Where to find vintage clothes in Paris
A list of the best vintage shops in Paris whether you’re looking for a Chanel suit or a €1 breton top.
When I was about to go vintage shopping in Paris, I had already accepted that I was going to come home with nothing.
Paris. Home of Chanel, Jane Birkin and the croissant. It’s where Haute Couture became a thing and where people actually like the rain. Just a sock was going to cost more than a month’s wages.
So, I buried my debit card in the bottom of my basket bag and headed to the shopping district of La Marais.
The first vintage clothes shop I went to was as big as a cupboard. It was so narrow that I couldn’t walk to the end of the shop without sexually harassing an unsuspecting French shopper. They didn’t object.
When I got to the back of the shop, what I found made me want to harass the stranger again with a cuddle. There was a bundle of clothes with €1 sellotaped above it. I dived in immediately and swam among the sea of clothes that smelled like fresh lavender.
I fished out a crisp white breton top with a bardot neckline and three quarter length sleeves. It was in perfect condition and was made by a French company I had never heard of. I hugged it tightly and promised that I wouldn’t let it go back in that €1 pile.
There was no mistake, it cost me €1. After I had dug deep into my basket bag and paid, I almost kissed the shop assistant but she stared as if to say “don’t you dare”.
When I got outside, I tied up my hair, pulled out my glasses and started walking into the vintage shop across the road.
If you want to find bargains in Paris, below is a list of my favourite places to vintage clothes shop.
The Best Vintage Shops, Paris
Free 'P' Star
There are two of these shops near each other. The smaller shop is the cheaper one with the gorgeous breton top I bought. If you don’t get angry about being in small spaces, then this one is great for bargains.
61 Rue de la Verrerie & 20 Rue de Rivoli 75004 Paris
Episode
This boutique has shops all over Europe and here, in Paris, is the first one I’ve visited. I loved this one so much that I can’t wait to check out the others.
12-16 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris
Kilo Shop
I usually can’t stand the concept of buying vintage per weight because I’ve always found they’re badly damaged or poor quality clothing. But this Kilo shop had a lot of great pieces and a melange of straw hats. It’s worth getting a kilo.
69-71 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris
Mad Vintage
Mad Vintage has two shops in Paris and both of them are well organised and decorated with gorgeous printed wallpaper. Besides the interior, their collection is cool too. You can check some of it out on ASOS Marketplace
66 Rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris or 41 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Chinemachine
I found this one in the beautiful hillside of Montmatre. It’s bigger than it looks from the outside. It has a basement full of clothes that will make your bag heavier.
10 Rue des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris
Thanx God I'm A VIP
If you’re looking for vintage Chanel and YSL, this is perfect. Everything is colour coordinated and it has a coffee bar at the back so you’ll never have to leave. Don’t expect any €1 items here.
12 Rue de Lancry, 75010 Paris
There’s also a lovely vintage bookshop that’s been open for decades and is featured in Hemmingway’s Parisian address book– Shakespeare & Co. And every book you buy gets stamped with their logo.
Do you know any more vintage shops in Paris? Let me know in the comments below!
P.S. Do you like sparkling water? Here’s a list of the places you can find sparkling water for FREE.
P.P.S. Do you know someone who is travelling to Paris soon? Don’t forget to share this with them.
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