Paris is an incredible city especially for shopping. On every street, rue and boulevard is usually something fabulous to eat, marvel and of course to buy. Being a shopper in Paris is a dream come true, regardless of your budget. In Paris you have the Five Major department stores, a litany of famous Designer Boutiques, and then a ton of Parisian Faves, an amazing Outlet Mall, mind blowing Flea Markets and the Vintage Circuit. This is part two of shopping in Paris 101 which takes a deep dive into the Local Faves and scratches the surface on the Outlets, Fleas, and Vintage Shops. To read in detail about the Five Majors and the Designer Depots click this link: https://jenslittleblackbook.com/2025/01/29/paris-101-shopping-the-majors-january-29th/ Who’s ready to pop some tags?
And what better way to start than with Parisian Fave Monoprix, a retail cornerstone in the City of Light. These reliable stores are found all over the city and are most comparable to our beloved Target. In addition to having a little bit of everything, their prices are incredibly affordable and their own hat and glove brand is stunning.
I also lust after their MakeUp line of cosmetics which rivals any high end product for a fraction of the cost. And of course they have some good lookin’ knives and housewares, clothes, shoes, gifts, and everything for kids, baby and men as well.
Most stores even have extensive grocery departments filled with great biscuits, chips, a crazy amount of chocolate cereals, mustards, staple household cleaning items, paper goods, sushi, prepared meals, baguettes, and hearty takeout options. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, VRBO, or any kind of rental, Monoprix is your one stop shop to stock the flat. And if you’re in a hotel, go anyway. It’s a fun store to nab a bargain or find a snack or have a snack while you’re looking for a bargain.
PARISIAN FAVE: Merci. Merci is like no other store I know and my most favorite store in Paris. Merci is set up like a bazaar where you stumble across a bin with great scarves or open a cabinet to find terrific handbags, or see a corner stuffed with one of a kind socks. It’s always changing and it’s always different and it’s always fun. It’s just insane in the best possible way. It’s a lot to take in so when you go, be prepared to look everywhere.
They often do fun collabs and have limited edition merchandise. (Always check the quality of the products. The recent Peanuts collab was sadly disappointing but the Weekend Max Mara styles were amazing.) I covet everything on the the top floor including vases, candles, glassware, and linens. The bottom floor has fabulous knives, great dishware, kitchen gadgets, and fragrance. And the middle floor is sort of like Goldilocks’ paradise where everything is juuuuust right. Over the years I’ve picked up perfume, shoes, a handbag, a summery canvas tote, one soft black cashmere sweater, two cute bandana scarves, a super cool Phil The Bottle reusable flat water container that shows all the drinking fountains in Paris, a shiny metal butter dish, and a cream featherweight tank top. Merci is great for giftables and keepsakes too. I am obsessed with this store!
PARISIAN FAVES: Citipharma and Pharmacie Du Forum Des Halles. For any and all cosmetics I only shop at two places. The first is Citipharma on the Left Bank known for their incredible prices, great selection, packed aisles and long lines, especially on a weekend. They carry prescription drugs, natural remedies, supplements, fantastic toiletries, and beauty essentials.
The second is Pharmacie Du Forum Des Halles which is the most gigantic cosmetics store I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s like the Costco of cosmetics with huge, wide aisles, experienced help to walk the store with you, big wheelie shopping baskets and fast moving checkout lines. They have every brand in every size including specialty gift packs and minis for travel. If you need sunscreen or body wash, hairspray, hair gel, mousse or volumizer, tinted moisturizer or hand cream, a million different glowtions, potions, foundations or protectors, look no further and plan to stock up.
I consider cosmetics different than actual makeup so for that vertical I have three Parisian Faves: Sephora, Kiko Milano, and Oh My Cream! Did you know that Paris is the OG location of Sephora? Yep, it’s true. And in Paris the stores there are huge, like gargantuan. Especially the location on the Champs-Élysées that welcomes you with an actual red carpet and their signature black and white striped columns.
Their very own Sephora brand has a more extensive line there than here, which is impressive. I love the About That Shine sheer lipstick and have at least four colors and I truly wear all of them. Sephora is home to countless brands of makeup, fragrance and skincare. You can spritz, sniff, smudge, smear and sample every single product. It’s usually a crazy busy scene but worth the visit.
Kiko Milano has stand alone stores scattered across the city with incredibly inexpensive prices for great quality makeup. I love their super shiny and long lasting 3D Hydra Lip Gloss and their fat Eyeshadow Sticks in gorgeous, wearable shades. They also do incredible promotions, like their Black Friday sale is a jawdropping buy three get three free promo. Amazing.
Oh My Cream! is a fun beauty boutique featuring a smattering of 45 rotating brands you can test and try. I’m a huge fan of Violette FR for their subtle Bisou Balm and Bisou Blush that blends beautifully. OMC has oils, scrubs, and masks, and all the products they promote and sell are “clean beauty.” They have dedicated hair, body, fragrance and wellness stations and they also feature their own line.
PARISIAN FAVE: In the housewares category there are a few stores that stand out. E. DEHILLERIN, La Trésorerie, and La Grande Epicerie are the top shops for takehome treasures. E. DEHILLERIN has been around since 1820! It’s where Julia Child sourced all of her pots and utensils to learn the art of French cooking. Wow. But even for a novice like you and me they have an enormous selection of knives, cookware, bakeware, mills, grinders, and every dish on earth for presenting and serving.
La Trésorerie is an emporium in the 10th that has got a ton of great merch. From glass pitchers and measuring spoons to knives, kitchen towels, tablecloths, pottery, mugs and serveware, their offerings are chic and modern. It’s hard not to want everything as you peruse their collective in this friendly, welcoming space.
La Grand Epicerie is home to an Olympic-sized food hall on the ground floor, but upstairs from the hallows of deliciousness sits two floors of gorgeous home furnishings. From dishes and fine china to clocks, tote bags, placemats, coffee makers, towels, bedding, and faux flowers, the space and layout are filled with delightful goods to feather your nest.
Now let’s get into clothing. (Can’t you just hear me cracking my knuckles in the background??) Among the Local Faves in this category, I would put Maje, Sandro, Agnes B., The Kooples, A.P.C., and Manoush in the same retail tier. Maje and Sandro (two similar brands founded by sisters) have sheath dresses, trendy tweed (think lower priced Chanel), thick tee shirts, clubby evening outfits, suity dresses, matching sets, and lots of corporate girl jackets. They have a range of ready-to-wear sizes but both offer a rather slim silhouette with a cool girl vibe.
The Kooples is a mod brand with lots of black items in the mix and a bit of sparkle. They offer collections and the essentials of fashion with modern tailoring and upscale pricing to match.
Agnes B. caters to both men and women and sticks to a simple, elegant design for sweaters, snap front cardigans, cashmere staples, hats, bags, gloves, scarves, coats, and tees.
A.P.C. offers elevated French basics from streetwear styles to high end and I love their handbags. They focus on a commitment to quality and timeless designs.
Manoush is all about splashes of prints and colors on frilly and flirty clothes, shoes and coordinating accessories.
On the fancier side I’d pick Kujten, From Future, AMI, and Leclaireur. Kujten has stores across the city specializing in gorgeous cashmere for men and women including some of my favorite scarves while From Future also sells high end cashmere in a variety of hot colors and styles.
AMI is a great brand with a noticeable logo that you can’t unsee once you recognize the symbol. Their thick cozy sweaters and jackets top every French person’s wish list and mine. They also sell bucket hats, baseball caps, handbags and shoes in addition to a full line of clothes.
Leclaireur is a concept store for fashion, art, design and lifestyle. And high end lifestyle at that! The store in the Marais is set back from the street with spot lighting and resembles a gallery built into a cave with a ton of screens attached to the walls. With designers like Rick Owens, R13, Sacai, The Row and MM6, the outrageous offerings here certainly make a statement. They sell a huge collection of famed artist Fornasetti and “welcome the most discerning fashion connoisseurs, exceptional researchers and the curious.” Their three stores in Paris offer “an authentic immersion transforming a simple visit into an adventure.” Indeed.
The brands all the French girlies go crazy for include Sézane, Balzac, COS, Rouje, Zadig & Voltaire, and Sessùn. Sézane is perhaps the most well known and most loved with a cult-like following, so say the lines out front every single day of the week. Women go crazy for their impressive collection of sweaters, or jumpers as they are called, shoes, initialed giftables, handbags, and mix and match separates in breezy fabrics. Think boho chic with a French twist.
Balzac is a great spot to pick up their signature light and fresh fragrance Honorine (I’m a huge fan), funky leopard socks, or a pretty blouse, butter soft leather jacket or stylish shoes. They make French dressing look effortlessly fab.
COS just happens to be the fashionable big sister to H&M with edgy separates, funky dresses, body con sweaters and interesting silhouettes. They have everything from oversized blazers to knit caps, wool scarves and trendy jewelry and bags. Their everyday dressing is stylish and sustainable for both men and women.
Rouje has a very girly aesthetic with a muted color palette showcasing assertive charm. From fitted to oversized they cater to every body. They even sell a line of their own cosmetics.
Zadig & Voltaire is an art inspired label known for their fabulous high top sneakers, crazy blazers and irreverant styles. They consider themselves a defiantly contemporary designer brand that writes its own rules for its luxury products.
Sessùn on the other hand offers a more traditional Parisan look of stripes and upscale basics. They create a “space for multiple lifestyles designed to reflect and foster the brand’s soul around a selection of arts and crafts and a canteen.”
If you’re looking for affordable luxury in the super casual space, both American Vintage and Sweet Pants are my Parisian Faves. Contrary to the name, American Vintage is a Paris-based brand and features super lux long and short sleeve tee shirts and matching bottoms. V-neck, crew neck, slim and boxy, they have it all in a variety of sizes and great color palette. Sweet Pants makes a statement with super thick cotton tops, logo’d bottoms, seasonal items, and plush jackets for men and women.
Zara, Jonak, and H&M are three huge players in Paris and amply cover the fast fashion space. The pricetags at Zara Paris are consistently 30% cheaper than Zara US on already affordable merch which makes a haul there probable if you’re already a fan. Zara is my go-to for blazers, tops, blouses, coats, and sweaters. Jonak is a great brand that sells fashionable trendy black shoes. Pointy toes, almond shaped, ballerinas, heels, boots? Check, check and check. Their price point is completely reasonable but you will lose your mind trying to pick just one pair since the styles are all really that good. Few folks don’t already know that H&M in Paris is a wonderland of inexpensive fashion for the whole family.
I’d be remiss to talk about shopping in Paris if I didn’t touch on three more verticals: Flea Markets, Outlets and the Vintage Circuit. The details on each could certainly fill a book rather than a shout out from moi but I’ll briefly give you some deets you might find helpful.
Flea Markets. Sunday is bargain hunting day in Paris and you’re gonna wanna go. The big Flea Market at Saint-Ouen is famous the world over for good reason. It’s home to the largest concentration of antique dealers and second-hand goods dealers in the world. Located at a northern gate of Paris opposite the 18th arrondissement, it’s open every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Seven hectares make up the entire conglomerate, which currently consists of twelve covered markets and five Pucières shopping streets.
Out of the hundreds of stalls and booths and markets, I like the Paul Bert Serpette section best. They showcase the most incredible furniture, art, lighting, collectibles, and jewelry. Paris proper also boasts lots of walkable sidewalk sales each Sunday and I love the scattered antique vendors that takeover every square meter of space blanketing the streets surrounding Square du Temple in the 3rd.
Outlets. The best outlets in France are located a quick 45 minutes due east of Paris. A civilized train ride or private Uber will deliver you door to door. Called La Vallée Village, this upscale outdoor mall has an exceptional array of stores including Gucci, Valentino, Prada, Tod’s, Zimmerman, Versace, Boss, Baccarat, Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, and more in a picturesque setting. My habit for the last few years has been to visit on what I always hope to be a quiet Monday, getting there as the doors fly open promptly at 10am and working quickly by hopping store to store before entry lines form outside the most popular brands.
The adrenaline is always pumping as I happily scan shelves, and rummage racks with a dedicated sales associate in each shop helping me to expedite the high intensity hunt. This can be serious cardio shopping! And the prices are tempting. You’re looking at 30-70% off retail and the stock here beats anything back home. It’s nearly impossible to walk away empty handed. If you do plan to drop a pretty penny or purchase oversized items (coats, bags, gifts with boxes, blankets, sheets) I highly recommend two things. Thing one is to bring along your own easy to stuff cotton shopping bags to consolidate your purchases. This will make schlepping and navigating The Village easier. Thing two would be snagging an easily accessible Uber back to your hotel as you don’t want to scream “target” carrying a ton of packages with you on the train. (You’re welcome.)
And speaking of bargains, if you love a good sale, several Parisian retailers have outlet branches within the city limits and they are labeled Archive stores. They include Sandro, Maje, A.P.C., Sézane, Claudie Pierlot and even Jonak. But be prepared. Hours and days are limited and the French chicks are incredibly aggressive when bargain hunting. They might appear demure, but trust me, their unpolished talons will come out if you set your sights on a shoe they’re eying. Styles are from seasons passed but there are deals to be had if you can tolerate the grabby crowds.
The Vintage Circuit. Paris is a hot bed of Vintage Shops with way too many to count but CrushON Shop and Nuovo are two of my faves and the rest of the good ones are scattered throughout the Marais. There are a few locations for CrushON but the best and biggest is located on the 3rd Floor of the department store Galeries Lafayette. There you will find “second hand done first class.” They have Burberry hats, Chanel purses, a serious collection of designer scarves, and vintage clothes to fill a whole wing of the store. I dare you to not fall in love.
Nuovo is just the opposite of CrushON. It’s a small, well-curated shop with amazing styles and fashions that are all pre-loved. It’s different every time you shop so don’t worry about popping by a few times during your stay if you’re a fan. You might just stumble across a newly added gown, jacket or gem.
The final frontier of shopping in Paris is… yes, that’s right… the airport! After you’ve checked in, cleared security, ridden the train and are heading toward your gate, you’ll stumble upon a shopping oasis for a captive audience known as Designer Duty Free! This encampment of fabulousness sprawls throughout the international terminal at Charles de Gaulle. So if you’re not broke by now AND you have a little room left in your carryon (big ifs), shop tax free to your heart’s content. Were you still thinking about that cute Prada nylon pouch? (Yeah, me too.) Well now’s your chance to snag it!
Stock up on gigantic bags of Europen Oreos or Cadbury Roundies, Hermès belts and sushi plates, and why not spring for a Fendi scarf while you’re at it for the chilly plane ride home? You made it through a whirlwind adventure in Paris you lucky duck. You probably deserve a little parting gift, right? (Wink)
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