Vintage Shopping in Paris

Yesterday I wrote about day one of my trip to Paris – there were lots of shoes, a few hot dogs and plenty of beautiful people. After all the glamour of the Sarenza party, our second day in Paris was much more low key but no less fabulous.

A classic French croissant for brunch

First up, Tor, Reena and I were taken to the Sarenza offices for a tour. It was fascinating to see all the international teams working side by side – everyone had at least one pair of shoes on their desk too, which made me very jealous. The most exciting thing on mine is a staple remover. Sigh.

The Sarenza team took us for a traditional Parisian brunch, where we feasted on croissants with Nutella, hot chocolate in big ceramic bowls and freshly squeezed orange juice. When we were suitably fuelled, the Sarenza girls presented us with a map of the Marais area, with all the best vintage shops highlighted, and three tickets for the Metro. The ultimate tools for a day in Paris!

Vintage shops in Paris

Coiffeur Vintage, 32 Rue de Rosiers, 75004 Paris

Our first stop was Coiffeur Vintage. This tiny place is crammed floor to ceiling with vintage clothing, shoes and accessories. There are printed dresses, sequin capes, leather satchels and more silk scarves than one mulleted girl can handle. Prices were around €3 for a scarf, €10-15 for a dress and €20 for leather items.

Free ‘P’ Star, 8 Rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris  (Image via Free ‘P’ Star’s website)

Free ‘P’ Star was our second stop. Another shop jam-packed with vintage loveliness, it was the handbags that seriously impressed me here. They were more expensive than other items at around €75, but there were some real beauties. If only I’d had more euros on me!

We stopped for a quick bite to eat (Croque Monsieur, bottle of Coke and a chat with some very merry Parisian ladies who admired our accessories) then carried on our vintage adventure, finally stopping at Come on Eileen.

16 Rue des Taillandiers, 7501 Paris (Image via From Paris with Love)

Now, I think we may have visited the sister store to Come On Eileen, but I can’t remember the name nor can I find it on Google. Come On Eileen is practically identical though – a high end store stocking vintage Chanel, Lanvin and Hermes. A rummage through a bargain bin uncovered an LV backpack, while Tor found a colour pop Celine suit on the rails. Bliss for anyone looking to invest in a classic designer piece.

I didn’t take much cash with me, but that didn’t matter. Vintage clothing is ridiculously cheap in Paris, more so when compared to London and even northern prices. You can expect to pay anything from £20 to £60 for a simple vintage dress at a store in the UK, but in Paris…

Cornflower blue floral dress, €15, Coiffeur Vintage

I love the pearl buttons and sawn-off hemline on this dress. I think I’ll remove the shoulder pads and add a leather belt for a cute, casual look.

Watercolour print pleated skirt, €5, Coiffeur Vintage

I’ve seen very similar skirts selling for £30 on the high street, but this is a real original. It’s high waisted, mid-length and pleated – three trends in one €5 skirt!

Blue maxi dress, €15, Free ‘P’ Star Vintage

When Tor spotted me with this dress in my hands, she said ‘so Kate Middleton!’. I agree – there’s something very regal about this gorgeous floor length blue maxi dress, and the slit at the back is just sexy enough to balance the long length. I’ll be wearing this at both the weddings I’m going to this summer.

I was absolutely bowled over by the quality and cost of vintage clothing in Paris. In a city where everything is so expensive, it was a real surprise to discover these hidden retail gems, packed full of new-to-me treasures at such good prices. I can’t wait to go back for more – maybe with a group of bloggers in tow?

What do you think of my vintage finds – are you as impressed as me? Have you ever explored the vintage scene in Paris?

PS – The French Vocabulary Twitter stream obviously knew I’d be posting this – just look at one of their latest tweets…

Une bonne affaire indeed!