Paris: The best vintage shopping in the 9th and 10th
Paris has always been a destination for vintage clothing lovers but it used to be that you’d have to trek all over town to find the best spots. In recent years, vintage stores and dépôts-ventes have been cropping up all over the place and now you’ll be hard pushed to find a street that doesn’t have one. As with any vintage shopping, it can be a real mix. Here I’m sharing my favourite haunts and the reasons why they’ve made it onto my list.
In the 10th Arrondissment, you’ll find Le Clan des Chineurs Galerie, run by Christian who sources French workwear, old Levi’s and cool vintage t-shirts, with a music/motorcycle bias. He customises and dyes old clothes too (with taste). There’s a lot to see here and it’s not overwhelming. It’s a nice space for the guys too.
Just down the road from him, Thanx God I’m a VIP (once you get past the name) has a great mix dating back to the 1940’s (mostly French or Italian) including bags and knitwear. It’s all arranged by colour, which makes the amount feel less overwhelming - although still I managed to walk away with a pair of black trousers. They’re very old Pucci, must have been around for decades, but pristine and with no smell. I’ve never come across anything smelly in here, but always check. It’s the golden rule of vintage shopping. Stick your nose right into the armpit so you know what you’re dealing with and assume that no, you won’t be able to wash the smell out when you get home. Trust me. Or learn the hard way.
Near the Canal St Martin, a neighbourhood I’m increasingly fond of, you’ll find Less Is More (no website), a little store full of vintage denim. The beauty here is that the owners know their stock - which is clean, orderly and good value - and they can somehow pluck out of thin air the pair that fits you perfectly.
Retro Chic on rue Condorcet (75009) has the added benefit of being just around the corner from the Rose Bakery (rue des Martyrs) and has a shoppable selection of vintage Lanvin, YSL and Celine as well as classic Chanel bags, mixed in with early Equipment silk shirts. Chanel fix, followed by cake. What more could you want?
If, like me, you are partial to an original YSL from the days of Yves, Rose Market Vintage on rue Milton is where you need to be. In spite of the name, it’s a far cry from a market, though there’s an outpost at 37 rue Paul Bert, where the infamous Marché Paul Bert hums with treasure hunters every weekend, on the edge of the city. Outside, there are vendors selling hundreds of pieces of vintage French workwear in various states of disarray. You can (and I do) spend hours trawling to find a ‘bleu de travail’ that feels just right - or buy at online store French Workwear and spend the time at a pavement cafe instead, watching the world go by.