THE BIGGEST BRANDS WITH HUGE DISCOUNTS
Last Wednesday my alarm went off at 04:30, exactly my favorite time. But for good reason, because I was going on a press trip to London and Paris. Shopping press trip to be precise. My Rimowa suitcase, packed with military precision (which definitely did not contain four pairs of shoes, really not. Come on, I was only going away for just under 48 hours, are you crazy) rolled onto the platform of Amsterdam Central around half past five for the train to Schiphol, where I took to the skies an hour later en route to Heathrow Airport.
The invitation for this trip came from Maasmechelen Village. That is an outlet near Brussels and it is one of the many Villages spread across the world, from China to Barcelona and from London to Paris. The parent company is Chic Outlet Shopping, and that is exactly what it is. You have to imagine that just outside the big cities, a kind of mini-village has been created where you can shop like crazy at very attractive prices. Brands always have leftover stock and they sell it in the Villages, so you find clothing from previous seasons with discounts ranging from 30% to sometimes as much as 75%. I will be very honest with you, when the invitation for this trip came, I was initially only medium enthusiastic. That ‘outlet shopping’ usually doesn't appeal to me. Large poorly lit halls with overcrowded racks and hysterically busy scenes with endlessly long lines – no thanks. It may sound like a bad sales pitch, but believe me, the Villages really have nothing to do with that.
In London, the shopping village is called Bicester Village and there are about 120 shops to be found. The village looks super cozy, small houses in bright colors with the most beautiful brand names on the facades. Alexander McQueen, Céline, Chloé, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Kenzo, L.K. Bennett, Max Mara, Sandro, Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Rupert Sanderson, La Perla – and I could go on like this for a while. No C-brands, the best of the world is ready for you. Everything at Chic Outlet Shopping revolves around service and the experience of shopping. Every store looks at least as beautiful as the ‘real’ boutiques on Rue du Saint Honoré in Paris, Regent Street in London, and P.C. Hooftstraat in Amsterdam.
As a good journalist should, I had to thoroughly check out this Village, so I happily went in and out of shops. By the way, don't think that everything suddenly costs a tenner, a Prada dress still comes at a price. But I saw a stunning piece hanging for 290 euros, which was originally over 700. My Chloé Paraty Bag was looking quite nice for 900 euros, leather totes from Prada for 500 euros, Céline shoppers for 400, L.K. Bennett shoes for around 100 euros – I was really over the moon with happiness. At Kenzo, I bought a t-shirt and an amazing colorful pair of pants with a 60% discount, two pairs of shoes at L.K. Bennett (oops) and a leather bag at Temperley London.
After Bicester Village, it was time to depart, on to the train, on to Paris. As we roll into the city, it is almost half past ten and I go – after I have laid out all my purchases on the bed and looked at them very contentedly – to bed fairly quickly. The next day we had to get up early for Village number two, La Vallée Village, right next to Disneyland. Here too, all brands with the addition of many French brands like Givenchy, Carven, Joseph, Paule Ka, The Kooples, Vanessa Bruno (the only outlet of the brand in the world) and Zadig & Voltaire. We are welcomed in a VIP room, receive extra VIP discounts, and the walk through the Village mainly takes place in the Céline store where I am torn by doubt, staring at THE shopper, ultimately deciding not to buy it and to keep my money in the bank for the purchase of the Proenza Schouler PS11, my dream bag.
I end the trip back in central Paris, on the terrace of Café Le Ruc, the café where during fashion week everyone really sits. After much deliberation, I decide to forget the Detox for a moment and I order a glass of white wine. A feeling of happiness overcomes me. Paris, white wine, sun, and a bag full of new beautiful clothes make me an emotional week animal. You must, I repeat, you MUST go there too, you don't know what you're missing. If you're ever in London or Paris, you're just an hour away from the Villages. There is a special Shopping Express from the city center that takes you there and back, nothing should hold you back. And maybe, just maybe, I'll go with you. Just to take another look at that Céline bag.
Not able to travel all the way to London or Paris? Then hop in the car or train to Maastricht because just outside the city Maasmechelen Village can be found with just as delightful discounts as in London or Paris. Moreover, from May 6 to August 15, 2014, there is a special ‘Daytrip to Chic - Best of Belgium’ campaign, where the entire village is immersed in the surrealism of the Belgian Renée Magritte. In addition to many artworks and adaptations of them, there is also a special pop-up store offering surrealistic objects from Magritte. Art, fashion, and discounts, what more could one want?
