100 French shoppers have stripped down to their underwear in a bid to bag a bargain on the first day of key new year sales in Paris. 

Spanish brand Desigual was offering a free outfit to the first 100 scantily-clad customers through its doors - as the winter sale season kicked off in France.

Naked or not, shoppers were out in force in Paris.

As the French economy stalls, and unemployment soars, demand this sale season is expected to be high.

There were fears that internet deals and pre-christmas promotions would take the shine off the annual rush.

But according to polls, the average shopper will spend 225 euros this year - a similar figure to 2013.

Sales are tightly controlled in France.

The start and end dates are set by the government.

Against an increasingly gloomy economic backdrop, many see it as their one chance to splurge.

(See video)

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