Full on glamour and Bobo

Full on glamour and Bobo treats This is Paris. Pretty much everywhere you go fits the bill! From the rue du Fauborg-st- Honore, one of the oldest shopping streets in the city to the Champs-Elysées, the Oxford street of Paris, to tiny side streets and exquisite Belle Epoque covered shopping galleries, like Gallerie Vivienne (2nd Arr, near the Louvre). Try Lubin for lovely perfumes and you can tell the person you give the gift to that it came from the store were Josephine Bonaparte shopped for her seductive scents. At Buly 1803 you’ll find fabulous soaps, candles, luxury hair brushes, creams and even scented matches with real wow factor wrapping. Or how about an adorable umbrella, you’ll find them in shops and department stores and Paris has a reputation for beautiful parapluies (did you know that the folding umbrella was invented in France?). For a spot of bohemian chic, head to the Pigalle area, not the rather seedy bit but So-Pi as the locals call it, south Pigalle. It’s an upcoming area for shopping with a village-vibe, bobo (bohemian bourgeois) spirit and vintage boutiques to suit the most discerning shopper. It's also home to one of the best sweet shops in France (see next page). Above: Gallerie Vivienne sheer luxury; below Ladurée for macarons! The popular rue des Martyrs links the 9th arrondissement and Montmartre and is packed with vintage and traditional shops and cafés. This half mile long street has old-fashioned charm and a long history. It’s here that Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was decapitated under the Roman Empire. Legend says he picked up his head to travel the length of this famous street, dying a few kilometres north of where the Basilica of Saint-Denis was later founded and inspiring the name Montmartre. Credit: Lynn Healy Brunneau

Credit Benh Lieu Song, Wikipedia Totally fabulous Foodie treats More-ish Christmas grub with a French feel, what could be more delicious?! If you head to department store Le Bon Marché don’t miss La Grande Epicerie, to call this a food hall is like saying the Chateau de Versailles is a house. Stunning food displays that leave you drooling. Damman Frères – tea lovers will adore the blends from this ancient tea store in Paris. Louis XIV granted the company a licence to thrill with its tea in 1692. They have several stores and concessions in Paris (and 62 countries around the world). Macarons – France is famous for them and you can buy them everywhere but head to Ladurée's pretty stores where they’ve been making them since 1862, they have several shops in Paris but the one at 16 rue Royale was the first and is quite beautiful. Don't miss Pierre Hermé for beautifully made, sensational tasting, magnificent boxed macarons in every colour and flavour. The famous French chef has shared his recipe for scrumptious chocolate macarons with us – see page 114. Bonbons and chocolate – where to start? Paris has hundreds of chocolate shops but for a real treat aim for l’Etoile d’or (30 Rue Pierre Fontaine, near Pigalle/Montmartre). Owner Denise Acabo is a local legend, a lady of immense charm and fabulous pigtails, who has been selling the best of chocolate and bonbons from all over France from her Paris-only store for more than 40 years. (Click here for more chocolate shops). Can’t get enough of shopping in Paris? Head to the Winter Sales which start 11 January and end 21 February 2017