paris
Ines de la Fressange—runway model, muse to Karl Lagerfeld, brand ambassador for Roger Vivier, French fashion icon and newly minted author—reveals her favorite places to shop in the City of Light.
Rodger Vivier
Inspired by Vivier's mantra—"all that is beautiful can go together"—I outfitted the store with Picasso paintings, blush pink walls and velvety flea market sofas. Customers who come for the pilgrim buckle flats and glossy leather handbags have asked if the decor hails from Vivier's own former living room—and to me, there is no higher compliment. 29 rue du Faubourg St.-Honoré (8th arr.), 33-1-5343-0085, rogervivier.com
Binome
On a narrow passageway in the Sixth sits this just-under-the-radar boutique owned and operated by two talented friends named Delphine. Their exclusive designs (one creates edgy jewelry, the other slouchy leather totes and boots) are the shop's main draw, and a well-tailored rack of simple Laurence Doligé and Hartford clothing rounds out the effortlessly cool mix. 5 rue de Condé (6th arr.), 33-1-4325-3795
Mamie
Top designers routinely cruise this glamorous, three-story vintage spot—bursting with floral-print A-line dresses, crystal-encrusted brooches and patent pumps from the '30s through '70s—for runway inspiration. 73 rue de Rochechouart (9th arr.), 33-1-4282-0998
Marie-Hélène De Taillac
Ultra-luxe bohemian jewelry may sound like an oxymoron, but Madame de Taillac pulls it off with rock-candy-colored tourmaline rings and rubellite drop earrings designed in India and displayed in her shop’s mirrored cases amidst lipstick-red velvet couches and spherical chrome chandeliers.
Ragtime
As famous for its owner (the great Parisian vintage dealer Françoise Auguet) as it is for its stellar designer clothing from decades past, this packed shop features '30s silk chiffon gowns and Dior dresses that aren't cheap but come in near-pristine condition.
Pierre Barboza
Founded in 1934, this antique jewelry dealer is one of the oldest vendors on the elegant rue Saint-Honoré and a favorite amongst the city's most elegant matriarchs, who come for 1830s heirlooms and impeccably restored pieces that glitter with newly added stones. 356 rue St.-Honoré (1st arr.), 33-1-4260-6708
Merci
What was once a textile factory is now a light-filled, 6,000-square-foot charitable shop filled with an eclectic mix of clothing, stationery, home goods, gardening tools and more, all of it gorgeously designed and contributed by its makers. Sales of everything from Marni and Stella McCartney tops to '30s-inspired light switches benefit a youth co-op in Madagascar. 111 Blvd. Beaumarchais (3rd. arr.), 33-1-4277-0033, merci-merci.com
Nessim Attal
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).
Palais Royal Serge Lutens
Perfumer Lutens designed his own house of beauty, outfitting the 15th-century Palais Royal space with glowing purple marble floors, a grand central spiral staircase and intricate celestial stenciling. Go for his playful fragrances (I enjoy the spicy Ambre Sultan) or simply to take in all the opulence. Jardins du Palais Royal, 142 Galerie de Valois (1st arr.), 33-1-4927-0909
Monoprix
Wanting to impress a visiting posh American fashion editor, I whipped up a shopping itinerary composed entirely of the city's fanciest stores. Imagine my delight when, instead, she insisted we head straight to this super-affordable, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-style chain for fistfuls of faux-diamond bangles and menswear that looks better on us. 21 Ave. de l'Opéra (1st arr.), 33-1-4261-7808, monoprix.fr
