Shopping in Paris: the 3rd arr.

Ah, Paris, you’ve captured my heart again … and the better part of my wallet. Taking advantage of the English long weekend, I headed over to Paris for a short break of sightseeing, picnic-partaking (think: champagne, cheese and baguettes under perfect blue skies) and a spot of shopping.

It was bliss, but be warned about Paris in August, especially if you’re serious about shopping and food. Most of the city shuts down for the whole month, as the locals take off for their summer holidays. Many of the shops and restaurants I had planned to visit were closed. The upside is that it’s quieter than usual and summer is the perfect time in Paris to indulge in a cheeky 3pm framboise glace.

If you want to get the best out of Paris shopping, you need to be well-prepared and sort out what you want to see and do in advance, and then tackle it geographically.

Paris is divided into districts (aka arrondissements) that spiral out from the centre of the city. (Trust Paris to have a city plan with such an avant-garde design motif – “Grid? Non!” – recalling the delicate pattern on a snail’s shell, or the luscious swirl of buttercream icing on top of a cupcake, or the infinite array of shopping opportunities … OK, I’ll stop now).


I stayed in my favourite part of Paris: the Marais, which is steeped in history and has a strong Jewish culture. This utterly delightful little place in the world is home to a plethora of boutiques, galleries, bars, cafes and some of the best courtyards in the city.

Here’s my list for shopping in the 3rd arr:

Shine
15 rue de Poitou
This light-filled boutique stocks a wide selection of cool labels, including See by Chloe, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Preen, Cheap Monday and True Religion. I made a beeline for the traditional French Repetto leather ballet pumps, which are beautifully crafted and have the softest leather uppers – truly the comfiest flats around (and worn by French ballerinas!).


AB33
33 rue Charlot
Head here for French labels including Vanessa Bruno’s diffusion line, Athe.

Martin Grant
10 rue Charlot
www.martingrantparis.com
(Closed 3 weeks in August)
This hugely talented Australian fashion designer is known for his flattering cuts, exquisite tailoring and elegant designs. Oh, and Cate Blanchett is also a big fan.

Abaco
68 blvd. de Sebastopol
Stop here for slouchy leather bags.

Abou d'Abi Bazar
10 rue des Francs Bourgeois
www.aboudabibazar.com
This boutique is a fashion-crowd favourite, stocking mostly Parisian designers including Tara Jarmon, Antik Batik, Isabel Marant and Stella Forest.

American Apparel
123 rue Vieille due Temple
www.americanapparel.net
Stock up on cult cotton tees, tank tops and bodysuits - the wide-scoop necklines are ultra-flattering. Don’t miss the cute baby range.


Bonton
118 rue Vieille du Temple
www.bonton.fr
Beautiful French baby and children’s store, with a fashion-forward children’s clothing line (think tiny floral-print blouses, and knits in muted shades of charcoal, oyster and tobacco). There is also a fine selection of nursery furniture, bed and bathware and children’s books (including the French Martine series). I liked their cute-n-quirky duck, squirrel, lamb and mushroom lamps (around €45).



A.P.C.
112 rue Vielle-du-Temple
www.apc.fr
Cult French brand with a minimalist aesthetic. Fabulous jeans. I love their new season range, which features smock shift dresses in black and mustard.

Hysope & cie
104 rue Vielle du Temple
Come here for beautiful blooms and creative floral arrangements. The window display is a visual treat.



Vanessa Bruno
100 rue Vieille du Temple
www.vanessabruno.com
My favourite Parisian designer, known for her feminine tailoring and unfussy aesthetic. Check out her lush range of handbags, including the new Autumn/Winter metallic leather line.


Erotokritos
99 rue Vieille du Temple
www.erotokritos.com
This women’s fashion boutique is a local favourite. I like their Autumn/Winter line-up of cotton jersey tops and smock dresses with lace panel inserts.

Les Petites
98 rue Vieille du Temple
www.lespetites.fr
Come here for quality cashmere and brightly-coloured cute frocks. Their Missoni-inspired striped dresses are most covetable.

L’Artisan Fleuriste
95 rue Vieille du Temple
Oh, the roses!


Celis
72 rue Vieille du Temple
This tiny little store sells handmade knitted finger puppers and children’s jumpers.



Manoush
75 rue Vieille du Temple
www.manoush.com
Ultra-feminine boutique with a range of beautiful frocks and accessories. I like their current ‘60s-style dresses and coats with gathered sleeves (although I didn’t dig the rabbit fur collars). Expect lots of pink and kittens.



Jamin Puech
68 rue Vieille du Temple
www.jamin-puech.com
It’s a bit of thrill to view the entire current collection of Jamin Puech’s divine handbags in one place. Each piece is a work of art in itself, exquisitely crafted in a breathtaking array of materials and embellished with buttons, embroidery and beading. The sales wall held me captivated for a long time, but I was equally enamoured by the stunning hand-crafted flower brooches. The perfect Paris souvenir.



Paul & Joe Sister/ Homme
56/58 rue Vieille du Temple
www.paulandjoe.com
Get a fix of Sophie Albou’s ultra-desirable label for both men and women at this twin shop. Autumn/Winter 07-08 sees more ‘60s-style smock shift dresses (big trend) as well as blouses with bell-sleeves and loads of soft knitted berets and hats (yes, I know it’s Paris, but trust me, hats are going to be huge – especially perched on a jaunty angle with a sweep of fringe peeping out).

Where to eat in the 3rd arr:

La Chaise au Plafond
10 rue de Tresor
French food at reasonable prices (and Martin Grant’s favourite local bistro).

Les Philosophes
28 rue Vieille du Temple
Make a shopping pitstop at this café.

Chez Omar
47 rue de Bretagne
Head here for the delicious couscous, friendly staff and a buzzy atmosphere.

La Perle
78 rue Vieille du Temple
Favourite local café for models and photographers.

Other things to see in the 3rd arr:

Musee National Picasso
5 rue Thorigny
www.musee-picasso.fr
Allow time to check out this gallery devoted to Picasso’s paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

Galerie Yvon Lambert
108 rue Vieille du Temple
www.yvon-lambert.com
Contemporary art gallery. If you’re in Paris during September and October this year, don’t miss the Andy Warhol Intimate exhibition.

Recommended reading:
Time Out Paris for Visitors (2007/8)
Paris by Numbers (www.parisbynumbers.com)
Wallpaper* City Guide: Paris
Lucky magazine Paris guide

Paris street style: Camille Bidault-Waddington on Rue St Honore

I was pretty excited when I spotted this lemon sorbet stunner shopping in Colette - for me she was the epitome of cool, laid-back Parisienne style with a sweet vintage edge.

It was only after I approached her for a photo that I noticed that the tall, lanky husband (with cool specs) waiting patiently nearby was none other than Jarvis Cocker, and my lemon sorbet inspiration was fashion stylist Camille Bidault-Waddington. Happy Endings!

A wee birdy told me that Camille is wearing a vintage dress from London, Mulberry handbag, and espadrilles from the south of France.

French birdy

Bonjour du petit oiseau

Just a wee note from Paris ... and a sneak peek at what I'll be posting next week:

This just in: new Celia Birtwell range at Topshop

The last time I saw an original Celia Birtwell print, it was behind a glass cabinet at the brilliant Ossie Clark exhibition at the V&A museum in 2003. I missed the first two seasons of Celia Birtwell at Topshop, but I'm excited about being in London for the new collection which has just hit stores. The dreamy floral prints are Birtwell at her best. Prices start at £45 for blouses, but check out one of the gorgeous limited edition print scarves for £18:

Wee Birdy Q&A: Dressmakers in London

I’m looking for a good dressmaker in London. Could you recommend one? I’m after someone that can make me a ‘50s-style Wiggle dress. – Azka

Oh, lucky birdy, a ‘50s-style Wiggle dress is the sassiest choice for a chic-n-sexy look, and the originator of the new so-called “body conscious” trend. And you’re heading in the right direction wanting it made-to-measure, as you really need the garment to fit like a glove. (I learnt the hard way when I went shopping for a Wiggle dress last year on Ebay. Three ill-fitting vintage frocks later – two I could not get beyond my hips – and I discovered that unless we share the same DNA, other people’s Wiggles were not the way to go).

I haven’t used a dressmaker in London, and all my usual sources for recommendations were thick on tailors and thin on dressmakers of the non-wedding variety. But I’ve found three dressmakers who sound like they can whip up a Wiggle for you. At least get a quote from each one and suss out if they’ve got a handle on what you’re after:

Paul Hawley
Dressmaking & Tailoring
www.paulhawleylondon.co.uk
4 Tiber Gardens
London N1 0XE
Tel: 020 7278 1065
Mob: 07958 481064
Email: paul@paulhawleylondon.co.uk

RozDesigns
www.rozdesigns.com
39 Mayfield Avenue
North Finchley
London N12 9JG
Tel: 020-8446-5555
Email: roz.designs@btinternet.com

Brown Atelier
Tel: 078 1622 2841
20 Woodhouse Road
North Finchley N12 0RG

In the meantime, I do recommend that you check out Whirling Turban for their truly fabulous online made-to-measure service. They design their own vintage-inspired frocks and source the most gorgeous vintage fabrics and Chinese brocades for you to choose from. They take all your measurements and are particularly finicky about fit, so allow enough time for them to create the perfect Wiggle for you. One of my BFFs in Australia had a sensational Whirling Turban creation for a Shag launch (the same event that led to my sad Ebay search for a Wiggle). She chose a wild Tiki print and was the sauciest wahini in the place. And they even made her the sweetest matching fan. Here's another cute look from Whirling Turban:


While most of their frocks feature a sarong-style wrap element, you could ask them for a variation on the pattern, such as a fitted pencil skirt instead.


For an off-the-rack Wiggle dress, I also recommend you check out Stop Staring online for 107 vintage and rockabilly-style frocks. You’ll find some fabulous Wiggles in their collection (have a peep at the Starlette dress, Summer Fling, Drama Girl dress, Sydney dress, Manhattan dress, Black Vixen, Leopard Martini dress and the ultra-sexy Black Satin Hollywood dress). Make sure you click on the link to “Our Items Available at Daddy-o’s” and refer to their helpful Sizing Chart for the perfect fit.

London shopping: Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe

If you’ve ever read a Harry Potter book (you have? smart bird!), you’ll be familiar with Honeydukes, the ever-popular sweet shop in Hogsmeade that sells everything from Acid Pops and Cockroach Clusters to Whizzing Fizzbees.

Now while Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe in Soho doesn’t sell sweets that make you levitate or (thankfully) burn a hole through your tongue, it does capture the magic of an old-fashioned store packed with curios and unusual sweets.



Dozens of glass jars line the windows and walls, and you can pick and mix from an impressive line-up of sweets such as sherbet lemons (95p/100g), clove rock (£1.55/100g), watermelon sticks (50p), liquorice root (50p) and Pontefract cakes (95p/100g). There is also a range of ultra-versatile coloured sherbet crystals, which you can sprinkle on ice-cream, rim cocktail glasses, or dip with a lollipop.


A cabinet of truffles and ganaches also entices, with delectable fillings like William pear ganache, rose creams and violet creams (£3.75/100g). And the chocolate heels (£4.99) make a nice gift for your favourite sartorially-minded friend.

But the best gift award has to go to the very handsome Nostalgic Sweet Jar, which for £15.99 makes a wonderful treat for those with a sweet tooth and a fondness for retro. It’s packed with the goodies you gobbled throughout your childhood, like Flying Saucers, Parma Violets and Anglo Bubbly. For an extra service fee, you can also have the label personalised with a message to your friend. Sweet.



Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe
57a Brewer Street
London W1F9UL
Tel: 020 7734 6633
Email: mrskibblesoldesweetshoppe@hotmail.co.uk

Opening hours:
Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 11am-7pm
Sunday 12noon-4pm

Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Look out for the new shop opening in St Christopher’s Place in a couple of months.

Edit: The new St Christopher's Place address is:

4 St Christopher's Place
London W1U

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
For more shops in W1, click here.

Street style: Charlotte at the Hayward Gallery

A wee birdy told me that Charlotte, 35, is wearing a blue dress from Topshop, coat from Primark, red shoes from Office, and handbag from a market stall. Her red lipstick is by Nars in Rouge D'enfer.

London shopping: What you need now

After one too many trips on the tube emerging like a soggy chip wrapper (hold the vinegar), it’s time to crack open the emergency summer survival kit.
What you need right now is a handpainted Chinoiserrie fan from Coco Ribbon. It ticks both stylish and practical boxes, and at £6.95 it’s a snip for staying cool and sweet next time you’re wedged under someone's armpit on the central line trip home.

Oh, and did I mention that you can also update your flirting-on-the-tube technique with the secret language of fans?
Sure beats putting a “lovestruck” ad in The London Paper …

Coco Ribbon
www.cocoribbon.com

21 Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill
London W11 2EU
United Kingdom
Tel: 0207 229 4904

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10.30am-6.30pm
Thursday 10.30am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12.30pm-5.30pm

Tube: Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove

For more shops in W11, click here.

London shopping: Magma

Lacking inspiration? Feeling lost and parched in a creative desert? Just need to buy a cool gift for someone who’s got everything? Then head to Magma in Clerkenwell for an instant hit of creative refreshment.


This cool spot is a haven for design-types, stocking a wide selection of the latest books on graphic design, art, pop culture, typography, photography, fashion, film and animation, illustration, and architecture. The staff are friendly and knowledgable and can help steer you in the right direction.


But Magma is more than a book shop, with other fun and design-driven products such as stationery and accessories, badges and pins, and vinyl toys by Kid Robot and Nathan Jurevicius.


There is also a wall of the latest design, art and fashion magazines, including overseas and hard-to-find publications.


The front window displays a range of artist-designed t-shirts, like David Shrigley’s cute-n-tragic penguin with an arrow through his heart (£32) and A. Johnson’s (the guy behind the Robinson juice adverts) elephant spouting rainbow drops (£30).


The tiny cigarette-packet-style of classics by the likes of Tolstoy, Conrad and Hemingway make a great gift, as do the beautifully printed tea-towels and hankies by Sukie. The selection of children’s books are also carefully considered, featuring clever graphics and gorgeous illustrations (my personal favourite is Everybody Poos by Tara Gomi).


Magma has a new (non-book) store that has just opened on Earlham Street, which is dedicated entirely to products. Stay tuned for the review.


Magma
117-119 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1R 5BY
Tel: 020 7242 9503

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm

Nearest tube: Faringdon

For more shops in East London, click here.

Wee Birdy Sore Toothy

Hi birds,
I'm out of action at the moment with a nasty wisdom tooth, but I'll be back soon and chirping loudly about London's shopping gems and style secrets.
Tweet you later,
Top Bird

London shopping: Muji

One of my most satisfying shopping experiences in London is spending a bit of time in Muji. And with eight stores in the Greater London area, you don’t have to go far to stock up on some “essential” stationery items and “must-have” accessories.


OK, so maybe not “essential” or (at a stretch) “must-have”, but it’s deeply satisfying to pick up a functional (and nicely designed) product at a reasonable price.

Muji is a Japanese brand that has grown wildly in the past few years, with 15 stores spread throughout the UK. They stock a range of fashion, homewares and furniture, but I seem to always get stuck in their stationery, gifts and accessories department.

They are masters of minimalism – so there’s no jarring prints or florals here, folks. I’m a fan of Muji's clear acrylic storage range, because they make your bits and bobs look like tasty pieces in a cool gallery (see my postscript in the Tatty Devine post). I like the acrylic three-drawer box (£9.95) and the acrylic cosmetics box (£7.50).


You can also give your desk a Muji makeover with the acrylic hole punch (£2.95), large stapler (£4.95) and tape dispenser (£3.71). There’s also a lovely selection of notebooks and sketchpads, starting at 75p.



I also like Muji's fun gifts like the Re-Used Yarn Bunny (£6.95) and chunky tub of coloured pencils (from £7.95).



The best buy (and my personal favourite) is London in a Bag (only £3 now): a wooden set of all the iconic London buildings from the BT Tower to Big Ben. You can also get Tokyo and New York in a Bag (also reduced to £3 each), which look fab set up on a bookshelf. Check out my brother-in-law’s New York (which is actually in Sydney, Australia):




Muji
www.muji.co.uk
Click here for store locations.
I visited:
41 Carnaby Street
London W1V 1PD
Tel: 020 7287 7323

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10am-7pm
Thursday 10am-7.30pm
Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 12noon-6pm

Tube: Oxford Circus

For more shops in W1, click here.