Paris is a leader in the fashion world, famous for its high-end design.

My Parisian friend, Delphine Prigent, is showing me how even window shopping some

of Paris' many fine boutiques can be a cultural experience.

These windows, they put so much energy into their windows.

Yes, they have to because, you know, shopping is a

national sport in France.

And we call it

"lèche-vitrine."

So, "lèche-vitrine"

means window licking.

Window licking.

See all these different details

that they put on the window.

It's very bright, very colorful. —Very appetizing, you could say.

Yes, it has to be very appetizing, yes.

There are a lot of sales.

Yes. This is a typical period in July

to get sales in Paris.

But the trap is that

when you go inside

you always finish by buying the new collection.

Because they put the new collection

just beside.

You always buy something from the new collection at full price.

Department stores were invented in Paris.

These venerable institutions

—beautiful monuments to fine living— offer a chance to check out what's in vogue.

The Galeries Lafayette is a

classic example.

Its belle époque dome dates to 1912.

And shoppers are welcome to catch their breath—or perhaps have it taken away—

on the store's rooftop where a grand city view

awaits.