Now not all designer depots were created equal, and where you go shopping for practically-perfect-in-every-way designer clothes is the true measure of your inside knowledge of the city.
I would like to recommend to you three petites adresses (the French for 'best-kept-secret places') I selected amongst a host of others:
- For those of you ladies who like the classic look, Priscilla is the shop for you. Priscilla is the lady who owns the place. She reveres such signature names as Yves Saint Laurent, Max Mara, Kenzo, Christian Dior and Sonya Rykiel.
Her prices range from €60 for a skirt, to €75 for a jacket, to €130 for a lady's suit. Priscilla advises you to rummage around, and come to her place with an open mind. The shop is located at 4 rue Mouton- Duvernet, in the 14th district. The nearest metro station is Mouton-Duvernet. Its opening hours are between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Monday, and between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday with a one-hour break at 1:30 pm.
- My next address, Le Jupon Rouge, is situated at 9 rue de Rochechouart in the 9th district. The owner, Tania, describes her designer depot as "colorful, ethnic but not hippie, and certainly not classical in style."
Tania offers a selection of up and coming French designers such as Bali Barret (a fencing-style vest for €45, cashmere blend cardigans for €45 to €100) and Vanessa Bruno (wool jackets, €90). She also carries more established signatures such as Agnès B (her signature black jacket is offered at €50), and vintage Ungaro blouses for €45.
Ladies looking for shoes can fall for pairs of Stephane Kelian low-cut Cuban boots (€100), Repetto ballerina shoes (€40), or vintage low-heel horse-riding boots (€40-70). Tania opens her doors from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm with a one-hour lunch break at 1:30 pm.
- In a totally different style, Griff-Troc is the designer depot you need to lose yourself into when you want to go chic-chic-chic. The owner, Beatrice, chose to specialize in perennial, classic basics in perfect condition.
Chic has a heftier price tag, of course, but on the upside Griff-Troc offers brand names for 15-30% of boutique prices. On the shelves at the time I wrote this article, Beatrice had a Chanel suit for €1000 (vs. €5000 at Chanel's), a brand-new Chloe bag for €800 (instead of €1200), several astounding evening dresses priced between €1200 and €1500 (Chloe, Dior, D&G, Valentino), and Hermès silk scarfs on offer for only €150.
She maintains a full selection of bags, jewels, and fragrances. Chic classic never dies. Who cares about whether your Chanel suit is this season's or not? The busy boutique is located in the posh section of the 17th district, at 119 Boulevard Malesherbes. The nearest metro stations are Villiers and Monceau. Its opening hours are between 10:30 am and 7:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday.
The Joy of Paris Shopping
I personally enjoy shopping these boutiques, and based on the number of smartly dressed women I spot there, I am not alone in the belief that such bargains cannot be let pass.
Phil Chavanne has written numerous articles on Parisian best-kept-secrets. His free travel guide offers many tips and advices to help you experience Paris to the fullest on your next trip to the French capital. His site, Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, also gives you ways to save on booking a Paris hotel.
