The Galeries Lafayette is a world French department store located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. In 1893, the cousins Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn open a novelty store at the corner of rue La Fayette and Chausée d’Antin near the Opera and the busy Grands Boulevards. Quickly, the Galeries Lafayette attract both the high society and the working class, including the midinettes (from midi (noon) and dînette (light meal), a somewhat pejorative term for the young girls working at shopping stores who take their light lunch breaks to go shopping.
In 1912, the stores on the boulevard Haussmann are inaugurated. The main on is five stories tall, with balconies, ornate balusters, and a hundred feet high glass dome illuminating the grand hall with a golden light. Inspired by the Byzantine style, this impressive glass roof is composed of stained glasses encased in a metallic frame richly sculpted with floral motifs.
The store grows to 96 departments, with innovations such as haberdashery, photography, lighting, furniture, travel goods, toys and tableware, and a tearoom, a library and a hairdressing salon on the higher floors. And at the very top of the building, a terrace offers sweeping views of Paris and the Tour Eiffel. On the streets below, the magnificent shop windows and holiday displays become marvels to passersby, creating desire and inspiring fantasy.
With their wide assortment of fabrics, ribbons and lace, the Galeries Lafayette assert their prominence as sellers of fashion and novelty. Exclusive products are manufactured, and the store offers items from famous couturiers (designers) such as Daniel Hechter, Pierre Cardin, Cacharel, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior.
Several memorable events are organized over the years: planes landing on the rooftop; the French singer Edith Piaf performs in 1950 to celebrates peace and happiness of the daily Parisian life; a series of expositions of objects and themes exotic and unknown to French people, as well as the artworks of Dubuffet, Niki de Saint-Phalle and César; the French chef Bocuse showcasing his delicacies; the Festival of Fashion attended by over a 50,000 people.
In 2009, Galeries Lafayette recorded earnings of over one billion euro, more than Harrod’s in London, Bloomingdale’s in New York, and Isetan in Tokyo.
Galeries Lafayette at Hausmann (Art Nouveau style)
