Chic fashion on the cheap

(Image:formal dresses belfast) The fact that La Vallee Village in Paris is just a hop and a skip away from Disneyland is not lost on anyone.
“We’re like Disneyland for adults,” quips Amelie Fourcadier, marketing manager of La Vallee Village. She’s not exaggerating. As I found out on a whirlwind trip to La Vallee in Paris, Las Rozas in Madrid and Fidenza in Milan, whether you’re a certified shopaholic or just a passionate bargain-hunter, the Chic Outlet Shopping villages do feel like the happiest places on earth.
THE PERFECT MIX
First of all, the brands in the villages encompass both fabled fashion houses such as Celine, Givenchy and Burberry, as well as edgy, niche contemporary labels unique to each country — Maje and Sandro from France, Hoss Intropia from Spain and Pollini from Italy. And there’s nothing more the modern consumer loves than the chance to name-check unique items they got straight from the source (“Oh, this old thing? Only Parisians would recognise the label”).
The products in-store aren’t rejects; instead, brands are encouraged to offer pieces from just a season ago. And if you think you’d never be able to find classic pieces from each brand there, you’d be misled once again.
Imagine my shock when I stepped into the Celine store to see timeless Cabas totes in a rainbow of colours and variety of sizes, as well as off-the-runway clothing pieces such as the now-iconic scarf-print fabric in the form of pants with a sheer overlay, and a pleated skirt. If you think these items sound like they came right out of a Spring/Summer 2014 trend report, you’re right.
All the architecture and interiors are designed and laid out by the brands, to ensure your shopping experience is similar to, say, if you were strolling along Champs-Elysees or down Rue Saint Honore; and as I meandered through the shops, I espied countless pieces that are bang on-trend, so you don’t have to bust the bank keeping up with whatever the fashion deities are feeling — and feeding the masses — this season.
We saw fringe in the form of a lurex coat at Marni, a leopard-print skirt at Kenzo and a dress at Adolfo Dominguez; as well as pleats on dresses at Bimba & Lola. Metallics were interpreted as an iridescent clutch and silver cone heels at Emporio Armani. And there’s another genre of wardrobe-fillers you can get your hands on in the villages: The future classics. That entails booties — in every form, from slouchy to structured to exotic skin — at Zadig & Voltaire; leather in the form of playsuits at Maje and shirtdresses at Carolina Herrera; and bomber jackets at Sandro and Comptoir des Cotonniers.Read more here:bridesmaid dresses uk