10 finest locations to buy in Paris, ranked by native procuring skilled
Here in Paris it is not troublesome to seek out the massive luxurious model names. Their store home windows are featured in all of the trendy districts and beckon you in with their promise of title model recognition. But there are additionally small, bespoke manufacturers who’re simply as alluring. Imagine discovering Chanel when she was nonetheless stitching in her little atelier? Before her title grew to become synonymous with world luxurious? In this listing I’ve ferreted out two small manufacturers like that, one a shoe brand – Zoe Lee Shoes – and the opposite a glove brand – Thomasine Gloves. Think of them as high quality craftsmanship within the age of billion greenback, huge field luxurious manufacturers.
And to mood the lust for acquisitiveness, it is good to show one’s consideration to the ephemeral – corresponding to flowers. No go to to Paris can be full with no flick through the landmark flower market – Marche aux Fleurs. It is such a fixture on the Ile de la Cite, courting again centuries, that it is lengthy since change into a part of the Parisian panorama. More than flowers, you’ll discover right here souvenirs, witty residence decor and different worthy keepsakes. Likewise, a go to to the Paul Bert Serpette antiques and positive objets d’artwork is one other must-do, particularly for these for whom inside adorning is greater than only a interest.
So now you’ve got the flowers, what concerning the wine?! La Cave du Chateau, the wine boutique now open at Prince Robert of Luxembourg’s personal Paris mansion, Hotel Dillon, affords a surprising assortment of wines from round France in a large worth vary – they usually can prepare in your purchases to be shipped residence for you, too. Keeping on this candy be aware of luxurious, a field of positive goodies from one in every of France’s best, Patrick Roger, will please anybody in your presents listing.
Time is all too typically the best of luxuries, particularly when touring. So in case you have solely an hour or two for procuring, Parisian shops are an expertise unto themselves and a requisite pilgrimage to Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le BHV will do the trick.
For an exhilarating bout of window procuring, each the Place Vendôme, crammed solely with treasured jewellery boutiques corresponding to Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Chanel & Chaumet and the close by Rue St.-Honoré, the place you’ll discover Hermès, Moynat, Moncler and extra, one proper after the opposite, provide visible delights and irresistible temptations. And for genuine small boutique procuring head over to the gentrified Marais District within the coronary heart of Paris.
The correct title of this out of doors market is Marché aux Fleurs et aux Oiseaux Cité. That interprets to the Cité Flower and Bird Market, which has been on this similar spot since 1808. But most individuals check with it simply because the Flower Market, or the Marché aux Fleurs. At any price, the birds are solely there on Sundays, when they’re displayed of their positive gilt cages, together with a number of the rarest of species.
The Paris flower market affords an in-the-countryside bucolic stroll by way of stalls overflowing with flowers of each colour, selection, scent and species. It’s open day-after-day all year long (closed main holidays, in fact, as that is France) from 8 am to 7pm. The inexperienced metallic pavillions that harbor 1000’s upon 1000’s of potted crops and minimize flowers have been the topic of simply as many sketches, work and different creative tributes all through the ages.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: This market has existed right here since 1808. On Sundays it is a fowl market, too.
Paige’s skilled tip: This historic flower market was renamed this yr in 2014 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II: Marché aux Fleurs – Reine Elizabeth II.
Photo courtesy of Aroma-Zone Paris copyright 2014
DIY magnificence product junkies, you’ve got simply discovered your mecca. Once the unique area of the specialists who formulate their very own product strains of pores and skin lotions, face toners, shampoos and different scrumptious self-care merchandise, this first-of-its-kind Parisian boutique store places all that within the fingers of the walk-in shopper.
There is nothing that’s ignored right here. You will discover the mandatory bottles, caps, dispensers, pumps and miwing containers. You’ll additionally discover an assortment of base oils and lotions corresponding to avocado, apricot, aragon. For important oils to mix with you’ve got a few dozen assortments in lavendar alone. And that is simply the ‘L’s.’ The essentail oils are alphabetized with a whole bunch to select from.
If make-up is one thing you need to mess around with creating, this store has plent of uncooked substances for these merchandise, too. So go forward, go wild! It’s all pure and natural, anyway.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: This is like an In Real Life Etsy retailer for individuals who like to make their very own magnificence care and make-up merchandise.
Paige’s skilled tip: Do you wish to mix your individual fragrances and oils? This store offers you all of the instruments to make any form of mix of important oils and base blends you may think about. And it additionally gives the bottles and dispensers.
This is what I name my Perfume Walk. The lovely Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, proper within the coronary heart of the cobble-stoned streets of the Marais, is lined with the boutiques of a number of the finest fragrance makers on this planet ” Diptyque, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Penhaligon’s. You will even discover darling little boutiques promoting different trendy finds and lots of the outlets are open on Sundays, too. To deal with the fragrance… Start on the Place des Vosges at this most lovely sq. on this planet’s solely fragrance store, Christian Louis (18 Place des Vosges). Pick up the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois on the high of the sq. and stroll path Les Halles. You will cross fragrance outlets together with L’Occitane, Guerlain, Fragonard and the aforementioned Diptyque (makers of great candles, too !). When you cease in at Penhaligon’s, remember to ask for one in every of them perfumed kerchief squares earlier than you allow.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: In the Marais you’ll find all of it – books, vogue, fragrance, antiques, high fashion, males’s footwear, chocolate and even residence items.
Paige’s skilled tip: “Music, painting and perfumes…these languages are universal and communicate the intelligence of the heart.” Perfumer Christian Louis. The Marais is stuffed with aromatic outlets, whether or not they be tea outlets or positive fragrance makers, your nostril will delight within the procuring this neighborhood affords.
Clothing purchasing for children is among the most entertaining sorts of procuring you are able to do in Paris. Some of the little bon-bon like footwear, tops, ensembles and equipment that these children’ clothes outlets provide you with are so candy they’re tempting to eat.
This is among the finest and even the title of the store is what you typically eat for breakfast as a baby in France. Both girls and boys garments will be discovered right here and for anticipating moms, this can be a a lot appreciated, high-end registry for the new child. The different store in Paris that’s handy and well-stocked is their Blvd. St. Germain location.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: Shopping right here for the youngsters is like going to a grownups’ sweet retailer the place every little thing is available in doll sizes.
Paige’s skilled tip: These boutiques are round Paris and even all through France however probably the greatest ones is right here close to Place Vendome. One of the issues the French do finest is vogue they usually do it simply as properly for his or her children, too.
The procuring right here is upscale and luxurious. It’s becoming as a result of the theatrical venue right here is the place a few of Paris’s greatest productions are staged ; Think Mamma Mia ! or Riverdance. One of the conveniences right here is you could exit the metro and enter straight into the Palais des Congres. For winter time procuring excursions that is a plus.
Boutique luxurious outlets you will discover awaiting you might be : Boss, Gerard Darel, Lancel, George Rech and plenty of extra. There are one or two public seating areas the place you may relaxation and log into the free WiFi. There are additionally a few eateries the place you may seize a espresso and a snack. The extremely resort, Concorde – La Fayette, is on the far facet, as soon as you have handed by a lot of the outlets and boutiques. They, in fact, provide a number of eating choices.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: Even although Paris is legendary for its nice little boutique districts, typically procuring in air con is a luxurious in and of itself.
Paige’s skilled tip: The good factor about this indoor procuring heart is that it is connected to a 5-star luxurious resort – the right place to have tea after your procuring spree.
Nearly everybody has heard of the well-known French flea markets. Paris is much more well-known for them. The greatest one is that this one simply on the fringe of the town, inside a stone’s throw (simple strolling distance anyway) from the metro station Porte de Clignancourt.
But to categorize this as a ‘flea market’ is a misnomer. The Paul Bert Serpette is a specialised market throughout the bigger ‘flea market’ which spand a number of metropolis blocks. This antiques, valuables and positive furnishings market, cherished by the world’s high inside decorators, is a clearly outlined market zone throughout the bigger one.
The artwork and furnishings sellers listed below are savvy and always on the look out for the treasure that others have missed. The market is barely open Friday-Monday, as a result of, honestly, most of their enterprise is completed internationally by particular order. During Maison & Objet and Paris Design Week, the designers and inside decorators in search of that genuine piece flock right here of their ‘spare time.’
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: Scouring this antiques and positive objects market is definitely time-saving. In this concentrated space of the bigger ‘flea market’ are all one of the best sellers.
Paige’s skilled tip: Extraordinarlily well-organized, the hundred or so distributors at this antiques and positive, one-of-a-kind artwork and furnishings market have on-site delivery service. So in case you fall in love with that Robespierre bronze bust from the 18th c., no worries, somebody is there to ship it straight again residence for you.
Paris’ finest wine store will be discovered tucked discreetly inside a non-public mansion on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt within the posh Champs-Elysees district of the town. Hotel Dillon is the personal mansion of Prince Robert of Luxembourg who can be proud proprietor of the legendary Bordeaux property, Chateau Haut-Brion. It is on this newly opened to the general public mansion that there’s now housed one of many metropolis’s best wine boutiques.
It earns its title as one of many best not solely as a result of you’ll find the 95 – 100 level bottles of wines right here, but additionally as a result of the curators of the cellar, specifically sommelier Antoine P�trus working with Prince Robert, have unabashedly chosen to incorporate their private favourite wines be they from small and little-known producers from France’s numerous areas or celebrity wine estates. Surprisingly, wandering into this luxury setting from off the road you needn’t within the least really feel intimidated. It is the boutique employees’s nice pleasure to steer you in direction of a bottle of excellent wine that can go well with any price range (sure, really!) and any event.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: One of the world’s finest luxurious procuring streets. Along this avenue you discover all one of the best luxurious manufacturers you have been dreaming of.
Paige’s skilled tip: Monthly wine tastings are held within the boutique’s cellars with a highlight on totally different regional wines every time. There isn’t any price for these tastings however reservations are an absolute should. You can discover full particulars concerning the wine tastings and the way to enroll on the boutique’s web site.
In this annex boutique to the Picasso Museum you can see gadgets specifically designed across the theme of Picasso’s works, in addition to a trove of Picasso-themes books. Hence the thick ceramic ware of primary stable colours like burnt orange and Riviera yellow will be yours to grace your vacation desk setting in time for Christmas.
Toward the again of the boutique, whose bodily presence is throughout the road from the precise museum, there’s a area wholly dedicated to youngsters. In addition to the bigger ticket gadgets there are a good variety of knick-knack souvenirs within the type of pencils and writing tablets and such.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: Museum outlets provide distinctive gadgets which might be good for present giving. They’re these kinds of issues that you just did not know you had been in search of.
Paige’s skilled tip: Look for this boutique simply off the stunning Marais Place Thorigny, throughout the road from the museum’s primary entrance. It’s price in search of this little jewel out for the reason that outlets and the realm surrounding it put you deep into the Marais, one in every of Paris’ loveliest procuring areas, crammed with bespoke boutiques.
Read more about La Librairie Boutique du Musee National Picasso-Paris →
Zoe all the time knew she needed to be a shoe designer. She’s a kind of blessed individuals who had a agency path earlier than her and knew what she needed to do along with her expertise and abilities. Little did she know, nonetheless, how laborious being a profitable shoe designer would truly show to be!
Fast ahead 10 years after arriving in Paris by means of Canada, and she or he and her bespoke Marais boutique are each thriving. She does all of the designs for her ladies’s handmade footwear herself. The leather-based is all vege-tanned in Italy the place the footwear are handstitched. Boots are one in every of her favourite designs, however she’s additionally mastered the woven leather-based look. These are the footwear you will love for a lifetime.
Recommended for Best Shopping as a result of: One-of-a-kinds. This is the brand new buzzword in vogue. But it is laborious to seek out, at reasonably priced costs anyway. So get your Zoe Lees whilst you can.
Paige’s skilled tip: If you want a selected pair of Zoe Lees, then finest to snap them up straight away. They are available in restricted editions by definition. Women’s boots are a few of her favourite designs so you may guess these will probably be a favourite in your shoe rack, too.
