Other shopping in France
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Aspasie & Mathieu
For old-fashioned accessories like gentlemen’s pocket watches, ladies’ hats and walking canes, browse Aspasie & Mathieu in the Latin Quarter.
reviewed
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Marché Couvert St-Quentin
Iron-and-glass covered market built in 1866; lots of gourmet and upmarket food stalls.
reviewed
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La Petite Robe Noire
Paris being Paris, there’s secondhand…and secondhand: in the rag trade since 1975, collector Didier Ludot not only sells the city’s finest couture creations of yesteryear in his exclusive twinset of boutiques Didier Ludot, he also hosts fashion exhibitions in the neighbouring galleries of the Palais Royal, and has published a book portraying the evolution of the little black dress, brilliantly brought to life in his boutique that sells just that, La Petite Robe Noire. Shop mannequins modelled a 1960s Chanel and 2006 Lanvin the day we were there.
reviewed
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Didier Ludot
Paris being Paris, there’s secondhand…and secondhand: in the rag trade since 1975, collector Didier Ludot not only sells the city’s finest couture creations of yesteryear in his exclusive twinset of boutiques Didier Ludot, he also hosts fashion exhibitions in the neighbouring galleries of the Palais Royal, and has published a book portraying the evolution of the little black dress, brilliantly brought to life in his boutique that sells just that, La Petite Robe Noire. Shop mannequins modelled a 1960s Chanel and 2006 Lanvin the day we were there.
reviewed
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Le Dépôt-Vente de Buci
Secondhand haute couture from previous decades costs 20% to 30% less in Paris than in London, quotes Lawrence Carlier at Le Dépôt-Vente de Buci. She stocks hand-me-downs brought in from well-off ladies in the 6e arrondissement, returning anything that hasn’t sold after three months. This stylish ‘boutique of curiosities’ has a black wooden facade and a hip wine shop as a neighbour.
reviewed
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Andrea Crews
Prize for innovation goes to Andrea Crews, a creative collective who added a whole new dimension to the quest, to dress for less. Using everything from discarded clothing to electrical fittings and household bric-a-brac, the team chops, sews, recycles and reinvents to create the most extraordinary new fashion not everyone (few?) would wear. ‘Sustainable secondhand’ is its motto.
reviewed
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Marché des Capucins
A classic Bordeaux experience is a Saturday morning spent slurping oysters and white wine from one of the seafood stands to be found at Marché des Capucins. Afterwards you can peruse the stalls while shopping for the freshest ingredients to take on a picnic to one of the city’s parks. To get there, head south down cours Pasteur and once at place de la Victoire turn left onto rue Élie Gintrec.
reviewed
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Puzzles Michèle Wilson 15e
Puzzleurs and puzzleuses will love the selection of hand-cut wooden jigsaw puzzles available in this shop. Ranging in size (and degree of difficulty) from 80 to 900 pieces, the puzzles depict for the most part major works of art – everything from Delacroix and Millet to the impressionists. The ones of medieval stained glass and 18th-century fans are particularly fine.
reviewed
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Mouton à Cinq Pattes
Mouton à Cinq Pattes has a €1 bargain trough and scruffy notice on the door requesting sacs de courses (shopping bags) to be left à la caisse (at the checkout). But its tightly packed rows of clothes oozed choice and at €119 the Jean-Paul Gaultier bustiers (sorry, no conical cups) were a snip of the Triangle d’Or price tag.
reviewed
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Les Halles de Lyon
Lyon’s famed indoor food market Les Halles de Lyon has over 60 stalls selling their renowned wares. Pick up a round of impossibly runny St Marcellin from legendary cheesemonger Mère Richard, and a knobbly Jésus de Lyon from pork butcher Collette Sibilia. Or enjoy a sit-down lunch of local produce at the stalls, lip-smacking coquillages (shellfish) included.
reviewed
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Fragonard St-Germain
The St-Germain branch of this Parisian perfume maker has alluring natural scents in elegant bottles as well as candles, essential oils and soaps. In addition to the splendid smells, it has a small, expensive and very tasteful selection of clothing, hand-stitched linen tablecloths and napkins as well as jewellery.
reviewed
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Louvre des Antiquaires
A tourist attraction in itself, this extremely elegant ‘mall’ houses some 70 antique shops spread over three floors and is filled with objets d’art, furniture, clocks, classical antiquities and jewellery. Visit the place as you would the Louvre across the road, bearing in mind that all the stuff here is up for grabs.
reviewed
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Copy-Top
This chain is useful for photocopying, printing etc, and has 26 outlets in central Paris, including a Bastille branch (Tel: 01 48 05 80 84; 87 bd Voltaire,11e; Metro: Voltaire) and a Montparnasse branch (Tel: 01 42 22 80 58; 52 bd du Montparnasse, 15e; Metro: Montparnasse–Bienvenüe).
reviewed
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Agnès B Enfant
Style stalwart agnès b excels in extremely durable, comfortable and sometimes quirky clothes. The foundations are excellent; the rest has somewhat lost its cachet of late. On the same street you’ll find agnès b homme for men and agnès b enfant for children.
reviewed
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Formes
The French do expectant fashion well. Chic shops include Formes, with its classic but contemporary cuts sold elsewhere in Europe, too; the youthful with a dash of rock ’n’ roll 1 et 1 font 3; and maternity fashion designer Véronique Delachaux.
reviewed
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Chercheminippes
Chercheminippes in St-Germain des Prés is everything you could dream of in the shape of five beautifully presented boutiques on one street, each specialising in a different genre ( haute couture, kids, menswear etc) and perfectly ordered by size and designer. There are changing rooms.
reviewed
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La Clef des Marques
A pleasant surprise despite its hackles-raising door policy: surrender your handbag in exchange for a ticket or keep it and be searched later. Its extensive designer lingerie (loads of Calvin Klein), children’s fashion (Le Petit Bateau, Diesel, Ralph Lauren) and sportswear sections are equally impressive.
reviewed
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Surface to Air Marais
This shop has arty books, accessories, graphic design and very edgy clothing. With an exceedingly up-to-date collection of daring local and international designs, the space also welcomes regular installations and collaborative events with artists. Its Marais branch is newer and smaller.
reviewed
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Marithé & François Girbaud Marais
This globetrotting designer couple call themselves ‘jeanologists’, having devoted themselves to over 30 years of denim. They have four other boutiques including a Marais branch and a St-Germain branch with its own ‘vegetation wall’ inside.
reviewed
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1 Et 1 Font 3
The French do it well. Chic shops include Formes, with its classic but contemporary cuts sold elsewhere in Europe, too; the youthful with a dash of rock ’n’ roll 1 et 1 font 3; and maternity fashion designer Véronique Delachaux.
reviewed
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Véronique Delachaux
The French do it well. Chic shops include Formes, with its classic but contemporary cuts sold elsewhere in Europe, too; the youthful with a dash of rock ’n’ roll 1 et 1 font 3; and maternity fashion designer Véronique Delachaux.
reviewed
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Nomades
Paris’ ‘Harrods for roller-heads’ rents and sells equipment and accessories, and gives courses costing from €12 to €40 per person per hour depending on the number of participants. Renting elbow and knee guards/helmets costs €1/2 and you’ll need a deposit of €150 or an identity card or passport.
reviewed
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Boulangerie Galeani
Sweet-lovers will lose all self-control at Boulangerie Galeani – see if you can resist the devilish beignet de Brocciu (Brocciu fritters) and canistrelli (biscuits made with almond, walnuts, lemon or aniseed) served at this longstanding bakery.
reviewed
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Abou d’Abi 125
Abou d’Abi 125, a treasure-trove of smart and affordable ready-to-wear pieces from young designers such as Paul & Joe, Isabel Marant, Missoni and Antik Batik, keeps the same hours as fashionable boutique Abou d’Abi Bazar.
reviewed
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Pièce Unique Variations
Permanent collection of works and installations by contemporary artists; its single-room gallery (4 rue Jacques Callot, 6e) showcases one (usually very large) piece especially created for this pièce unique (unique room), illuminated until 2am.
reviewed
