There high street vogue, supersized malls, small, yet classy boutiques and then there's Galeries Lafayette… a world within itself, a shopaholic's haven, an awe-inspiring structure that transforms those on the fringes of the fashionable world to divas of style. And if its contribution to society was not enough (after all, it is only humane to provide assistance the marginalised), 2005 has ensured the department store's place in history…of fashion, of course. A movement that began with the launching of three whole floors of women's fashion and initiated the education of children to cutting-edge style, this September was a culmination of a year-long renovations. New designers mingle with accessories and beauty and skincare products to create an entirely self-sufficient destination for patrons to indulge in. 45 labels, covering the entire gamut of names, from already familiar names to the debutants finding their feet.

Gaultier, Galliano, Coomes des Garcons, Lanvin, Chloe… while the assemblage of names reads like the honour roll from the world of fashion, three new designer promise to catch the eyeballs of clients; Portugese designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista, David Szeto, of an oriental lineage and the desi connection can be found in the team of Peachoo (Datwani) & (Dane Roy) Krejberg. A whole new space dedicated to accessories, an inherent aspect of well-rounded grooming. Treizor is a new collection of bow ties, in turns elegant and funny. Walk That Walk, offers a range of trendy footwear for your tootsies. Mawi, an Indian born Tibetan, provides a menagerie of jewelled delights. The Indian connection rears its head yet again in sparkling fashion!

If this is not enough to woo your fancies, then a plush area dedicated to beauty and skincare products have made a permanent home at the Galeries Lafayette, with Dior, Chanel, Lancome, Guerlain, each boasting their very own corner.  Beauty care, make-up and perfume are all segmented to regale the customer in their very own exclusive space. A visit to the department store can make you into a new womna… literally. The services rendered at the store include beauty advice and a skincare booth. For women suffering from fetishes of the chronic kind where cosmetics are concerned, The Beauty-Lingerie Loyalty Card is a must-have. Free of charge, it offers advantages, low prices and exclusive offers. Collect loyalty points by making purchases of 20 euros in cosmetics, perfumes and lingerie, an easy task for a shopaholic!

Get fashionable with sport at Galeries Lafayette's sport section. Fitness addicts can get that toned, perfect body in true sporty style with  clothing, equipment and other necessities for the athletic minded. A multibrand area for sports shoes only consist of the Japanese label Evisu, Vert by Lacoste, Puma and Veja among others. Yet another area includes sportswear by Adidas, Puma and Marithe & Francois Girbaud. Eat your way to health with a cocktail bar that has food prepared from organic ingredients and a menu created by food designer Inaki Aizpitarte.

Galeries Lafayette is an incomparable phenomenon, created with inimitable Parisian panache. A whole world contained within an elegant edifice. You can afford to miss the Eiffel Tower, but definitely not a trip into the rarefied environs of the world's largest dressing room!