The words “Strasbourg” and “Christmas” go together around here like “vin” and “chaud.” (Those last two combine to mean “hot wine” and Alsace is famous for it.) But, like any other city, Strasbourg Christmas also means Christmas deals. I saw one such deal the other day and couldn’t stop thinking about it.
This is the story about a girl who loves licking windows* and fell in love with a gorgeous, hugely-discounted, cerulean blue, 100% wool coat in a tiny boutique that isn’t even on Google maps – and how you can find this place, too.
If you haven’t experienced the Strasbourg Christmas Markets before, you might not realize how cold it can get here
I’m from the Chicagoland area, so I really wasn’t concerned about things like the weather in Strasbourg when I moved here. There’s winter and then there’s winter in Chicago, and the latter feels like being wind-boarded by icicles in the winter. That being said, Strasbourg does get surprisingly cold, and when it does, the thick coats come out. Well, to be honest, French people in general hit bundle-level blizzard when temperatures dip below 40 F. But they also tend to keep it classy, expertly layering thick coat fabrics with handbags and headbands and boots (oh my).
When this happens, I feel like a suburban mom who got lost on my way to my kid’s conference cross country race (let her finish ninth so this hell can end) amidst all the fashionable coats
And then one day, as I was meandering down a little side street just off of Place Kleber, probably feeling sorry for myself in my warm-but-unfashionable coat, I saw hope.
An inconspicuous little boutique called ZYPR had the most beautiful blue wool coat on display in the window
Now, ZYPR specializes in 100% wool and cashmere products and I knew from the beginning I was destined to get burned, but nevertheless, I persisted. What I saw made my jaw drop.
Originally priced at 480 euro, the coat and all of its brethren are on sale during the month of December for 75% off
Of course, this is France (aka the Land of Many Tiny Inconveniences Usually Arriving Simultaneously). So, the shop was closed the evening of my first coat-sighing. So, I snapped a pic for the road and planned to go back on Monday.
On Monday, I arrived to find a handwritten note stuck on the door telling me she’d be back at 2:15 pm. I checked my watch. 1:40 pm. Le sigh.
A couple of days later, I went back and finally tried on the coat of my dreams.
And? Well… it was too big. Womp-womp. I told you, I knew I was getting burned!
Nevertheless, I enjoyed chatting with ZYPR’s shopkeeper, a slim woman with shoulder-length curly brown hair named Nathalie.
About ZYPR
So, the thing about this place is… it’s really hard to find if you don’t stumble across it. They’re not on Google maps, they don’t have an Instagram, and their website is currently under construction. During my talk with Nathalie though, I was able to glean some charming details: The flagship shop opened just across the border in Baden-Baden, Germany in 2010. The boutique is French and the 100% wool and cashmere clothing are produced in France.
Address: 3 Petite Rue de l’Eglise (you can just enter “Petite Rue de l’Eglise” and as long as it’s in Strasbourg, you’re good.)
Nearby tram stops: Broglie and Homme de Fer.
Hours: 10 am – 7 pm every day (except Monday mornings).
Languages: Nathalie speaks French and some English.
Current Christmas deal: over 50% discount on most clothing, 75% off 100% wool coats. Offer valid through the end of December.
Miscellaneous notes: sizing starts at a size M, so maybe a tall (like 5’7+) small, or if you’re short and live in huge and bulky sweaters throughout the winter, that could work too. It felt exactly one-size too big for my frame (barely 5’4) and personal style. But, that’s just me!
*P.S. Close readers who are still wondering wtf I meant by “window” licking at the very beginning – your diligence is noted! “Window licking” refers to the French expression lécher les vitrines (“lick the windows”) and is their cultural equivalent for “window shopping.”
