Paris Consignment Shopping
Paris is known for fashion and great shopping, but it's also known for astronomical prices on designer clothing. Still, you don't really have to blow your rent money on Chanel suits and Armani jackets, if you're willing to do a little legwork and a little sifting. Paris is littered with secondhand shops selling lightly used goods from world-famous designers and up-and-coming labels. Just like at more downmarket American thrift shops, you'll have to dig through loads of junk to find your favorite pieces. However, unlike the good ol' Salvation Army, the garments at these shops usually hit the $100-$500 range -- when they'd cost much, much more than that if purchased retail. After the jump, our tips on where to get the best Parisian deals on Ferragamo, Lacroix, Dior, and even a few flea-market goldmines.
Alternatives: Located in trendy and bohemian Marais, Alternatives sells hip secondhand designer goods. Many Parisian models resell their used items here, so fashionable pieces abound, albeit in small sizes. As a bonus, the shop's on a street full of cute cafes and bistros.
Depot Vente de Buci-Bourbon: Here you'll find the two Buci-Bourbon shops side by side. One focuses on classic vintage designs by the likes of Yves Saint-Laurent, Dior, and Chanel. They have bags, shoes, furs, and dresses. The other store has more eccentric clothes from designers like Yamamoto and Gaultier along with fun tableware and china. The service is excellent, so don't hesitate to ask the clerks for advice.
Depot Vente du 17eme: You can find Armani jackets for under $250 at this place, along with Dior jackets for under $400 and lesser-known labels for well under a hundred dollars. The men's section is even more affordable than the women's, with Burberry coats at under $150. The collection is well selected and void of any raffish or overly flashy pieces.
Maison de FanFan: FanFan is a small secondhand shop across the street from Tea and Tattered Pages, the English-language bookstore. Here they sell Hermes, Chanel, Vuitton, Dior, and used items from other designers. The shop is homey, and the folks here are friendlier than most.
Flea Market Clignancourt: Paris's most famous flea market, the Clignancourt attracts hundreds of thousands of people every weekend. Though the market features a variety of items from jewelry to housewares to antiques, there are a number of excellent clothing stalls You'll have to work to find a good piece, but you'll probably find better prices here than at any of the vintage or consignment shops in the city.
Free 'P" Star:: Favorite vintage shop of all cool Parisians -- not to mention Sofia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst -- Free 'P' Star is a vintage shop literally bursting with trendy items. It's completely unorganized, but the collection is more distinctive than those you'll find in other shops. It's also open until 11 p.m. every night.
Misentroc: Skewing more modern than many consignment shops, Misentroc's two locations have both men's and women's designer and lesser-known labels. The shop on Vavin is geared more towards the younger crowds, with trendier and more affordable pieces, while the shop on Notre Dame de Champs is more conservative and pricey. They have Versace jeans for under $50, Christian Lacroix dresses for under $200, and Lagerfeld blazers for under $70.
Puces de Paris Saint Ouen: If you couldn't find a bargain at Clignancourt, head to Puces de Paris Saint Ouen, the world's largest flea market divided into 12 smaller markets. The atmosphere is fun, the food smells amazing, and they have more clothing stalls than you'll ever have time to raid. The Malik Market is the best place to head for clothes, and it is always packed with Paris's young clothes-hounds.
Reciproque: Hands down the coolest secondhand store in Paris, Reciproque has everything from designer clothes and accessories to tableware, jewelry, paintings, and furniture. It's the largest luxury consignment shop in the city, with seven different boutique-sized sections, and the selection is well chosen. You will not find the clutter typical of many the depot ventes, as every shop is organized by designer, clothing type, and color. Every well-known designer from around the world is represented in their collection.
-- Amanda Kludt
Previously: Top Contemporary Art in Paris, Alone in Paris, The 13th is the New 4th, Paris has its Haute Pizza Moment
