Budget shopping in Paris

Look good on a budget!

Thinking about shopping during your next  trip to Paris but don’t want to ruin your budget? Then avoid the boutiques of the expensive designer clothes where wealthy tourists are ready to pay exorbitant prices. Do instead what many elegant yet budget-conscious Parisian women do: turn to marques dégriffées (shops of discounted designer clothes from going-out-of-business sales), and dépôt-ventes (consignment shops where wealthy Parisians’ cast-offs go for a fraction of their original retail price). Shopping in either is shame-free; in fact, it’s considered shabby chic.

Looking for something to wear to that special event this summer? Try rummaging through the marques degriffées boutique Fifty-Fifty on rue Corvetto (8^th); it’s like raiding your friend’s closet and paying a mere pittance to call these designer clothes your own. Regularly rotating designers like Givenchy and Marc Jacobs, Fifty-Fifty always has something for special occasions or night on the town.

You might also just walk up and down the Rue d’Alésia in the 14^th, between the Avenue du Maine and the rue Raymon-Losserand (metro: Alésia or Plaisance): there are several stores, shops, and open markets here that show either last year’s collections, marques degrifées, or bargain-priced shipments for quick sales.

Consignment shops are plentiful. The dépôt-ventes will often not accept anything less than designer clothes of the highest brand, and even then, they must be spotlessly clean, with no buttons missing or threads pulled, so you are assured the highest quality in used clothing.

Excellent values at Depot-Ventes

The Dépôt-Vente de Buci-Bourbon is a like a garage sale slumming with a champagne flute in hand. All the great designer clothes are found here, perhaps only a season or two past. You may find an exquisite silk Christian Dior dress with a matching jacket or duster, or a classic Channel two-piece suit that never outwears itself. Another excellent one is Chercheminippes, found at 102, 109, 111, 112, 114, 124 rue du Cherche-midi, Paris 6^th. There are several stores here: for women, for men, for children, accessories, shoes, etc. For fabulous fur values, try Michel’s Artisan Fourrure at 130 ave Mozart in the 16^th (métro Chardon Lagache or Eglise d’Auteuil). Have your own mink coat restored there, or shop for a great value right there. And anywhere along the beautiful pavilion of the Palais Royal you’ll find several boutiques selling yesterday’s styles at yesterday’s prices.

And if you find the perfect quelque chose in one of these shops, play the Parisian game: never let on where you purchased it. Budget shopping done right.

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