Every serious shopper should begin with a pilgrimage to Christian Louboutin’s store on 68 Rue Du Faubourg St Honoré . Stay on this fashionable street and you’ll not only pass Sarkozy’s official pad but a multitude of designer boutiques on route – Miu Miu, Lanvin, Hermès…
The most fashionable place to lunch in Paris is Hôtel Costes (239 Rue Saint-Honoré; hotelcostes.com). This dark and moody hotel has a reception which acts like a fashion runway and is the go-to spot for fashion editors during Paris Fashion Week. Order the langoustine risotto and people watch for an hour.
Further down you’ll find Colette (213 Rue Saint-Honoré; colette.fr), a place of worship for fashion lovers. This sickeningly cool three-floored concept store houses the slickest designers alongside interiors and much more. Make sure you pause to admire the field of red poppies on the first-floor balcony.
Next, head to the Marais district. Similar to London’s Shoreditch, it’s a maze of cobbled streets packed with one-off boutiques. Luka Luna (77 Rue De La Verrerie; lukauna.com) is a quirky but stylish shop where you’ll find chic gifts with a sense of humour. On the same street is BHV Homme (36 Rue De La Verrerie; ) – a department store solely for men.
Whichever route you take through the warren of streets, definitely make sure you find hidden gem of a jewellers, Pierre Caron Bijoux (52 Rue Des Archives; 0033-14887 0749). With an array of distinctive delicate designs in gold and silver. Where Rue Vieille Du Temple meets Rue Des Francs- Bourgeois, you’ll find Comptoir Des Cotonniers, Zadig & Voltaire, Sandro and more. On Rue Des Rosiers, there’s an impressive Lee store and vintage shop Coiffeur. The last must-stop is Merci boutique (111 Boulevard Beaumarchais; merci-merci.com) – a store in an old factory where, thanks to its 10,000 rare secondhand titles, book lovers will thrive.
