you purchase.


Upmarket and somewhat expensive shopping

Note that most fashion houses will balk at streetwear clothing of jeans and takkies - dress the part or you wont be admitted to some stores or ignored in others! Metro stations Concorde, Madeleine or Saint-Philippe du Roule for the first two and Metro station Opera for the last one.
High-end discount store for women

  • Annexe des Créateurs - This is a clothing outlet with high end merchandise from previous collections offering as much as 70% discount on some goods - 19 rue Godot de Mauroy - Metro: Madeleine

More affordable shopping

Take the Metro Sèvres Babylone
  • Rue de Sèvres - On the Seine river left bank in Paris, in between the fancy Saint-Germain des Prés and lively Montparnasse districts, the rue de Sèvres houses many fashionable clothes boutiques including Lacoste at number 55. At number 22 is one of the best department stores in Paris Le Bon Marché and its speciality food store La Grande Epicerie which is a gourmet's dreamland.

Les grands magazins

Huge department stores on the Boulevard Haussmann - Metro : Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette, or the RER: Auber - If you spend over € 175.01 in any one day and at the same store you can get a 12% VAT refund! Enquire in-store. In the same street and surrounds you'll find many other shops to browse.
  • Galeries Lafayette - A Parisian department store par excellence, with just about everything under the sun (including a nice Sushi Café on the 5th Floor).
  • Le Printemps - They offer a 10% discount card for foreigners with passports so enquire as you walk in! Lots of Young fashion and other items.
Nearby the grands magazins you will find:
  • C et A - 49, boulevard Haussmann - Clothes...
  • Daniel Hechter - 31 rue Tronchet - Clothes couturier for men...
  • Burberry - 8, boulevard Malesherbes - Bags, accessories, woolies etc...

Old style shopping galleries
  • Galerie Vivienne - Metro Bourse - for fashion, jewelry, books, tea-rooms, etc...
  • Passage Jouffroy - Metro Grands Boulevards - antique shops, small shops selling only incredible things such as mini-furniture for dolls or ancient canes etc..., inexpensive restaurants, etc... also see the Musée Grévin (wax museum) next door down...

Shopping streets
  • Rue de Rivoli - Metro Châtelet Les Halles - One of the largest shopping roads in Paris where you will find a selection of boutiques selling ready-to-wear clothing, shoe and leatherware of medium-quality... Look out for WH Smith at number 248, the largest English book store in Paris.
  • Rue de Rennes - Metro Rennes - One of the longest shopping roads in Paris which stretches out between Saint-Germain and the Montparnasse Tower.....
  • Avenue des Champs Elysées - Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt - The most beautiful avenue in the world is not all the place of luxury that one imagines, even though you will find Louis Vuitton and Lancel. Some shops in this avenue are more of the ordinary type, ready-to-wear, etc., with names like Zara, Gap and Sephora... The only 24/7 pharmacy in Paris is at number 84, Pharmacie Derhy
  • Rue de la Paix - Metro Opéra - A road renowned for its luxury boutiques (jewellery), and which extends towards Place Vendôme, which is as famous....

Shopping malls
  • Forum des Halles - Metro / RER Châtelet les Halles - a large shcpping centre not far from the Louvre
  • Carrousel du Louvre - Metro: Palais-Royal - a smallish shopping centre of 45 boutiques open 7 days/week connecting with the Louvre - 99 rue de Rivoli.
  • Les Quatres Temps - Metro Défense - a large fairly new shcpping centre with over 250 stores at La Défense.
  • Italie 2 - Metro Place d'Italie - One of the largest Parisian shopping centres with 120 boutiques..

Chemist 24 hours
  • Pharmacie Derhy - Open 24 hours per day - 84 avenue des Champs Elysées - 75008 Paris - Telephone 01.45.62.02.41 Metro: George V

Antiques
  • Louvre des Antiquaires - Metro Palais Royal - Musée - opposite the Louvre at 2, Place du Palais Royal - comprising 250 art and antique shops, with a great variety of collections. They make up one the largest markets of objets d'art in the world.

Flea markets
Speciality food shopping
  • Hediard - Metro Madeleine - Delicatessen, caterers, wines of international repute....there are more than 6000 items from all parts of the world which are meticulously selected for the delectation of the palate.
  • Fauchon - Metro Madeleine - A world-renowned top quality delicatessenThe top brand in luxury food retail was established. All the delicatessen's products show the name of the brand: tea, chocolate, jam, biscuits, etc.

Music and books
  • Virgin Megastore- Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt at 52, Avenue des Champs Elysées- one of the few shops open on a Sunday adter 12 !
  • FNAC - Champs Elysées- Metro George V at 74, avenue des Champs-Elysées- Hi-Fi, music, videos, books, micro-computing, and tickets to shows. One of the few shops open on a Sunday after 12 !
  • Shakespeare and company - Metro Maubert-Mutualite at 37 rue de la Bûcherie - for new and second hand english books - near Notre Dame



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Francophones en Afrique du Sud. All rights reserved. Disclaimer