Le Bon Marche is possibly my most favourite department store in Paris... and in any other city...Every time I visit I sense that Le Bon Marche has an edge that other large stores don't. It is smaller and less crowded than the other more famous Parisian retailers and the selections, whether fashion or home wares, are highly desirable... They have an accessory section which can send me into a frenzy... especially if you are a hat and scarf lover like me... and a shoe department that is positively dangerous.... not to mention the perfume, make-up and lingerie distractions...
This past weekend I slipped into Le Bon Marche not only to entice my alter fashion ego but also to see how they had dressed their windows for Christmas... How would they ever compete with all those little Karl Lagerfeld dolls rocking and rolling at the Printemps store? The answer is ... they didn't. My face fell when I looked into their vitrines... nothing but a small black frame outlining some admittedly gorgeous item... the perfect Christmas gift... with some chic garlanding that suggested bon noel.... Imagine my disappointment... I felt flat... I thought this most beautiful store in the world was bah humbugging me... My memories of Le Bon Marche go back so many years... it's my 'go to' place before Christmas to get in the mood and find those special gifts...
Once inside I forgot my disappointment as the beauty of the internal space... and more truthfully... the goodies on show buoyed my lagging spirits... retail therapy will do that to a girl... It is amazing how quickly we women forget our woes when confronted with a room full of fashion fantasy... Shallow I am sorry to say... but truthful I think...
The afternoon passed quickly in this Parisian emporium... so much to see and not enough time... kind of like the Louvre... (just kidding... and a girl does need a break from the high brow from time to time...) I had arrived in daylight and I was leaving in darkness... As I turned back to stare wistfully and say goodbye imagine my surprise as this grand old building started to change colour... Le Bon Marche was a neon symphony that lit up the damp grey Parisian night... She blushed the palest of pinks and she glowed the deepest of reds... I was delighted and stayed to watch her 'costume changes' over and over... Le Bon Marche was making a gigantic and magical nod to Christmas... I was not disappointed... my faith in her stylishness was restored and I admired her bravery in forgoing the tinsel in favour of the grand gesture...
images - vicki archer
I wish you could see Le Bon Marche in person, my photos don't do her justice... but I think you can feel a little of that left bank charm... and as it is Cyber Monday... imagine that you are shopping there and not online... If you would like to shop with me... then you can go HERE to see my wish lists... my personal edit... These are the gifts I will be choosing and the Christmas decorations I would love...
Happy Cyber Monday.... xv
Great shot!! Overall, I'm never super impressed by christmas lights in Paris... they try to remain relatively discreet which is a shame because there's so much twinkling potential!
ReplyDeleteVery nice and entertaining reportage and.. of course... Le Bon Marché never lets down... even if we have to wait till nightfall to realize fully.
ReplyDeleteBonne semaine
Thank you for these lovely shots Vicki...so much fun to imagine being in Paris for Christmas. I LOVE all the Chritmas decorations you have selected in your shop....you just made my overseas Christmas shopping so much easer! Thank you...
ReplyDeleteNow all we need to do is get Amazon over to Australia. :)
Best wishes Vicki...
Jeannexx
A votre sélection de films français, je suggère d'ajouter (ou de découvrir) Tous les soleils, qui est une très jolie comédie...
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures...makes me want to go back. Badly!!
ReplyDeleteWould love to see Paris at Christmas...............changing colours and all. Sounds like you got in some good shopping time Vicki. Much love XO
ReplyDeleteHi Vicki
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had an incredible day.
I am always disappointed when a tradition disappears. I am, like you. and look forward to the Christmas decorations in shop windows. They leave an imprint in our brains and I can recall as a child the magic of going to Dublin with my mother and then writing a compostion "Henry Street, Dublin in Decemember". I think I was about 9 years old then.
Have a delightful, magical week
Helen xx
Le Bon Marche is truly a delight. Even the store cafe where I leave my husband while I enjoy the fashions is wonderful. He hates shopping but is very happy to sit with a pot of darjeeling and a madeleine and a book in such pleasant surroundings and with such great food temptations. Even the sales are great, last year while he was relaxing there were great finds - good reductions in beautiful clothes and scarves, from Missoni to LaCroix, and other accessories. And the salesgirls are so nice. They also have a wonderful children's clothing department - and the toys and dolls!
ReplyDeleteI think that Le Bon Marché is my Tiffany's. Nothing bad can ever happen to you there--save for being tempted to spend too much. But even when we didn't have a dime while living in Paris, I would take the metro there just to walk around and dream. Always cheered me up and it still does!
ReplyDeleteHope that you bought something for yourself...
Did someone mention scarves???? Mon Dieu, Bon Marché here I come. You know Vicki, I've been to this beautiful store only once! Well that will change I can promise you. You've captured it in all it's Christmas fabulousness. Merci.
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PS I am having two giveaways to celebrate my blogs third birthday. Stop by!
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteDid you take these pictures yourserlf??!! Oh they are gorgeous!!! I wished I could go to Paris to do some Christmas shopping!
Love your Christmas decoration list!I am sure that the way you decorate your home for Christmas will be gorgeous!
Have a nice week Vicki!
xx
Greet
Gorgeous! Oh, I wish I was in Paris to see the Bon Marche blush and the city decked out in it's holiday finery! Maybe next year, but thanks for taking me along on a virtual visit. It's the next best thing!
ReplyDeleteVicki, I am there in my dreams and thoughts..love the changing colors. These are great shots, especially with the metro signs!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy...
xoxo,
- Irina
How did you know my favorite place is Le Bon Marche. Beautiful images + writing! Thank you, Vicki. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteVicki I do love the exterior! The changing lights are beautiful as is the facade! When you are expecting something such as the holiday windows and then, what? It can be a let down, until inside!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeletePINK!
One day I will be in Paris in December!
Bonjour, Vicki-
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you regarding Le Bon Marche. I can spend hours there (and then pop over to the Emporium for salad greens and lovely vegetables to make a salad.
It is partly the gracious neighborhood setting...but also the perfume department, the Chanel counters, and in the 'hosiery' department where they always have the best tights, the Wolford tops, and lovely women to advise, and then on up to the Lanvin section, the Diptyque counters, and then...best of all...the lingerie department. There...we see the most beautiful lingerie, the lacy little-bit-of-nothings, but especially the most luxurious robes (cashmere, plus beautifully made linen robes for summer) and nightdresses! Who wears these lacy linens and silks! I imagine a gilded and glamorous life in the 7th arrondissement...with those mink -trimmed cashmere robes and super feminine nighties! and the silk slippers. Oh, my...would love to have that life.
cheers, DIANE
www.thestylesaloniste.com
Dear Vicki. I am with you. The Bon Marché rules, and I am sorry I can't be in Paris this year to admire the beautiful Christmas illuminations. I actually think they were right to go for a different approach, and to leave the grandiose window displays to their Right Bank counterparts. The store stands out better that way (at least at night, when the lights come on.) Thank you for a great visit. Have you ever had a drink (or a cup of tea) and the Lutetia Hotel nearby? It's a lovely place, with a lot of history! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteI love the pretty changing lights - I really am due another a trip to Paris soon! (I do like to see creative Christmas 'vitrines' though)
ReplyDeletehttp://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Our big rule to go by when decorating special events- lighting is KEY.
ReplyDeleteThank you Vicki for visiting my blog. Maybe I will see you in UK on my next visit. Here's hoping. xxpeggy
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to forget disappointment once you're inside Bon Marché!
ReplyDeleteLe Bon Marché is my favourite department store in Paris because it is the less crowded and I used to live in the area in my youth. I love the Droguerie on the last floor and the haberdasher's in the basement. It is true that its Christmas windows do not compete with those of Galeries Lafayette, and as I live half an hour away from Paris i never stay long enough to see it by night! What a shame..
ReplyDeleteBeing in the grand old shops tugs me back to memories of shopping and lunch with my mother as bonafide occasion--like the mission for the perfect new Easter dress. And simultaneously forward to the beauty I envision in this new thing.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of different shades of pink, purple, blue as reflecting the changing sky and Seine. The dash and sparkle is fun--but the relief from 'too muchness' is spiritually stirring--perfect!
What a magical time and place for your anniversary!
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteI have seen a building change color once before...it's magical. I do like slightly 'over the top' window decorations but I imagine it's terribly expensive and maybe Le Bon Marche is feeling the world-wide economic pinch. At least the inside wonders made it worthwhile!
How wonderful to be in Paris (anytime)!'
Karen
Oh how intriguing.I would love to visit.Spent the weekend in Toronto.It was very lively and sparkling with Xmas lights.Not quite Paris.....yet sophisticated and full of energy.
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tip, I will definitely visit this department store and can't wait to take photos of it. It's stunning and the pink lights!!!
Wow...again thank you for letting us live vicariously through your photos.
Katherine.
How beautiful...yes it would be wonderful to see Le Bon Marche all lit up in person...but for now this will do quite nicely! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Vicki! Everything is gorgeous there. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week.
Teresa
xoxo
One of my favorites stores! Loved shopping with you.
ReplyDeletexo xo
beautiful! it must be magical to see it in person....
ReplyDeletejoan
Hee. Funny story...but it was MANY years ago that I was in school in Paris as a student abroad, when I was going down the elevator in Bon Marche and approached by a Modeling agency rep. Took his card...but never checked it out, Bon Marche....blast from the past!
ReplyDeleteLove! As for the windows decor, the Bon Marche must know that less is more.
ReplyDeleteLove your new header for the blog and congratulations on your Amazon store collaboration! Have a great week xo
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! I'm so glad they put on a light show for you, Vicki.
ReplyDeleteI love Le Bon Marche..........it reminds me of my childhood haunt of "Georges" in Melbourne. Peaceful, understated elegance. I can just "hang out" there with no particular purpose in mind.
ReplyDeleteDear Vicki
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful feature of Le Bon Marche I didn't mention in earlier comment - the book department is stunning! It also goes to your later theme of what is so special about Paris. In terms of design, the book department is beautiful, on the top floor with a kind of glass ceiling which provides beautiful lighting. It's spacious, the book shelves are grouped around a large inviting space for customers to sit on stylish chairs and divans to browse the books they're interested in. The books themselves are an amazing selection, carefully organised under headings such as philosophy, religion, belles lettres, biographies etc. Nowadays in Australia department stores which still have book departments tend to sell a very limited range of attractive books on food, gardening, cooking, fashion, travel. Le Bon Marche has all these and more, really - philosophy - isn't that amazing - only the French! It points to their respect for the intellectual as well as their love of fashion, food, travel, style and so much more.
My favorite as well! The shoe department during Soldes - sigh...
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