Fashion Week

I gather something called Fashion Week takes place in paris in September. What exactly is it and does it make it difficult to get hotel reservations and book restaurants? Are there events that ordinary tourists might find interesting?

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Fashion Weeks are the extravaganzas during which all the couturiers stage their défilés (runway shows). You can%26#39;t get a ticket unless you%26#39;re a VERY SERIOUS SOMEBODY in the fashion, media, or entertainment industry, and/or you%26#39;re VERY VERY RICH. There%26#39;s nothing to attract tourists except standing outside the various venues trying to catch glimpses of celebrities as they come and go. It will be more difficult to get reservations in the very upscale hotels and restaurants, but the average hotels/restaurants won%26#39;t be a problem because Mme la Comtesse de Wherever just up from the countryside wouldn%26#39;t be caught dead staying at the Holiday Inn République and having dinner at Chez Jenny.

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Is it in September or October?

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If you are in a hotelroom with TV the fashion show will be transmitted the next day on French TV. 2 weeks ago there was a big open-air Chanel fashion show in Bois de Boulogne (and NO: I was not present, as I am neither %26quot;a somebody%26quot; or rich in any sense of this word). The show was transmitted on French TV the next day, so I could lie on my hotelbed, sipping cold rosé and loudly comment on Mr Lagerfeld%26#39;s latests inventions......

ps.

why do those anoretic models have to look so sourfaced - as if they hate their job ? Not even the bride in the grand finale was smiling ? Maybe they are just hungry, poor girls. A generous helping of confit de canard and tarte tatin for dessert would do them good.....

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I was in Paris during Fashion Week last year. There was lots of bustling activity -- vans, trucks, people pushing racks of clothes -- along the Rue de Rivoli. We could see the tents in the Tuileries where some shows were being held. Our hotel was right there, and on the sidewalk outside we%26#39;d meet really tall skinny gaunt women dressed to kill -- escapees! There was major security all around the area. I was with my very wealthy and fashionable friend who pulled every string she could think of to try to get into a show but to no avail. She obviously wasn%26#39;t wealthy or fashionable enough to make the cut! The whole scene just made me want to eat another fistful of macaroons.

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I%26#39;m still curious as to when it is. Not that I%26#39;ll be going, just wondering.

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2006 Paris fashion week: October 1-9

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Fun! I%26#39;ll be there during that time for a few days on our way to Barcelona (gotta get my %26quot;Paris fix%26quot; while we%26#39;re on the continent!). I%26#39;ll keep an eye out for those poor hungry girls!

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I know just what you mean. I%26#39;m making a short stop in Paris next week on my way to a much longer stay elsewhere. Not stopping there is unthinkable! :-)

We%26#39;ll expect a full report on your brush with the fashion mavens!

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Thanks all. I am neither rich nor famous nor thin and wasn%26#39;t interested in attending but Gitte, I love your description of watching the show on T.V. I agree that eating might be a better way of enjoying life. My concern was that it would be difficult to function in Paris. However, we will be there in September 2007 so if the show is in October, it won%26#39;t bother us.

Truffaut, based on your description of the lunch at Senderens, I am planning to take my husband there for lunch to celebrate his 75th birthday. That does seem like the type of restaurant the rich and famous who enjoy food might go.

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If I were straight, I%26#39;d try to lure those poor starving girls with muffins or cookies!