Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées Paris Shopping Guide

The famous department store Galeries Lafayette has opened up a new location on the Champs Elysées in the upscale area of Paris. I finally got a chance to visit and was impressed by the selection of clothing as well as the interior space itself.

Walking into Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées, you’ll go down an illuminated hallway until you reach the expansive foyer, which has a high ceiling that is open to the top of the building, letting you catch a glimpse of all the upper floors.

How to Get to Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées

The flagship Galeries Lafayette department store on the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées is located at number 60. Here are directions to get to Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées in Paris.

If taking the Paris metro, the closest stop is Franklin D. Roosevelt on Metro Lines 1 and 9. From here, take Avenue Montaigne east for about 5 minutes until you reach Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Turn right and Galeries Lafayette will be on your left after about 2-3 minutes.

If taking RER train, get off at Charles de Gaulle Étoile station. From here, walk south on Avenue des Champs-Élysées past the Arc de Triomphe. Galeries Lafayette will be on your right side after about a 12-15 minute walk.

If arriving by bus, several lines stop right outside Galeries Lafayette including 73, 83, 93.

If taking a taxi or ride share, ask to be dropped off directly in front of the Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées location at 60 Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées Building History

The building where Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées is located was originally constructed in 1932 as a modernist office block designed by French architect Pierre Patout. It was then known as the Lutetia Building and housed various businesses and organizations over the years, including the French Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

During World War II, the building was occupied by the German military and used as a headquarters for the Luftwaffe. After the war, it was returned to the French government, which used it as offices for various departments.

In 2018, the building was acquired by the Galeries Lafayette Group, which undertook a major renovation to transform it into a high-end shopping destination. The renovation was led by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who designed a modern, glass-fronted addition to the building that now houses the Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées store.

Today, the Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées is a flagship store for the Galeries Lafayette brand, offering a wide range of luxury fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. The building itself is considered a landmark of modernist architecture in Paris, and its striking combination of old and new elements makes it a popular destination for shopping in Paris.

At the time of my visit, a collaborative exhibition by the artists André Saraiva and Peanuts Global Artist Collective was installed in the lobby. I took a peek and then headed upstairs to the second floor.

Fashion Brands Sold at Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées

The Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysées store carries many of Europe’s cult Instagram or online brands.

You can find a selection of fashion, clothing, and accessories from Jeanne Damas’ Rouje line, as well as Anne Laure Mais Moreau’s Musier pieces, and even London-based Rixo and Australian cult brand Réalisation Par. Handbag brands like APC and By Far are also carried by the store.

This department store has a clear goal of attracting younger, Instagram shoppers to its doors. I think the strategy is brilliant as I’m always hesitant to shop online from smaller brands whose return policies aren’t clear. Providing a physical location for smaller cult brands is a welcome and refreshing idea in a crowded fashion space!