Helping a friend to buy a really special outfit for an upcoming red carpet event, we started out enthusiastically window shopping along the Croisette in some of the smart designer boutiques there. It was sunny and we were looking forward to a fun, girly morning together. The word FUN was quickly removed from our vocabulary that day, as time after time, we were met with cold stares from the staff as we entered each of the 'oh so posh' shops, and were then stalked around until we left.

In one, my friend asked if she could try on one of the evening dresses to be told by the ice queen shop assistant that they did not make it in her size! We gave up and left just a bit deflated to go for a commiseration salad!

After this bad shopping experience, I began to ask friends about where to go and one name kept on popping up, Le Grand Bazar on Rue d'Antibes. It was a great relief when I finally met the owner, the gorgeous Biba Folleat, who gave me a warm welcome into her world. A 200 square metre space over three floors, it's full of designer womenswear, bags, belts, shoes and jewellery, beautifully laid out like a gallery rather than a shop and with a capsule collection of top designers that would make Selfridges green with envy.

Biba learned valuable lesson number one - never judge a book by its cover - during a three-year stint in Los Angeles. 'In LA, the clients would come to the shop really casually dressed in jeans and T shirts and it would come to light that they owned a major film studio or they were some amazing famous talent or other from the movie industry,' Biba recalls. ‘We don't judge people when they come into our shops, everyone is treated the same, and we are there to help and advise them.

‘Nothing makes me feel better than when a client comes into the shop wearing something we sold them years ago. We always want to give the right advice and to help them find exactly the right look for them. We want them to come back again and again and lots of our clients are regulars, with a few A listers among them.'

Biba, her husband Daniel and their son Pablo work together to run their three shops in Cannes. Le Grand Bazar for women and the recently opened Le Grand Bazar for men are both on Rue d'Antibes while the newly opened ultra cool Dsquared (above) designer boutique is on La Croisette.

Biba has had a passion for fashion since she was old enough to dress herself, developing a great eye for detail and a real desire to give each client the look they want. She has an effortless relaxed manner and style and is a big fan of Marc Jacobs (below)sweaters which she buys in bulk whenever she is in New York as well as Rica Lewis's collection. 'They are easy to wear and are made from superb quality fabrics that last and last,' she says. 'We first opened Le Grand Bazar 12 years ago when the clothes available in Cannes were much more sophisticated in style but we saw a big gap in the market with a lot of emerging talent in the field of fashion and what we have created here fills that niche.

‘We designed and built the shop from scratch without an architect so everything you see here is a reflection of my own personal style from the decor to the displays to the shop window. We wanted to create a cool, relaxed atmosphere in which to shop. The Abercrombie and Fitch type experience is one which I can only stand for a minute. It's noisy, dark and chaotic and I just want to get out!'

Many exclusive designer collections are stocked to cater to all age groups and tastes including Matthew Williamson, Jasmine di Milo - Mohammed Al Fayed's daughter - and Paul Smith, to name just a few. ‘One of our best sellers is Belgian designer Martin Margiela,' Biba adds. ‘I travel constantly to buy stock and am always looking out for new talent. This year we have a young French designer called Anne Valerie Hache who I rate very highly. My stock is constantly changing so I go to New York four times a year as well as to Paris, Milan, Brazil and London.

Le Grand Bazar is strong on accessories too. I liked the cheeky jewellery designs of Tom Binns from LA (above), which range from €300 for earrings to €1500 for a necklace. They would be the perfect adornment for a red carpet rock chick along with something fabulous by New York based Iranian jewellery designer Iradj Moini, who uses big semi precious stones which make a real statement, even when worn with a pair of jeans.

I will certainly be coming back with my friend to fulfil her quest to find the perfect party dress, this time round with Biba's expert eye on the case. Somehow I know we will all be finishing the day with a celebratory glass of something and definitely no ice!

Tel : 04 93 38 33 83

View Larger Map

Cannes Film Festival: Some of the Best Remembered Red Carpet Style moments! As the film industry's most anticipated fortnight (12th - 23rd May) draws closer, stars and fashion designers around the world ... >> READ MORE

Cannes in the Bag: Don’t miss Sylvia van der Weide’s hot shopping tips for Cannes Would you like to share your shopping secrets with FR2DAY readers? READ MORE

A Call to Arms - YES you Cannes! Get your diary out and put a giant exclamation mark against Sunday November 14! You have just over six months to hone your body into a super fit running machine. READ MORE