Capitol of Cool

Located within easy walking distance of several of Paris' most storied hotels: the Crillion, Bristol, Hotel Costes and the Ritz, Rue Saint Honore is the city's traditional luxury retail center. While it's been replaced in importance by the Avenue Montaigne and Avenue des Champs Elysees, which offer brands larger and brighter quarters, Saint Honore (aka: the Faubourg) still draws droves of black card wielding shoppers. The neighborhood, sandwiched between Jardin Tuileries and Place Vendôme, has given rise to the Parisian stereotype of the grande dame, dressed in a Chanel knit suit, taking her toy-sized dog for a stroll.

Colette, located on the corner of Sainte Honore and Rue du 29 Juillet, lies at the very heart of the Faubourg. In contrast to its neighbors, this store does not take itself too seriously. Colette, quite simply, is the Capitol of Cool in the world's fashion capitol. New York has Jeffrey, LA has American Rag and Fred Segal, but none of these approaches Colette in terms of identifying and pushing trends forward so often and successfully. The merchandising brings high fashion down to earth, with mannequins dotted around the sales floor like sculptures in a garden, allowing patrons a very close look at the details of garments. Never installed long enough to gather dust, the brilliant windows showcase new merchandise and inspire fresh desire in customers each week.

What I love most about the store is the variety of categories and price points on display. On the first floor are well selected, affordable goods for the home, including books, accessories and electronics, as well as sportswear, timepieces, denim, and a floor-to-ceiling lucite wall of sneakers. Upstairs, beyond the collage of (ahem) coital photography, are designer runway looks. You probably won't find any Prada or YSL here, this is the territory of what is and who is "next." Alexander Wang, Viktor & Rolf and Raf Simmons are featured as prominently as more established labels. I found a great summer-weight cotton blazer by Michael Bastian and a pair of black dress boots – sadly (or divinely,) my student-abroad budget does not afford a 1,700€ jacket and the boots were not available in my size.

The Water Bar, located on the basement level, conducts the most naked sort of thievery of any cafe in Paris. The restaurant serves 57 different kinds of calorie-free Eaux to an assortment of painfully self-conscious, whippet-thin fashion types. If you want your water to leave you with a hangover, try a bottle of the "Bling," which hails from the mountains of Tennessee, is served in a Swarovski crystal bottle and will set you back 50€.