Shopping in Paris? Here's my top three tips...

[Paris flea market finds - image by Pamela Jane]

If you're heading to Paris and you're hoping to squeeze in a little shopping, here's my top three tips:

1. Get yourself a copy of Paris: Made By Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk.  It's travel sized and lovely and lists a bunch of gorgeous shops that you might not find on your own.  I only had two days for the wandering/shopping part of my trip so before I left I picked out the shops that looked especially interesting, Google Map-ped them all and planned out a day trip (obsessive? me? no...)

2. If you only have time to visit a few shops, I'd make it these three: 

La Droguerie - if you are a bit crafty this is heaven on earth!  It's got all kinds of sewing related bits and bobs, presented in a really gorgeous ye olde worlde kind of way.  Think worn wooden shelving piled with mason jars full of tiny, shiny baubles; a rainbow of wool hanging down a walkway; a wall of beautiful ribbon and lace (with prices to match).  Lovely.

Astier de Villatte - this was my favourite shop of all the ones I visited.  Once again, there is much in the way of tradition, history and worn wooden shelving, but there is also something wonderfully modern about this little shop.  The ceramics are a stand out - hand crafted in Paris, each piece has it's own unique flaws and imperfections (which I think makes it perfect!).

Colette - just because it's Colette.

3. Visit a flea market.  It's what Paris is famous for, you get to pretend you're a local, and you might even find a little treasure to take home with you!

From left to right, clockwise:

Dragonfly plate from Astier de Villate; 

Fabric off-cuts from ie; 

'Dentelle d'Alencon' gift tags from Cassegrain; 

Happy yellow tablecloth from a flea market!