• This Wednesday, France is gradually deconfining.

  • The terraces, museums and shops reopen, to the delight of customers.

  • 20 Minutes

     went to meet those who were in a hurry to shop as soon as they reopened.

A gray sky, rain, but clearings!

The weather is bad, but in the department stores district, in the heart of Paris, the faces - masked - display an air of satisfaction.

That's it, it is Wednesday, France is falling apart!

The terraces of cafes and restaurants are reopening, as are cinemas, museums and shops.

And while some were eager to enjoy a coffee or lunch on the terrace, others were in a hurry to contribute to the economic recovery by heating up the menu.

Buying back a few essentials, treating yourself to a luxury item or rediscovering the pleasure of strolling through the boutiques, each and everyone had a good reason to go shopping on this first day of reopening.

"I knew exactly what I wanted"

At Galeries Lafayette, the aisles still sparse this Wednesday morning allow those who have made the trip to do their shopping in peace. Like Ally, an Irish business school student with a sharp look, who discovers the joys of Parisian shopping and enjoys the beautiful decor of the dome. “It's the first time I've come to Galeries Lafayette, I'm so happy, it's so beautiful! ". Clémence, she already has her habits in the neighborhood. “I came to Printemps on purpose to open the corner of a brand that I love,” explains this salesperson specializing in wine. And it was an opportunity to rediscover a little of life before, the atmosphere of open stores, see people… and go shopping ”.

“It's nice to get back a bit of life before, to see people ... and to go shopping!

», Rejoices Clémence, who came to do her shopping as soon as the #reopening # 19may pic.twitter.com/ADJhOuRN25

- Anissa Boumediene (@AnissaBmd) May 19, 2021

And who says trip to the temple of fashion in Paris says luxury brands. To enter Louis Vuitton at Galeries Lafayette, fashionistas must first queue. In the queue, Chadia already knows what she is going to buy: "a perfume for my man, whose birthday it was during confinement". Not far from there, at Printemps, Charly came as soon as it opened and spun into the space of a luxury Italian designer for a quick and efficient session. "I knew exactly what I wanted: Prada shoes and perfume for my wife and I." A quick passage during which the young man of 26 years will be relieved of about 2,000 euros.

Luxury shopping session for Charly: “Designer shoes and perfume for my wife and me.

I knew exactly what I wanted, I went to the Department stores as soon as the #reopening »# 19may pic.twitter.com/SJoU6SlCBo

- Anissa Boumediene (@AnissaBmd) May 19, 2021

" This is just the beginning !

"

For their part, Zara and H & M also welcomed customers in a hurry and delighted to be able to shop again.

The morning has barely begun when Emma and Lydia come out with their arms laden with the Spanish sign.

"We came from Corsica on purpose for deconfinement, to spend a few days in Paris to shop and take the opportunity to go out," explains Emma.

With her friend, they have planned “an aperitif on the terrace tonight!

"

But before the aperitif, the two students, in medicine and in law, focus on their summer wardrobe.

“We had fun in Paris to afford all our clothes for the summer.

We are super happy, we made lots of purchases, ”says Lydie.

“And that's just the start,” Emma adds.

We have not planned a budget, but we want to have fun, we need it, after all these months without leaving the house, we make up for it!

"

“We came from Corsica for the #reopening on purpose, we did a lot of shopping, and this is just the beginning!

»Emma and Lydie enjoy their shopping session in Paris pic.twitter.com/qcZ5u8p7bn

- Anissa Boumediene (@AnissaBmd) May 19, 2021

"I ran out of panties", "I needed panties"

In the spring-summer trend of this deconfined shopping session, the mask is obviously the essential fashion accessory! But another piece stands out as the essential purchase of the day, whether you are a man or a woman, from 7 to 77 years old… These are the underwear. “I ran out of panties! It had been over a year since I had bought one, ”says Jean-Marc, in his sixties, a bag full of undersides on his arm. Ditto for Gaspard, 7 and a half, accompanied by his mother, Véronique. “She needed briefs and socks,” she explains. And the Lego game that I have under my arm, it's a little pleasure to put some balm in his heart because he was injured this week ”.

And they're not the only ones who share the same list. "I needed panties," Tori smiles under her black mask, black lace underside in her hands, and who has experienced the limits of online shopping during the lockdown. "I ordered clothes on the Internet, and at the reception it often happens that the quality is bad, that it does not look like the photo at all, it was disappointing." English living in Paris, the young woman intends to continue shopping all day. "I would also like to buy sneakers, dresses and some nice pieces to go to work."

Seven months pregnant, Lauren, a leopard-print mask on her face, also needed to buy some underwear.

“With pregnancy, I don't know my new size, so I came to try and find underwear adapted to the evolution of my body,” explains the mother-to-be.

In golden satin, leopard print or basic black, the mask is obviously the obligatory fashion accessory for this #reouverture shopping!

😉 # onnoubliepaslesgestesbarrieres # 19mai pic.twitter.com/UfIuyYleTu

- Anissa Boumediene (@AnissaBmd) May 19, 2021

"You can find beautiful pieces that you cannot see elsewhere"

One cable away, rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, independent traders are also back in service. "We hope that we no longer have to lower the curtain, it's hard for convenience stores like us," says Linda, manager of Courbettes and Galipettes, who has been preparing for the reopening for several days and presents her most beautiful pieces. The shopkeeper hopes for the return of customers despite competition from nearby department stores, which have reopened with numerous promotions. “We cannot restart from the start with discounts. The urgency is to resume activity ”.

And the customers are there: “The selection is very nice and the prices are really reasonable,” commented Isabelle and Michèle, who know the address well.

And the advantage of small shops is that you can find beautiful pieces that you cannot see elsewhere, in large chain stores.

With the added bonus of a warm and smiling welcome!

"

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  • Paris

  • Consumption

  • Shopping

  • Stores

  • Coronavirus

  • Deconfinement

  • Society