Hidden Gems in Paris: vintage and resale

Vintage Finds in Paris with Grace in Paris - Part 1

Shopping resale and vintage is my favorite kind of treasure hunt when I am in Paris. I can find new items that were never released in the U.S. or pieces that have been well loved that easily fit into my style. One of my favorite shops for resale of high-end designer brands is a tiny boutique off a main street in the Marais. Nestled between shops offering cheery contemporary clothing, quintessential Parisian cafes and a pragmatic pharmacy is the shop I love best: Of course, being greeted by my personal sales associate with a warm and welcoming bise never hurts - and if there are other browsers in the shop, they often wonder who this VIP client is! Sylvie, my personal shopper, always has items set aside for me when she knows I am in town, and almost all of the time, I am making room in my suitcase for her finds. She knows my style so well she can pull pieces for me that she is sure will fit and have the level of Parisian chic sophistication I am craving.

One of the first items I found with Sylvie’s help was a Chanel cuff bracelet. She handed it to me with the greatest of care, saying that it was from the couture collection, custom-made for a client of the Chanel boutique in Paris. The piece is heavy - you know you have it on your wrist - but it is so unique and always catches the eye of anyone I know who appreciates a classic Chanel. It is black with three decorative attachments reminiscent of the Byzantine Chanel brooch. My favorite part is the inside. Not often seen by everyone, it is lined in a silk fabric quilted in the classic Chanel tradition – something I think Coco Chanel would approve of for herself. I have seen her original cuffs by the jewelry house Verdura made specially for her, and my piece is similar without being an exact replica. It is a treasure that I will be sure to keep forever and remember that day I found it in Paris!