If you want to combine the perfect shopaholic experience with a beautiful city break, Paris is the place to go. Fashion capital of Europe if not the world, this glamorous city is the epitome of elegance, luxury and quality. Whatever you're looking for ? whether it's clothes, furniture, antiques, art or books, you'll find an incredible selection.



Fashion

Before you hit the shops it's handy to have a bit of an understanding of French fashion jargon. Here's a quick glossary to help you out.

Haute couture was born in Paris. Beyond the reach of most pockets, it refers to high-quality, bespoke dressmaking and tailoring, produced by the most exclusive designer houses. Garments are custom designed and made for each client and usually cost tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of euros. Few people across the world can claim to have bought a haute couture piece ? even the gowns worn by Hollywood stars at the Oscars are usually borrowed pieces. More often than not, haute couture garments are made as marketing tools to show off the designer's flair and creativity and boost their reputation at the haute couture fashion shows. Haute couture is a very strictly governed trade, whose rules and regulations are protected by law. There are currently around 10 fashion houses entitled to use the haute couture label, most of which can be found in and around rue du Faubourg-St-Honor? and avenue Montaigne in Paris city centre.

For most of us, the only affordable way to buy designer clothes is by buying items from pr't-?-porter or ready-to-wear collections. This means that the garments are industrially produced on a large scale to standard sizes and are purchased off the rack. Most of the haute couture houses create pr't-?-porter collections, which are usually limited editions and still rather expensive. However, other fashion houses create mass produced pr't-?-porter collections, making designer clothing accessible to the masses.

Paris also has plenty of small, independent designers selling creative and unusual pieces at affordable prices. There are lots of wonderful boutiques around place des vosges in the chic and upmarket Marais quarter.

If you're looking for value for money, you'll find all the good high street shops and department stores (grand magasins) in Paris, such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

Antiques and Art

Antique and art shopping in Paris is much like clothes shopping. Some of the most exclusive dealers in the world can be found in the city, particularly around the rue du Faubourg-St-Honor? alongside the haute couture fashion designers. However, there are also plenty of small independent dealers all over the city where you can pick up exquisite items at more affordable pieces. St-Germain-des-Pr's is a great area for browsing around small art galleries and antique shops.

Books

Paris is a booklover's dream. There are branches of France's best and most popular bookstore, FNAC, all over the city. FNAC sells everything from books and music to stationery and concert tickets. If you're looking for something rare or unique, check out the bouquinistes or bookstalls dotted along the bohemian and intellectual Left Bank of the Seine ? or walk into the heart of the Quartier Latin and you'll be surrounded by second hand booksellers.

Markets

The French still love to shop in markets for good quality fresh produce or just to pick up a bargain. There are food markets all over the city ? here's a list of some of the main markets and their specialities:

rue Lepic ? fruit and vegetables

rue de Seine ? bakery goods and flowers

March? st Ouen ? flea market selling antiques and second hand clothes

rue Poncelet ? patisseries, bakeries and cooked and cured meats

March? St Germain ? organic produce, international produce

rue de Buci ? flowers

March? de la Porte de Vanves ? bric-a-brac