paris

It's less complicated, and more fun, than it sounds.

Cozy and cluttered, this vintage kitchenware spot stocks treasures like '50s checkered 
linens and colorful café au lait bowls that I scoop up by the mismatched dozen.

Troll Caravane's exotic-contemporary home furnishings—overstuffed sofas topped with punchy pillows, fluffy daybeds paired with cashmere throws, bed linens in unexpected colors—and try to resist the urge to move in.

The place for retro lighting from the '30s to the '80s, with prices starting at 150 euros. Recently spotted: a '60s chrome-and-bubble fixture that transported me straight back to childhood.

I love an English-style schoolgirl satchel and—strangely—no one does them better than this heritage French handbag company. Shapes and colors range widely at the flagship—from plaid and messenger to flannel and cross-body—but they’re all consistently affordable.

Art shopping has never been as unintimidating as it 
is at this gallery for fresh talent (keep your eyes peeled for the next Braque), where color-saturated landscapes and abstracts are stacked warehouse-style and priced as low as 60 euros. 39 Blvd. Malesherbes (8th arr.), 33-1-4336-4795, artupdeco.com

Choose the leather and color and this old-school shoemaker will craft you any made-to-measure pair you like, from open-toe T-straps to gladiator sandals. Design wisely—and early: The shops waiting list spikes as soon as the temperature does (I've ordered pairs as early as December).

In summer, I slip on a pair of the shop's painted clogs; in winter, I cozy up in the chunky knit sweaters; but the real standouts at this tiny Swedish boutique are the natural leather cross-body bags. All year round, people stop me on the street to ask where I bought mine. 157 Blvd. St.-Germain (6th arr.), 33-1-4548-0014

Spun from khadi (a cotton-like Indian textile), Danish designer Bess Nielsen's blankety scarves and featherweight tunics are carried by such forward-thinking retailers as Barneys. But only here is the collection available in its exquisite entirety. 37 rue Debelleyme (3rd arr.), 33-1-4274-7132, khadiandco.com

This accessories hot spot's gilded display cases are laden with of-the-moment, everyday jewelry I want to wear right now, like bejeweled woven friendship bracelets, bow-shaped stud earrings and stackable gold and colored-stone rings. I always leave with a sparkly little something. 104 rue Vieille du Temple (3rd arr.), hod-boutique.com, 33-9-5315-8334