VIBE

The striking stained glass cupola of this elegant 19th century department store is the first tip-off that Printemps's has a certain panache that even Paris’s other ultra-fashionable department stores can’t match. In fact, the decadent Art Nouveau architecture (besides the cupola, think gilding, marble, and handcrafted mosaics) is so striking that the store’s been named a national landmark…but even that can’t overshadow the impressive range of couture in the poetically named women’s department, Printemps de la Mode (“The springtime of fashion”). In a world-class couture collection, labels available range from local Parisian designers (Cacharel, Et Vous, Vanessa Bruno, Paul & Joe) to international superstars (Stella McCartney, Gucci, Prada). Paris in the springtime is always lovely, and the fashions at “Springtime” in Paris equally so…

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Looking glam

WHY WE LIKE IT

If we’re on the hunt for couture but can’t be bothered with boutique hopping, this is our go-to spot. (Printemps beats out rival department stores Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché with its incredible selection of designer picks.) The bend-over-backwards service is impressive, too, even for a high-end department store, where some pampering is to be expected: they offer everything from personal shoppers to an ultra helpful concierge to a five-star delivery service (we love having our parcels shipped over to our hotel so that we can avoid being bogged down, and if we’re really feeling like princesses, we get them sent right back to our home addresses). When we feel like really treating ourselves, we like to cap our shopping trip with a visit to swanky in-store restaurant La Brasserie, which sits directly under the gorgeous stained glass cupola.

GOOD TO KNOW

Printemps’s window displays are legendary, especially the elaborate Christmas tableaux–definitely worth checking out, even if you’re not in the mood for shopping. The concierge service is only available to foreign visitors (you need to show your passport or other ID in order to access it), but it’s well worth going through the hassle of checking in. The concierge staff can help with everything from booking tables at Michelin-starred restaurants to getting you in the door at exclusive cultural events.

OTHER LOCATIONS

4th Arr. (Paris); 13th Arr. (Paris); 20th Arr. (Paris); major cities across Paris

CLOSEST COMPS

Le Bon Marché (Paris); Harvey Nichols (London); Selfridges (London); Bergdorf Goodman (New York)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Paris