Shopping in Paris is not your average retail therapy session. Paris's true magic lies in the hidden alleys and charming neighborhoods, teeming with vintage and secondhand designer treasures.
In recent years, my style has matured. Gone are the days of chasing trends. Now, I crave pieces with character, history, and a touch of Parisian je ne sais quoi, which this city delivers in spades!
My first stop was a must-visit for any vintage enthusiast: Debardeuse located right in the Pigalle area, has racks overflowing with vintage Chanel jackets and silk Hermès scarves. The friendly owner helped me sift through the gorgeous scarves; a task that was not easy given the volume. It turns out, silk scarves by Hermes, Dior and Celine have been quite the collectors item for many years - the stock just in this shop alone shows the variety over the years! But this shop is truly overflowing with goodies at all price points.
Just up the road, a hidden gem awaited. HEADLESS Paris specializes in high-quality (note: not designer) secondhand retro clothing, with a curated selection that felt more like a high-fashion gallery than a thrift shop. Here, I found a perfectly cool stretch sheer polka dot top that fit like a dream, which I ventured back to buy for 20 euros - bargain!
In the trendy Marais district, one of the three stores of Opulence Luxury & Vintage offered a treasure trove of designer pieces. If you want a gorgeous designer handbag at a fraction of the price, then this is your store.
I actually found quite a few great pieces on level 3 of La Galleries Lafayette in the new Re(store). Now, I was not expecting to find such a department in this very well known, very high end department store, however, the push for sustainable shopping is apparent through all the big stores in Paris! Here I managed to find designer goods, such as a Saint Laurent silk dress, Burberry coats a plenty, middle tier French designers such as The Kooples, Maje and Sandro, and vintage goods such as quality 2nd hand leathers and cool coats. I picked myself up a pair of great leather pants (40EUR), a vintage Balenciaga cotton shirt (45EUR) and a lace blouse from The Kooples (50EUR).
Printemps Haussmann also has a similar department on it's very top floor, and curated artistically, with fashion installations to celebrate the vintage and recycled (definitely venture up here to check out the view, or visit the beautiful rooftop restaurant Perruche!)
For more retro cool finds from 70s onwards, a gem tucked away in a dusty corner of Les Chatelet is Tragic Vintage Store, containing only the very best leather jackets, vintage levis, cowboy boots and retro sports collectables. Unique, but appealing.
The beauty of Parisian shopping goes beyond the stores themselves. The thrill of the hunt, and finding unique pieces are experiences that make Parisian shopping so much more than just a transaction. Each piece I purchased wasn't just an item of clothing; it was a little piece of Parisian history (whether old or relatively new), ready to be woven into my own story.
So, if you find yourself in Paris, ditch the Champs-Élysées and delve into the treasure trove of vintage and secondhand stores like those above (there are so many more!)
Yorumlar