(usually one staff member, or a nearby customer,

fake designer bags A GIDDY AMERICAN IN PARIS

Every time I went to Paris, I looked for haute couture in all the wrong places.

I'd sit in smoky cafes for hours, studying Parisian women, hoping to see traces of the legendary style I'd heard about for decades in fake louis bag fashion magazines and movies. Discount Replica Louis Vuitton Bags But the vast majority of looks were pared down and polished, with minimal accessories not the high voltage glamour I expected in Paris.

I'd also wander along Rue du Faubourg St Honore and Rue Cambon, gazing in the windows of the designer showrooms and boutiques that line these elegant streets, trying to catch a glimpse of the world within. But the high security and formality they exuded deterred me from exploring further.

And, periodically, I'd peruse the Designer Louis Vuitton Replica Handbags offerings in department stores. Galleries Lafayette, Printemps and Bon Marche had lovely things, but the atmosphere was sterile and the clothes mass produced.

Then, finally, on a recent vacation in Paris, just as I high quality designer replica handbags was about to abandon my fashion fantasies, I decided to visit some of the city's many resale shops.

Voila! The distinctive, glamorous style I'd been searching for on previous trips appeared before my eyes.

What woman wouldn't delight in lingering for hours over racks of dazzling designer creations usually seen in glossy magazines, on runways aaa replica designer handbags or in boutique windows? Looking at, touching and trying on these wearable masterpieces in a hassle free environment was a fashionista's dream.

Most of the clothes in Parisian resales, called depots vente, are European or Japanese Perfect Quality Louis Vuitton Replica ready to wear, with a sprinkling of haute couture (custom made designer originals). They're usually taken on consignment, and, best of all, the clothes are usually fairly new and in good condition.

A great variety of sizes and styles are offered, and the racks are organized by designer, size, garment type or color. Designer samples are also sold in some of the stores.

Resale clothes and accessories in Paris generally sell for one fourth to one half of what they cost new a good deal, considering the original prices of these designer labels. Finding a $3,000 Chanel suit for $1,500, a $1,000 Burberry coat for $250, a $200 Nina Ricci handbag for $75, or a $150 pair of St. Laurent earrings for $50 could be the fashion buy of a lifetime.

Along with fashions created by the world's most famous designers, the shops also sell lesser known labels at the same discounts. They often have private fitting rooms and pleasant sales staffs, who let patrons most of them Europeans browse endlessly. (Usually one staff member, or a nearby customer, speaks English.)

The stores are all over the city and accessible by Metro (subway), which is fast, easy and cheap. And one of the great benefits of visiting resales is venturing into parts of Paris the average traveler never sees.

The stores sell not only clothing, but shoes, belts, purses, scarves and jewelry as well. Many have men's departments, and some have other locations within a block or two that sell children's clothing and collectibles.

Not all the resale shops pleased me, though. A few had clothes that looked worn or faded and seemed too expensive. But it was always easy to find another store within blocks or after a short replica designer handbags Metro ride. Most are open Tuesday through Saturday, though many close during August.

My favorite resales offered a good balance of designer ready to wear pieces and more affordably priced fashions from lesser known labels. And a nice staff, pleasant atmosphere without 1:1 replica handbags the musty smell and good location helped.

The following are highlights from my romps through some of Paris's best resales.

Reciproque, in the elite 16th arrondissement (district), is on a street lined with stately town homes, exclusive coiffeurs, antiques shops and pet boutiques.

Considered the grande dame of Paris resales, Reciproque has been on the scene for 25 years and is expensive, although prices are a fraction of what originals cost. Both browsing and buying are pleasures coats, shoes, boots, accessories and men's clothing are among the best buys.

The store has seven boutiques within two blocks on the semi commercial Rue de la Pompe. These locations have dresses, belts and lingerie; coats and hats; formal wear and cocktail dresses; handbags and costume jewelry; men's clothing and accessories; curios and jewelry, and, at the store where I spent the most time, women's city and sport clothes.

My heart raced with excitement as I pulled a red plaid suit, trimmed with black lace and lined with black silk ($385), off the Christian Lacroix rack.

Behind it was an ingeniously constructed, multicolored patchwork Lacroix suit with a peach silk lining ($737). Not exactly in my price range, but glorious to touch and examine.

The designer delights continued as I perused a rack of Chanel suits, sweaters and skirts arranged by color one of the largest such collections in Paris. A raspberry boucle jacket was paired with a simple black gabardine skirt ($811); another suit was in classic pink wool and trimmed around the collar and pockets with black braiding, ($825).

I had never seen so many Chanel suits in one place and was entranced by the sumptuous fabrics and classic designer touches: silk linings and gold chains sewn into the backs of the jacket hems to keep them flat.

On this floor also were enough racks of Hermes, Prada, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake, Dior, John Galliano, Gucci, and Dolce Gabbana to cause whiplash.

On the lower level, a half dozen savvy shoppers swarmed around shelves holding hundreds of pairs of shoes and boots. There were barely worn Via Spiga black Italian leather boots with 3 inch heels ($114); bohemian chic Dolce Gabbana tapestry print flats ($157); luxurious Charles Jourdan gold leather heels ($157), and drop dead glamorous Versace zebra print, knee high boots with turquoise snakeskin heels and sole ($575).

At one point, a woman beside me gasped with excitement after finding the right pair of shoes to wear to an event that evening. They were red silk faille with a sharply pointed toe and a black, two inch, knob shaped wooden heel. These exquisite, eccentric 18th century French Court shoes were by Yves Saint fake designer bags Laurent and a steal at $70.

Shoes and boots by Ferragamo, Emanual Ungaro, Karl Lagerfeld, Bruno Magli, Bally, Manolo Blahnik, Miu Miu, Stephane Kelian and Dior were also cheap louis vuitton bags from china uk spilling off the shelves. And nearby were racks of pants, skirts and jackets in luscious leathers and suedes.

The racks in the coat store bulged with designer delights by such names as Hermes, Lacroix, Moschino, Versace, Dior, Prada, Burberry and Louis Vuitton. And in the purse store were hundreds of designer bags in all sizes, colors and styles. Lining one wall were glass shelves holding extensive collections of Chanel, Dior and Vuitton bags.

I spent four exhilarating hours at Reciproque, racing from replica louis vuitton store to store, transfixed and intrigued by every dazzling designer detail. In this state of fashion frenzy, I forgot to buy anything a first for me.