Among other districts worth browsing are the classic St Germain for rare books and gifts, the massive Halles Forum and rue de Rivoli for unusual boutiques, and the rarely discovered ‘Viaduc des Arts’ where artists and artisans have set up shop under the archways.Boulevard Haussmann is home to the ‘grands magasins’ like the Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, each one occupying several buildings.Calling them ‘department stores’ hardly does justice to these palatial temples of the Belle Epoque draped in splendid Art Nouveau. Opened in the 1890s as a small harberdasher shop, the Galeries Lafayette have a rich array of fashion departments, where appointments can be booked with advisors at Mode Plus, and a 1300 m2 space dedicated to footwear with hundreds of brands, among them exclusive models and fashion boots at 1000 euros a pair. But Lafayette has other treats in store, such as beauty salons including the Chanel Institute and a free weekly fashion show when professional models present haute-couture collections (book by email). The famous Paris Fashion Weeks are not open to the public but Lafayette offers a high end alternative. Also worth considering is the Saturday teatime show at the Bristol Hotel, rue du Faubourg St Honoré, when models present signature garments, from established or new designers, while guests nibble scrumptious pâtisseries with a glass of Champagne and their favourite brand of tea (reservation essential).