Shopping

Cannes in the Bag

If you are considering re-stocking your wardrobe for spring, you could do worse than make a trip to Cannes. The town may make you think instantly of conspicuous consumption and glittering designer stores on the Croisette but there is another Cannes that, in fashion terms at least, has substance as well as style. The question is do you have enough time to discover these hidden treasures? Or is your shopping time limited? If you are keen to visit the best boutiques in the pursuit of the ultimate high fashion look then read on.            

For money-no-object Dior, Chanel or Louis Vuitton, stroll along the Croisette. Smaller specialized trendy boutiques can be found on Rue Commandant Andre, like boutique Sharon, or Rue Hoche. But if a couple of hours sandwiched between conferences or the school run are all you can spare, don't miss my favourite funky, hippy chic boutiques. And if you blow your budget, don't blame me!

rue_d_antibes

Style Junky
It's all in the name. Julie and her husband Nicolai run the boutique, which is hidden away in a small street off Rue d'Antibes. Julie is Danish and it shows in the close to perfect selection of different brands she has chosen to stock. The style is funky with a hippy touch. Not the typical sometimes petite French brands, but the likes of By Marlene Birger, Odd Molly, Rika, Golden Goose and Les Prairies de Paris. She only buys for her shop what she would wear herself. For this season, some very fashionable scarves uniquely made for Style Junky have just arrived. Next season, she will stock Alexander Wang, which is already a hit in Denmark. This brand is funky and classic with a twist. She calls the prices middle end. I might call them a little higher than that. In April, they launch an online shop. In winter, the shop is closed on Monday.

People Boutique
If you are bored with black and not afraid of colour, you should pop into People. Yasmina opened the shop seven years ago and has built up a beautiful selection of colourful tunics, dresses, bags and gilets. She has a lovely collection of unique necklaces to complete the whole look (and empty your purse!) The brands to look for are Hoss, Antik Batik, Celyn b, TAJ, Luella, Dassios, Dondup and Dear Cashmere. The prices are middle to high end.

Le Grand Bazar
Situated slap bang in the middle of Rue d'Antibes right next door to all the chain stores Le Grand Bazar is a gem and their three storey glass fronted shopping paradise is simply not to be missed. The ground floor features vintage finds worthy of the V&A museum, with Balenciaga clutches sticking in the memory long after you leave. The manager Biba has a real eye for the unusual and eclectic. Capsule collections from Paul Smith and Dsquared jostle for space with punk chic label Thomas Wylde, Isabel Marant and James Perse and the two pug crosses Petit Lou and Giorgio give a warm welcome. A unique concept in Cannes shopping.

Style Junkie
2 Rue Mace
Cannes 06400
Tel: + 33 (0) 493 394259
YOU CAN GOOGLE ON DOWN FROM HERE

People Boutique
Galerie Gray d'Albion
17 La Croisette
Cannes 06400
Tel +33 (0) 493 398210
YOU CAN GOOGLE ON DOWN FROM HERE

La Grand Bazar
68 Rue d'Antibes
Cannes 06400
Tel: +33 (0) 493 383383
YOU CAN GOOGLE ON DOWN FROM HERE


Last Wednesday everyone on the Riviera went crazy as the 2010 sales started on all the best shopping boulevards in the region.

Helping a friend to buy a really special outfit for an upcoming red carpet event, we started out enthusiastically window shopping along the Croisette.

On a recent foray into Cannes when, as usual, I was unable to find a parking spot, I found myself driving along Rue Lecerf.

 

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