For my recent girls trip to Paris, every single one of us intended to shop because of the better than usual exchange rate, lower prices, and of course,  the VAT refund. I say all this up front because today's post includes all the purchases I made in Europe (the first four items in the graphic below!) and I realize it's a lot. It's not money I spent lightly and I absolutely budgeted for them knowing what a great deal it would be. These are all things that I'd had on my wishlist for a very long time and I even checked them out in person (in NYC) to make sure I didn't have any buyers' remorse when I got to Paris. 

So, without further ado, here are the purchases I'm obsessed with lately:

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant | I've been in love with this necklace ever since I saw it a couple years ago. The white mother of pearl and black onyx versions are the ones most commonly seen (my friend got the black and it's more striking than the pearl) but this all gold version is my favorite. It is more expensive but this piece truly goes with everything I wear.  

Celine Teen Triomphe Bag in Shiny Calfskin | As far as luxury designer brands go, Celine has moved to the top of my list in the last year. I wanted a more casual black crossbody bag and I loved it as soon as I tried it on. The size is perfect for me and fits more than you'd expect. 

Longchamp Le Foulonne Hobo Bag | I have so many crossbody and tote bags but hardly any shoulder bags. The quality and minimalist nature of this bag is perfect! Truly, Longchamp is one of my absolute favorite brands. I find myself reaching for this one a lot. 

Longchamp Pure Phone Bag | I'd been wanting a phone bag (literally can fit my phone, keys, card holder, and maybe a lip balm) to throw on when I don't need much and this immediately caught my eye when I saw it at the Charles de Gaulle airport. I honestly don't think I would pay US retail price for it but the duty-free Europe price? It was a steal. 

A&F Air Cloud Puffer Parka | I haven't had a chance to wear this yet but I honestly can't wait to! The inside is the softest faux fur and the use of the word "cloud' to describe this parka is accurate. 

J.Crew Teddy Sherpa Jacket | Even though I hate cold weather, I'm such a sucker for a good coat. I'd been wanting a sherpa jacket so that combine with my recent love of brown (you'll notice a trend with today's post) and the fact that they had petite sizing made this purchase a no-brainer. 

Sam Edelman Loraine Woven Bit Loafer | I'm a huge fan of these loafers and I already own a pair in saddle. When I looking for brown shoes to add to my closet, I came across these on sale and I love them! The woven look adds a little something different to this classic pair of shoes. They're still on sale so if you're interested, buy them now!

Birkenstock Boston Shearling Suede Leather Mule | I saw someone in the city wearing these and immediately looked them up online. I've never been into Birkenstocks but something about this pair called to me! They're comfy and I love the brown color plus they're warm! They're a great alternative to my Uggs moccasins. 

• Unless you plan to visit holiday or flea markets, you can pretty much rely entirely on your credit cards and not exchange money beforehand (but if you do -- do it through your bank weeks ahead of your trip).
• If luxury shopping is on your agenda, download the app Global Blue. It tracks your VAT refunds automatically and shows updates on when you'll get your money. Plus it made getting through customs 100x faster. (Note: You have to spent > 100 euros to get a refund)
• Along the lines of shopping, always check how the euro compares to the dollar. Right before our trip, the dollar was stronger but by the time we went it was more or less equal. Which is honestly still amazing! The price difference between US and Europe is wild. It was totally worth it to splurge because it was so much cheaper.
• This was the first time I did serious luxury shopping on a trip. Weeks beforehand, I went into the city to check out all the things I was interested in buying because I didn't want to have any buyers remorse (wishing I had or hadn't gotten something). I'm so glad I did this! In Paris, the wait at each luxury store can be up to an hour or longer (this shocked me!) but because I knew exactly what I wanted and didn't need to aimlessly browse, it allowed me to be really efficient and not waste precious time that could be spent seeing Paris. 
• Set up mobile passport control. I was most worried about entering the US thinking it would take forever but the airline told us to download this app as we were landing to make exiting the airport faster and wow, what a tip! It only took me 20 minutes to get through. Although, if you can get Global Entry like my friend did, that's definitely the way to go. 
• I said this already but if there are specific museums you absolutely know you're going to see, don't wait in line. Buy your tickets ahead of time! 
• Louvre Tip: To enter, go to the "Carrousel du Louvre" aka mall entrance. You can gain entry directly from the Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre Metro Line 1 and 7 and it saves you a ton of time compared to lining up at the Pyramid, which is ridiculously long. 
• I finally understand duty-free shopping! Seeing the stores at the Charles de Gaulle airport is worth it. 
• Beware of train strikes. We originally planned to go to Amboise for a few days but our train tickets got cancelled and we ended up just staying in Paris (which I preferred anyway!). If you plan to visit other towns, have a backup plan or rent a car.