Top Selections for Paris

By Taylor Martinerin

There are so many interesting things to see in Paris, it might be hard to start narrowing down the list. Hopefully this guide will help give you an idea of just what sites in Paris should be on any tourist's schedule.

The first thing you should probably consider doing is seeing a day tour of the city, since this can give you some more ideas of what would attract you personally. Besides, it's a good idea to get a general grasp of how the city's arranged before you begin moving about without anyone who actually knows Paris. Make sure you know how to pronounce where you're staying, just in case. These basic steps might really come in handy, just in case you get lost.

When people talk about Paris, they inevitably mention the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is a great landmark, visible for miles around. Make sure you check the hours the tower is open for the season you're visiting, as they do change slightly based on the season.

The Louvre is another obvious selection on any quick tour of Paris, especially for art lovers. Housing tens of thousands of artworks, the Louvre really does live up to it's phenomenal reputation.

For those interested in History, the Notre Dame Cathedral is another must-see attraction. Unfortunately, there is limited mobility access in most places. It is free of charge to tour this ancient relic.

The largest public park in the nation, Luxembourg Gardens is a great destination for nature lovers. There are many statues, flowers, and fountains to catch the eye. Don't worry about the kids, either, as the park also hosts a number of great attractions anyone can enjoy.

Located on the Seine River, Paris Plage is a great beach with many attractions. It is run by the city of Paris and each year new attractions are added. Though the beach itself is free of charge, the various attractions do have individual admission prices. - 30439

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The author writes on a variety of other topics, including articles on how to select a wooden wine rack for a site on selecting a wine bottle rack.

Paris Fashion Directions

By Lorence Rotary

No one is new to the fact that a mere thought about Paris brings fashion, music and style to one's mind. Paris is renowned as the epicenter of art, culture and fashion in the whole world. Paris houses the world's most creative fashion designers, it is home to the world's most celebrated works of art like the Mona Lisa and lastly, Paris is the birthplace of the latest fashions which in no time get adopted in all parts of the world.

The glorious history of fashion and style that we associate with the City of Lights can be put down to the efforts of Coco Chanel, who by establishing her fashion estate commenced a great culture of fashion and style in the French capital. She has had a great influence in the formative periods of the fashion industry in Paris, as at the start of the twentieth century her innovative ideas were a driving force behind a rapidly expanding fashion industry.

It is the undying and famous taste for art, style, color and beauty of the Parisians which has not only earned Paris its international fame of a center of art, fashion and style, but has also helped attract all the best works in the world to the Mecca of Fashion. The history of Paris is a witness to that, and there is hardly any surprise that you can find the most precious art and fashion collections in the same city.

Let it be the most enchanting fragrances, the most scintillating jewelry, the most desired hand-tailored attire or glittering accessories and sunglasses, Paris is what the whole world turns to when they look for trendsetters. As models march across the famous ramps of the Parisian fashion shows, the world carefully documents each and every moment of the fashion trends that would leave their impressions across the globe.

Paris is a symbol of prestige among the fashion circles around the world. Fashion designers assign great importance to exhibiting their work in Paris, and this almost holds the value of a rite of passage to greatness in the field. There is hardly a fashion giant who does not have a presence in Paris, or have not exhibited their work in the city. This fact alone is the testament to the place of Paris in the world of fashion.

Paris is the place where the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris has been established. They are the legal guardians of Haute Couture, an expression which is widely used in the world of fashion. Only the companies that are the member of the Chamber of Commerce of Paris can use the expression with their products and services, and must establish a running business in Paris.

The membership of this institution is held by numerous prominent French designer brands like Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier, but it also includes famous foreign brands such as the Italian brand Valentino and the Lebanese brand ES. You can find all the well-known and accomplished brands in the world of fashion with a presence in Paris, which speaks volumes about the importance of the city.

Paris is not only recognized for its fashion related activity for the media, but also features a number of institutes that offer training courses to students from all over the world. Whether you are affiliated with the fashion industry directly or indirectly, or are simply an enthusiast and a follower of the works from the best designers in the world, being there in Paris surely has a special meaning.

The greatest fashion event in Paris is actually among the greatest fashion events in the world, the Paris Fashion Week. The Paris Fashion Week displays the designer collections for the new season from among the top names in the fashion industry from around the world, featuring names such as Lanvin, Yves Saint-Laurent, Hussein Chalayan, Giorgio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier and Vuitton in its illustrious history.

Paris will always be mentioned whenever we talk about the past and the present of fashion, and it will not be incorrect to state that the city will continue to play her role in shaping the future of fashion. As the City of Lights continue to inspire people from around the world for creating articles of style and fashion, Paris will always remain their center of attention. Truly, the city is the Mecca of Fashion. - 30439

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To read detailed information about fashion in Paris or to discuss fashion ideas: try the Paris Expats Message Board, where you can meet interesting Parisians and discover about Paris issues.