January 25, 2010

Buying Jeans in France and My New Favorite Store

Finding a pair of jeans in France that fit me is not easy. Actually, finding any clothes here that fit me isn't easy.

I am short. Only 5 foot, 1¾ inches. (don't mock the ¾ inches - it counts!)
My height shouldn't be a problem as many French women down here in the south are short like me. Also I am...how do you say...a bit round. I wouldn't call myself Rubenesque, but definitely hourglass.
But it seems that the clothes here are all made for those willowy, bony model types who live in Paris and other places in France. I wouldn't know because I never encounter them. But I'm sure they exist. Don't they?
If not, then who is wearing all of these clothes?

Anyway, finding a pair of jeans that I look and feel good in has always been a pain.

image found here

Over the summer I dropped about 20 pounds. Working as a chef in a scorching hot restaurant kitchen six nights a week is admittedly the best diet I've ever been on. Can't say that it didn't require lots of sweating and cursing, but it did mean that I drank liters and liters of water every day and had little or no appetite.

By the beginning of October my jeans literally hung off of me. I tried cinching them up with belts and folding over the tops, but they just didn't fit.
Thus the search for a new pair began.
Oy.


My rescue finally came in the form of my new favorite store - Promod. They actually have clothes that fit me! Clothes that are comfortable, cute and don't break the bank.
And one of the best things about them, you'll appreciate this if you live in France, they accept returns. No discussion, no argument, no having to give up your first born child for un bon d'achat that expires in 6 months. Just a "thank you, here's your money back and have a nice day."

Good jeans and good customer service. It just doesn't get much better than that.

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9 comments:

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hi Loulou...love your new header, it looks great.

I was laughing to myself , as I am 5foot 1 and a half! I imagined you to be taller for some reason..

Oh I have seen all those willowy types..I hate the Jeans Hunt.

Wow that is a lot of weight to loose, mind as you saying you were sweating it out at work in the scorching restaurant, and the scorcher outside.

Well done on finding some!

Camille said...

I think we all know the pain of the Jeans Hunt. Congratulations on finding your go-to spot! (Are you familiar with zafu.com? it's a jeans-finding website, and their recommendations are usually pretty accurate.)

My new favorite store is Uniqlo. It's Japanese, and full of reasonably priced basics in every color of the rainbow. And they, too, accept returns. :) Worth a visit the next time you're in Paris.

The Duchess said...

Big fan of Promod here too! Congrats on finding jeans that work for you.... one of my least favorite things to do in the world!lol

Danielle said...

Thanks for mentioning Promod! I bought my favorite cotton scarf from there, and had forgotten the name of the shop. Congrats on the find!

Anonymous said...

Great tip! I'm off to check out their site right now. I never can find jeans to fit me properly here either.

Congrats on the weight loss!

Amanda said...

I am a big fan of Promod, maybe because it is one of the few decent stores in Rodez and I didn't stop in Paris. 3 years ago, I spent a lot of money on their clothes; not so much last year but I like to go on line and check out the spring and fall fashion. Women in Paris and big cities in France are slender and well dressed but I noticed they were chunky and more than casual (particularly middle age women) in the countryside. Maybe it is because of the economy or they don't have time for fashion anymore? I don't mean to offend anyone but that is what I noticed.

spacedlaw said...

Tasty new banner!

deedee said...

I like Promod, too. They finally got one near my town!

Jennifer said...

Anne
Thanks! (though I think I changed it again since you commented yesterday) :)
I imagined that you would be taller as well. But I always think that everyone is taller than me.

Camille
Thanks for the recommendations, never heard of either of those places. When I come to Paris I'll check out Uniqlo.

Duchess
Me too...jean shopping is a painful experience!

Danielle
They have wonderful scarves! I have a few that I've bought there over the last couple of years. The prices are great.

Dedene
I hope you like the shop. I think they have great clothes. Betty (of la France Profonde) is a fan as well.

Nadege
Residents of Paris walk a lot more than they do here, where we are pretty much tied to our cars to get around.
Glad to hear of another Promod fan!

spacedlaw
Merci Nathalie!

Meredith
Great news! The closest one to me is about 30 minutes away. Of course now I've discovered that they offer online shopping so it is rather dangerous! :)