When I am in Paris one of my favorite things to do is walk along the streets at dusk and peek in the windows of the shops that the locals frequent. Most of the places that really catch my eye are the contemporary brands and what style inspirations they have in the windows at that time. They are often a year ahead of the styles here in the U.S. and I have taken thousands of pictures of the windows and tried to copy the cool girl French style I see within. Contemporary brands are not high end, their product doesn’t cost precious paychecks just for one item, so you can afford to get the outfit head to toe and feel inspired by French style. Here are some of my favorite brands -I have included links to each of their websites if you want look at their current collections.
Molli – I found Molli https://www.molli.com/ through my friends at Duvelleroy. They posted something about this brand of knitwear on their social media and I was hooked. All of their knit stitches are developed by their workshops exclusively for Molli with yarns they have chosen. This unique skill ensures impeccable knit fabrics and extremely refined items of clothing. I’ve ordered two ensembles (a midi black skirt, and an off white skirt and sweater combination) from their website and I love them! I can’t wait to get to Paris to see the collection in person.
Eric Bompard Cashmere – Cubbies upon cubbies of piles of lucious cashmere greets you when you walk into an Eric Bompard shop, their quality of cashmere is excellent. I have a sweater that I’ve had for years from them and no pilling, plus I feel French every time I wear it. Styles range from a classic black crewneck to floral print scarves. A great selection!
BA&SH – There are some BA$SH boutiques here in the U.S. but the windows in Paris are always my favorite! I’ve bought so many items just because of their window display. One of my favorites is a creamy white sweater with beading in astrological signs – Leo at my heart. Pronounced “Bash” it is one of my favorite contemporary brands and I go straight to their windows when I am in Paris.
Chloé Stora – A client of mine who is into quite a bit of high fashion found this boutique when we were shopping in the Saint Germain district. It is casual, a great price point and the selection is fantastic all created with ethical commitments. Some examples of the selection are floral dresses in spring, trousers in cotton duck or denim, blouses with interesting detail.
Zadig & Voltaire’s current campaign is “cool French-girl chic” and I can one-hundred percent agree with that! The contemporary Parisian fashion house redefines modern femininity with wild, free, and rock-fueled wardrobe essentials that embody the strength and sensuality found in the rough and undone. I love their cashmere sweater collections. They have a huge store just off the Champs Elysees that I love to visit.
What are your favorite brands from Paris?
