This post gives me a little nostalgia, since I always loved doing designer shopping recaps after Paris trips in my early blogging days! Although a few things have changed since, the designer shopping in Paris still cannot be beat, both in terms of selection and pricing compared to here in the US. While I didn’t make any big purchases this visit, I did plenty of window shopping and wanted to share some info for anyone who might be visiting!
A few elements that contribute to the savings:
Conversely, your savings may be reduced by a few of these factors: any currency conversion fees on your credit card, processing fees on your VAT refund, and taxes that you may owe US customs on your purchases after flying home. As a US-resident, the first $800 per person of overseas purchases is exempt from taxes. If you’re traveling with family members, you can pool together that exemption amount.
I’ll let this article answer that in detail! Generally speaking, if you buy something in Europe but are not a resident there, you can get a tax refund of on qualifying purchases when you leave the country. In France, the VAT refund is 10% to 12%. In order to qualify:
When doing step 3 at the airport, make sure to have your receipts and purchased goods with you, in case any questions or issues arise with the VAT paperwork. If you need to check your bags, do so after completing this step.
The luxury shopping at CDG is amazing! If you’re flying out of terminal 2, there’s a ton of boutiques including Chanel, Dior, Hermès, Cartier, Gucci, Prada, and Longchamp. A major benefit of buying something in a duty-free airport shop versus elsewhere in France, is the airport pricing already has the VAT removed. So you can avoid the 3 VAT steps above and don’t need to hold your breath waiting for a refund that might never come.
The downside of buying at the airport is you don’t know what inventory the airport shops will have. But if you’re looking for a very standard style & color (for example: a black Celine Triomphe bag), then chances are high that it’ll be in stock at the airport.
One of my favorite designers and usually a first stop when shopping in Paris. The savings are significant compared to US pricing including on the popular Triomphe belts, bags, and sunglasses. The designs are iconic in my opinion, and the teen bag size is perfect for petites! The adjustable strap can be worn either on the shoulder or crossbody.
For simplicity’s sake here, I’m not including any potential transaction fees, US customs, or US sales taxes since those will vary in each case. If you live in a state with high sales tax, then your savings will be greater.
Since Goyard has very few US boutiques and no online shopping, their Paris shops are great for savings and to try a variety of styles in person. I hadn’t even realized that Goyard no longer charges a premium for colors! Colors used to cost about 30% more than their standard black or brown prints, and are now all priced the same. You can reference my older Goyard review blog post.
Another great designer to shop while in Paris due to the lower pricing, great selection (especially at their beautiful flagship store) and a totally different system for buying handbags compared to Hermès US.
How do I buy a handbag at Hermès Paris?
In the US, it’s notoriously hard to buy an Hermès handbag without a customer spending history and relationship with a sales associate. And while it’s also not an easy process at their Paris flagship store, it is slightly more accessible.
You can request a leather goods shopping appointment via an online lottery system that opens on their website daily at 10AM, Sunday – Friday. The chances of getting an appointment via lottery are very slim, but several of my friends had luck walking into a boutique and asking for a leather goods appointment. On our last day in Paris I almost succeeded this way, but alas, the associate only had an opening the following day.
I’ve been a big fan of this brand for their understated, “quiet luxury” pieces, and you can get major savings by buying in its home country of France. I read about the lengthy lines at their flagship Paris store, but didn’t encounter any crowds at the Le Marais location! As a heads up, while there were many bags out on display, they did seem low on inventory of popular styles and colors for purchase.
The Bèri in black has by far been my most-worn bag from this brand in recent years. The annual price hikes have been significant, but the France pricing definitely helps.
Another Parisian brand where you can get significant savings when purchasing over there.
Compared to the other brands on list, this one is not as favorable to shop in France. Over the past few years, Chanel has leveled their international retail pricing to be consistent across different countries.
If you’re just looking at the EUR retail prices and converting them to USD, they’re actually higher than here! So any savings will only be from the VAT refund and the lack of US state sales tax. The boutiques are still beautiful to browse, though, with a large stock and selection. The mini flap is a personal favorite – the chain strap looks super long, but Chanel offers free chain clip to adjust the length.
Saint Laurent was another must-stop for me in past trips to Paris, but this time, I didn’t have anything on my wishlist. My Solferino bag from a few years ago is still serving me very well. It might feel too small for some, but is perfect for fitting just my phone, wallet, and keys.
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