H&G Christmas Launch in Le Bon Marché, Paris.

For the past five years H&G has opened a Christmas concession in Le Bon Marché in Paris.

Le Bon Marché on the left bank of Paris is the most prestigious department store in the city. Within its 30,000 sqm of retail space you will find international luxury brands, the latest cool fashion labels, and an Epicerie to rival Harrods food hall.

In amongst all that fabulousness in Le Bon Marché is a Christmas department with the most spectacular display of Christmas decorations I’ve ever seen in a shop. Against a backdrop of pitch black walls and hanging on four 20ft Christmas trees are decorations that range from stylish gold to neon kitsch. Every taste is catered for but because this is Paris, everything is done with a very stylish je ne sais quoi.

Le Bon Marché Christmas department opens to the public at the end of October so three days before the launch date we popped over on the Eurostar and set up our concession.

I must take this opportunity to dispel a myth. Parisians are often on the receiving end of some very bad press, accused of being arrogant and difficult to work with! Well to that I say, au contraire. Everyone we have ever worked with at Le Bon Marché from the security guards and electricians to the visual display and buying team have been nothing but charming. What always impresses me about the staff at Le Bon Marché is their professionalism. These are not just jobs to them but lifelong careers.

Obviously some Paris clichés do still stand, everyone is slim, wearing some form of très chic black ensemble and at least one scarf at a time but usually several and that includes the monsieurs.

The Parisian look is one of effortless style so when packing I tend to rethink my sartorial choices. Let me tell you, the struggle is real, my favourite bright green tartan coat isn’t going to cut it on the streets of Paris. Clean lines, sharp tailoring and a lot of scarves are the order of the day. One doesn’t just rock up in Paris underprepared and travelling light!

Installing a concession abroad isn’t without its challenges. You have to be organised, unfazed by logistics and prepared to adapt to last minute changes. My ‘A’ level French is tested to the max at times but this is where working with a professional team really helps and between Le Bon Marché and H&G we can overcome any obstacles! The result is a successful collaboration between a Parisian luxury retailer and a London design brand.

Phil and I like to add a little joie de vivre into our working lives so we really look forward to our trips to Paris and make the most of our time in the city. A trip to the iconic Merci concept store is de rigueur as is a quick dash around Monoprix - a favourite with French fashionistas on a budget. In Monoprix I always stock up on fig jam, olive tapenade and aubergine pâté - you know just the everyday essentials!

I couldn’t end this blog post without mentioning food because to go to Paris and not dine well would be a travesty. The French hold their quality of life in high regard so all the staff always stop for lunch which of course includes us too. After so many years working in retail, to take time out and enjoy a delicious lunch with a glass of wine in the middle of a shop installation is such an alien concept to us. However this attitude to food and lifestyle is one of the many things that I love about France and something that I try to emulate but life in London doesn’t always work that way!

I could recommend so many restaurants in Paris but my favourite bistro is Au Prés in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Au Prés is an intimate little bistro and bar with a charming vintage interior and home to the chef Cyril Lignac. The food is always delicious and never disappoints. It goes without saying that Paris is not the place to diet so save some room for pudding - trust me, the pain perdu with caramelised pear and hazelnuts is well worth that extra inch on your waistline!

Paris is a stunning city and the perfect city break. However for us the opportunity to work so closely with Le Bon Marché has given us a different perspective on the city. We don’t feel like tourists anymore but a small part of the fabric of the city. Across Paris on Christmas morning, French children will be waking up to a Harrow & Green Christmas sack - how wonderful is that!

Words and photos by Tanya Taylor © 2019