Just for women...

"Patricia, do you have some extra advice other than that of your great post on Paris? I have four really cool friends traveling there and they were fascinated by your post... Any more tips? They are between 35 and 45, single, really nice... Kisses!"

This nice message was left to me by an Argentine girl and I couldn't help coming up with a new list of personal tips for this four friends visiting the "Ville Lumière"...

1. Get to know Parisian underwear... I do not know another city with such refinement as that of French lingerie. Start with the tiny and famous boutique Sabbia Rosa, on Rue des Saints-Pères, where you'll find satin ensembles of every color, lace and silk petticoats, so short and... sexy! Madonna shops there every time she's in town. They also provide taylor-made pieces. 

A 100 meters apart, on Rue de Grenelle, always in St. Germain, kind of hidden, you'll find Carine Gilson's store. She's a designer from Belgium and does really refined and exclusive pieces... Silk kimonos with their "nuisettes," culottes or shorties paired with soutiens, everything in a mixture of colors as orange with green lace, or violet with pink details. Totally worth it!

However, if you are on a budget, you can find great pieces in H&M Lingerie Store, at the Passage des Halles, behind Printemps, one of the two big department stores of Boulevard Haussmann.

2. You must also visit one of the many H&M stores spread around Paris. My favorite is precisely that of Boulevard Haussmann, between Galerie Lafayette and Printemps. It has amazing prices and it's a must for all those Parisian girls how love mixing an expensive Balmain jacket, with leggings, and H&M t-shirt and an Hermès bag. Twice or three times a year, a famous designer creates an entire collection exclusively for H&M: Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo, Matthew Williamson have already been called and, most recently, Sonia Rykiel. In fact, Rykiel's was presented on February 20th and shoppers started waiting in line outside the store around 5:30 am. Doors were opened at 9 am and by 9:50 am there was nothing left...!

3. If you are into vintage shopping, you must take a look at Scarlett, on Rue Clermont Marot. As a modern Ali Baba's cave, this store has suits, bags and lots of Chanel jewelry. For me, the best vintage store in town.

4. You might probably know it, but the temple for "branchitude" (that is, what's in vogue) is definitely Colette, on Rue St. Honoré. A concept-store with many brands where you'll always find the latest on world trends. It has clothes, make-up products, jewelry, music and even a restaurant. I go as if I was visiting a museum: most of the times I buy nothing, but I capture with my eyes  the latest creations by famous designers and some that soon will be. Do not miss it!

5. Visiting one of Christian Louboutin's stores is also mandatory. I like the oldest one, that of Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. And it's near an old arcade also worth seeing: the passage Vero-Dodat.

6. I love walking around the boutiques of the Palais Royal gardens, which are a mixture of modernity and antiquity. It's a wonderful place. Do not forget to visit the perfume store of Serge Lutens, absolutely unique...

7. If you want to see what a true Middle-East Hamman is like, visit the Hamman du Marais, on Rue des Blanc-Manteaux. Try the oriental waxing, with caramel and lemon... It will leave your skin divine!

8. After so much sight-seeing, have dinner at Mathis, on Rue de Ponthieu. On one side you have the restaurant, chic but a little decadent, and on the other, there's the bar, for the after-dinner. The most interesting and attractive men in town use it as headquarters...

Enjoy!