This is the gadget store for guys and gals. On the ground floor entry you have all the smart phone and consumer electronic paraphernalia. Downstairs is where you'll find all the kitchen goods like popcorn makers, ionic hair dryers, electric water kettles and even some James Bond-style sunglasses that are actually a video camera. In a country where many of the electronic goods are sold through monopolistic huge dispensary-like stores (FNAC, DARTY) this shop is refreshing as it's human-sized and you can simply pick your choice off the shelf, take it to the cash register, pay for your purchase, and be done with it. Like normal folk. (At the other shops mentioned above you have to take a ticket, stand in line, pay for your purchase then stand in another line to get the order filled. Meanwhile, half your day is gone!)
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Gadgets make great gifts. It's also good to know where to go if you need to pick up a travel iron, hair dryer or an office popcorn maker.
Paige's expert tip: This shop tends toward the gadget fanatics so you'll find smart phones, wireless ear plugs, surveillance cameras as well as homeware small appliances. Their catalogue reads like a Christmas wish list.
The best way to discover this shop is to go to their website and check to see what upcoming events are calendared. When they do their openings for performance artists, DJ's, product launches it is "the" place to be. True, it caters to the youthful crowd so you'll feel more comfortable hanging out here if you're under 25...Ok, under 40. Still, it's worth cruising by as even when a party isn't happening all around you, you get the chance to see some new products that are just now being tested on the market. The location itself plants you squarely in Les Halles but off on one of the smaller sidestreets so not so heavily trafficked.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: If I could phrase their motto, "A beautiful showcase for beautiful brands worn by beautiful people beautifully," better, I would.
Paige's expert tip: This shop is skateboarder-DJ-techno groupie meets witty concept boutique. And what's really lovely is that they do not take themselves seriously. The place is a hybrid event space, boutique, place for the hipster-set to hang out.
There are a number of big (French) name brand baby and kids' clothing shops all throughout the capital that you can busy yourself with. This boutique is on the smaller side and its address places it squarely in the district known for "cute and affordable." The sizes here are for babies so after toddlers' ages you will have to look elsewhere. But here you will find everything to swaddle, wrap, tuck, snap and button your baby into. Styles and themes change regularly with the fashion seasons so even when your baby grows too big to wear these clothes, you can keep coming back for the nieces, nephews and grandkids.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Baby clothes shopping in Paris is too fun. Here the little outfits are so adorable they often look like doll's outifts.
Paige's expert tip: French made baby clothes are the best and this shop, where the little confections are affordable, will leave you with enough left over to still feed your little angel, too.
This shop isn't just for the young dandy. Stylish businessmen who like to feel distinguished in their suits and dress shirts will also take to the items in this shop. Think of it as not-like-your-grandpa's-habberdashery. It's a bit on the outer limits of Les Halles but still in the 1st arrondissement. This area of the city is known for its chic shops for clothing, accessories and bags. Prices here are relative to what you yourself find affordable. That's to say if you are used to shopping at Gucci, Boss and Paul Smith then you'll find this within your price range.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Men's tailor made suits, shirting and other dressy items. Sleek tailoring that's not so buttoned up is what you'll find here.
Paige's expert tip: Tailored clothing always makes a statement. A tailored suit makes you stand out as a well-dressed man of the world. Here you will find the modern touch that distinguished you from the others.
These are "Love Shops" which, are a very different concept altogether from a sex shop. Here you find witty and thoughtful playtime aids that only the French can come up with. If you wander in with your significant other, likely you won't find anything (too) embarrassing while you're browsing together. These shops are playful and fun and meant to heighten romance. In fact their tagline is "for the sustainability of couples." There are several of these shops in and around the center of Paris, but this one is the closest to Chatelet, though there is another one not too far from Les Halles, too.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Paris is not just the City of Lights, it is the city of Romance as well.
Paige's expert tip: Take your time browsing this shop and come with an open, playful mind. This is not the sordid sex shop of yesteryear, but the amusing and tasteful shop of romance and desire that can only be found in Paris.
I may be mistaken but in the past I believe we called concept shops "boutiques." No matter, this genre of boutique has, of course, become wildly popular in the past decade and some can even rival a well-curated museum shop in the sense of stocking things that you never would have thought you would need but once seen, you've gotta have it. This one here at Les Halles has that bit of an edge to its stocked items, in keeping with the hip hop -vibe of this area. It's a great place to wander into when you're doing early Christmas shopping for your posse or also when looking for unique souvenirs and gift items in the t-shirt/ sweats/ baseball cap genre to bring back home to your hip hop/DJ/skateboarder son/boyfriend/brother. They stock the same kind of stuff here for girls, too.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: For the hip hop crowd or those who just want to look the part.
Paige's expert tip: This is the shop you come to find your hip hop/skateboarder/DJ boyfriend (or girlfriend) their must-have t-shirt, sweats and baseball caps. It's a concept shop that is focused on clothing and it's all hiphop and streetwear.
The New York fashion crowd, who come to town twice annually for the Paris Fashion Week, make this a stop on their buying itinerary, even if they'll never openly admit it. The shop is located just a couple minutes' walk from the Centre Pompidou in the direction of the Marais, so it's in that zone just next to the BHV (big department store) that is the -invisible- border between Les Halles and Le Marais. Budget some time for your treasure hunt here as there are treasures to be found. The more expensive, and usually designer, items are hung on the racks. That's where you'll find a vintage lambskin coat by Dior or a cachmere by Chloé. The big bins are fun to sort through, too. It's often just castaways but every so often you find a Desigual or a Ben Simon shucked in with the lot.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: This shop is some of the best vintage shopping in Paris and it existed long before the Kilo Shops that now encircle it were there.
Paige's expert tip: The great thing about vintage store shopping in Paris is that here you regularly find treasures if you know how to sort through mounds of junk with a keen eye.
When you really stop and observe how French women dress, you'll notice that they don't deviate all that much from the basics. In fact a blue blazer and a pair of low-heeled, well made pumps are to be found in each and every French woman's wardrobe. What that French je ne sais quois is then, is a knack, even a genius, for accessorizing. With just the right pieces of jewelry, and of course the right bag and scarf, as well, you can dress up an outfit immensely. So if you're looking to take your everyday outfits from woe to Wow!, this shop that stocks hundreds and hundreds of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and hair accessories all at rock bottom prices is the place to start bolster your costume jewelry collection.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Accessorizing is something the French know how to do so well. And here you can find fun costume jewelry pieces at rock bottom prices.
Paige's expert tip: This is a fun place to browse, and buy, costume jewelry to jazz up your outfits. By far the majority of the selection here is for women and girls but there are some men's jewelry as well. They also have a limited selection of bags and scarves.
This French lingerie boutique chain store offers nighties, basics, loungewear, slippers and lots, lots more. And while this is a shop for the ladies and the girls, it is also a good one to know for the guys who are looking to find their good girl gifts. The lingerie here tends toward the basics and includes items like big furry rabbit slippers and boxer short ensembles. While this is one of their smaller shops, their larger ones have extended to include ready-to-wear, jewelry and even some makeup. These shops also often have French or Paris-themed items so you might even find a pair of Eiffel Tower slippers here if you look often enough.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: The French do lingerie so well and it'snot all naughty. Some of it is quite nice, in fact.
Paige's expert tip: A great place to find sleep ensembles that are Paris-themed such as I heart Paris and other cute outfits, making this a good gift shopping boutique for visitors wishing to bring something back for their daughters, sisters or mothers.
This shopping mall is buried underneath ground, which, many would say, is where a shopping mall should be. Currently there is still some renovation being done above ground to make the structure welcoming and when finished should be quite appealing. Meanwhile, you can access the shops in the below-ground shopping mall as you make your way to the métro line, accessed by the same escalators, if you should so wish. And there isn't just shopping here at this underground mall but also restaurants and movie theaters. It's as much of a mall as central Paris has and it's getting even better. Shops you will find here include, Darty, FNAC, Desigual, Eram, Esprit, Forever 21, GO Sport, André, Morgan, Muji, Petite Bateau, Princess Tam Tam, Undiz, L'Occitane, Zara, Maisons du Monde and Soleil Sucré.
Recommended for 1st Arrondissement - Les Halles' Best Shopping because: Shopping at a mall is efficient. One stop and you're done. There are restaurants and cinemas here as well as shops.
Paige's expert tip: Don't be put off by the construction still underway on the street-level roof. The shops below ground are still very much open for business as usual. That's where you will find the known name brand shops like FNAC, Aldo and Desigual.