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shopping | cineview | paris scene | style | kid's stuff
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Cyber Sitings
by Carol Mongo
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Discount Designer Wear

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C
onsult the financial pages of any newspaper or magazine and you’ll read how Internet shopping in the comfort of one’s home is all the rage. Though nothing can really replace the experience of trying on some scrumptious garment in a boutique and allowing yourself to be tempted to buy something you really cannot afford, sites like the ones listed below are enough to convert the most diehard window shoppers to a new way of acquiring clothes.

www.catherine-b.com
Though not quite an on-line store, this site is the Internet extension of a Parisian boutique specializing in the sale of “nearly never worn” Hermès scarves and Chanel accessories. You cannot purchase anything directly on-line, however you can consult the list of items currently in stock, call for prices (01.43.54.74.18), then fax your order to the store or stop by to purchase what you want. Mon, 2:30 to 8pm; Tue-Sat, from 10:30 am to 8 pm, 1, rue Guisarde, 6e.

www.bluefly.com
This is a very interesting site with lots of clothes, accessories and fragrances sporting international designer labels including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Fendi. As with most sites of this type, you must select from various categories of clothing (jackets, dresses, trousers, blousons, etc) and you can also elect to see what they have from a specific designer brand or click on “All Designers.” They let you know in which colors and sizes (European or American) the item is available. During my visit, I discovered a synthetic black Versace hip length jacket trimmed in white for $295 marked down from $1,400 and a Fendi blazer marked down by 74 percent to $295. Click on the item to get a closer look and you can read a small biography of the designer as well.

www.designeroutlet.com
At Designer Outlet you can choose from a selection of overstocked fashions by primarily American manufacturers. New stock is introduced every two weeks. A personal shopping service and fashion trends from former New York Times fashion editor, Bernadine Morris are also featured. You choose the category of goods you want, enter the designer’s name, then the size and color. Among the labels listed here: DKNY, Nicole Miller, Bisou Bisou, Ralph Lauren, Prada bags and Fendi gloves. Upon clicking on dresses and Ralph Lauren, I was presented with five selections. The rayon georgette flower-printed slip dress I chose sold for $89, down from $185.

www.laredoute.fr
www.3suisses.com
France’s two premiere catalog houses also have on-line shopping malls where you can either order the paper catalog if you’re a traditionalist or order clothes for the whole family 24 hours a day in the comfort of your own home. Fashion snobs need not thumb their noses to the notion of “mail order” goods because both of these firms collaborate with established designers for a small select line of trendy styles. Otherwise, these places are great for buying everyday basics like jeans, tops, skirts, lingerie, etc, provided you already know your size. Surprisingly, neither site offers any kind of a guide to help you pick what’s right for your silhouette. Don’t miss the La Redoute women’s site where jeans start at about 105F.