Beginner’s Guide to Parisian Fashion ~ Le Marais
Is Paris more beautiful in the rain or in the sunshine? Is it more striking by day or night? Is Paris the city of love or the city of lights? The answer to all the above is YES. Yes, to it all. Yes, to love and light and to day and night. Paris is about embracing the moment and anticipating adventure all while doing so in the chicest, most effortless fashion. We watch movies about this romantic destination, and we think to ourselves, “can such a place really exist?” Again, the answer is yes, or in this case bien sur! Paris is tempting, Paris is exciting, Paris is beckoning but most of all Paris has something for every woman: the chance to express her femininity in a unique but classic way. Enter, Le Marais.
Le Marais or translated literally in English, “the marshland,” is a trendy neighborhood located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The Marais is a neighborhood known for its fashionable boutiques, both designer and local, it's LGBTQ+ pride, museums and bustling cafes that line cobblestone streets. Much of the historical appeal lies within the two most noticeable attractions in the neighborhood: Le Hotel de Ville and Place des Voges dating back to the Renaissance era. Despite these two major landmarks we prefer to walk through the cobblestone streets to the heart of the Marais and visit the Picasso museum to be mesmerized by the three floors and backyard of the infamous painter's largest collection of works. More of a moderniste? There’s something for you too. About 15-minute walk from la musee de Picasso and you’ll find Paris’ most popular modern museum, le Pompidou which has some of the most expansive and breathtaking views of Paris.
“Trendy is the last stage before tacky.”
-Karl Lagerfeld
You’re in Paris, you’re in the Marais but what is the style code? Before you reach for that beret and striped black and white quarter sleeve top let's look at our list of Parisian must-haves for your day in the Marais and we have to look no further than French style icon and editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, Emmanuelle Alt. Alt’s understated elegance is the epitome of what it means to be a French woman of any age with style and gives us the blueprint of the perfect but casual French outfit.
Alt shows us that to be chic doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort because after all how would we survive in heels and a pencil skirt a la Carine Roitfeld as were jetting around town? Emmanuelle Alt’s uniform is simple: neutral tones, chic shoes, a statement jacket and keep accessories to the bare necessities. In Paris and certainly in the Marais you will see that less is more, and you don’t have to swap comfort for fashion but that they can go hand-in-hand every time. Now that we have the blueprint, let’s talk shop.
If you’re looking for a more traditional, one-stop shopping experience then the BHV Marais is the department store option for you. Luxury and designer shops occupy the 2nd-6th floor of the Bazar de Hotel de Ville and offer a more tourist approach to shopping in the Marais. The BHV offers an air-conditioned oasis complete with BHV Homme (menswear) and a homewares department where you can pick up some fine China and finer crystal glasses. Want to take a break from scaling the endless floors and spending endless euros? The BHV is surrounded with artisanal boulangeries and yes, even a Starbucks. We love an old-fashioned department store as much as the next tasteful woman, but what we love even more, maybe even cherish is a vintage-thrift store. Tilt has two locations in the Marais, and we can personally vouch for the Tilt located at 8 Rue de Rivoli, a rue that is famous for being lined with boutique after boutique.
We can all agree that all thrift stores basically have that same worn, leather and denim smell that certifies itself as an A-1 thrift store and Tilt is no exception. Its racks are color coded in a rainbow of denim and tees but if you look hard enough you can walk out of the shop with a designer trench or silk scarf. After searching Tilt for those designer gems, you may want to head to a place where designer vintage isn’t a dime-a-dozen but a guarantee. Fabri & Co. is sure to house your next vintage designer purchase. The petit shop has luxury vintage shoes, pants, jackets, sets, hats, scarves among other accessories. At Fabri & Co. you will find clothing that dates back to the 70s, 80s, 90s and even pieces from the recent 2000s. After you leave Tilt you’ll want to grab a quick bite before you head over to 82 Rue de Tournelles where I can guarantee you will spend most of your time on your day of shopping.
Now you’ve hit the shops, both contemporary and eclectic. You have the blueprint, you bought the clothes and spent the euros, next step is snap some stylish photos and show your friends (and the rest of Instagram) your new Parisian panache. Bon Voyage!
xo
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