Ok. I realized that I never really wrote much about the incredible vintage clothing in Paris waaay back in September.

It was amazing. Now, there are a lot of vintage shopping opportunities in Paris, and they can really range on the price scale, especially since I’m guessing there is more vintage couture / designer clothing here than anywhere else. But what I really noticed is that on the low end, instead of polyester garbage you can actually find lovely, well-made clothing for very reasonable prices! Let’s just say I’m glad I had extra room in my suitcase.

The St. Ouen Flea Market

The photo above is from the St Ouen Flea Market, so I will start there. You’ve probably heard about the famous markets of Paris, and the St Ouen market is the largest of all. In fact, with over 2500 dealers, it’s the largest flea market in the world. I believe that, in the states, it might be more akin to what we think of as an antique mall, as the booths are permanent or semi-permanent structures and are open multiple days per week.

Prices and stock vary widely from seller to seller, but if nothing else, there are beautiful pieces to see throughout the market. I didn’t end up buying anything at all, but it was a lovely day of strolling and window shopping.

Coiffeur Vintage

One Sunday, we wandered down to the Marais to have falafel at L’As du Fallafel. Many businesses are closed on Sundays in Paris, so people head to the Jewish busniesses in the Marais (who are closed Saturday for Shabbat rather than Sunday). Anyway, the falafel here is probably the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten my share of falafel.

Next door (or perhaps a couple doors down) is the vintage boutique Coiffeur, a small, packed store that enticed me with the purses and boots in the window display. I loved the racks of vintage sweaters. I ended up buying an adorable red silk dress with tiny hearts printed all over it for 15 euro.

Coiffeur Vintage
32, Rue de Rosiers
75004 Paris

Free ‘P’ Star

Free ‘P’ Star is pretty amazing. It is wall to wall, crammed with vintage (and at least on the day I was there, vintage shoppers). Of particular note is the wall of boots and purses, and the teeny spiral staircase leading to a basement with the least expensive leather jackets I found in Paris. I bought a couple leather bags from the 70s, one of which I currently use pretty much every day.

Free ‘P’ Star
8 rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie
75004 Paris

Fripes Star

{photo by flickr user garzon}

Next up is Fripes Star, the newer sister store to Free P Star. This was actually my favorite vintage store in all of Paris. Still crammed with goodies, but this one is a lot bigger, so there’s some room to move around. And they had racks and racks and racks of dresses. I bought three dresses here for 10-15 euro apiece, all of which I’ve been wearing a lot since.

Fripes Star
1, Rue de la Verrerie
75004 Paris

Come On Eileen

{photo by flickr user portmanteaus}

Leaving the 4th arrondissement finally, there is Come On Eileen in the 11th. I was amazed to see vintage Chanel and Lanvin on the racks, mixed in with other high-quality but less impressively labeled clothing. Again, don’t miss the little narrow staircase that leads to a basement much larger than the street level!

Come On Eileen
16 Rue des Taillandiers
75011 Paris

Wochdom

Last, I will recommend Wochdom, which I wandered into one morning after an unsuccessful trip to Rose’s Bakery. This is a small, dark, pretty little shop with a small selection of lovely things. It was a relief to browse a more curated shop after battling with piles of vintage and frantic shoppers in other vintage shops.

Wochdom
72 Rue Condorcet
75009 Paris

Sigh. I want to go back. I cannot tell you how much I love that city.