Whilst strolling along the Champs Elysees and looking for a public toilet(which I have learnt are virtually non existent in this fair city) I came across this divine home wares store. I felt like packing the entire shop up and fed ex-ing it back to Melbourne there and then.
So you know, even when looking for a toilet I manage to find a little bit of luxury hidden away!
Then it was onto one of Europe’s largest flea markets, the Marche aux Puces de St Quen. I don’t think anything could have prepared this- row after row of antiques, furniture, chandeliers, clothing, textiles, jewellery, art work. Pick and era- Art Deco? Imagine and entire dining suit with a matching lounge suit and lamp shades thrown in. Rococo anyone? Think marble statues, brocade drapes, gilt frames. 1950s retro?80s kitsch? EVERYTHING.
Antique and vintage shopping Mecca.
In the end it was quite overwhelming, so I settled on a some lovely Victorian collars to be worn over shirts, see the picture below. If you come to Paris and you love any thing to do with interior decoration, design, furniture or textiles it is definitely worthy of your time and I dare say money.
See that rack of clothing? Doesn’t look like much but the entire rack is vintage Chanel…..yup, just another day in a Parisian flea market…..I also bought this lovely little cocktail ring back in St Germain.
Detail from H&M scarf.
One of a few vintage collars I bought at the market.