ENJOYING PARIS - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 270

SHOPPING
Haute Couture
Paris is, of course, the capital of haute couture. Haute couture
may affect only a few men and women who can afford
thousands of euros for a handmade suit or dress; nonetheless,
the fashion industry occupies a prominent position in
Paris and the world. Paris has always been known for its
couturiers—Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, Hermès, Lanvin and Saint
Laurent—but is now also feeling the presence of international
designers such as the German Jill Sander, the Italian Giorgio
Armani, the Japanese Issey Miyake and the Americans Ralph
Lauren and Calvin Klein.
The famous Parisian haute couture fashion shows take
place in February and July, but unless you are a celebrity, a
fashion editor at a prominent magazine or newspaper, or a
particularly heavy spender, do not expect to be invited. Just
one outfit, intricately hand stitched, perhaps festooned with
glittering ornaments and cut drastically up the middle or down
the side, can cost more than most of us spend on our annual
budget for clothes! And beautiful as the creations are, they
have little to do with the experience of shopping in Paris.
Many of the couturiers have, however, prêt-à-porter (ready-
to-wear) salons, selling clothes and accessories under their
griffe (designer label). Their prêt-à-porter may not be hand-
stitched, but are of a high quality and expensive too. Many
are housed in what is known as the 'Golden Triangle' near
the Rond-point (roundabout) des Champs-Elysées, in streets
such as avenue Montaigne or rue François 1 er and rue du
Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Others are scattered around the city
and some have branches in the fashionable parts of town.
The Paris Tourist Office has a list of addresses for the major
designers, which are also listed in most guidebooks. If you are
really interested in exploring a couturier's line of prêt-à-porter ,
do not let the sometimes frigid attitudes of the salespeople
intimidate you or dissuade you from looking around.
Top designers who are not couturiers are called créateurs .
Their prêt-à-porter , also of the highest quality, can be
quite costly, but somewhat below the range of those of
the couturiers.