There’s something very French about concept stores – they appeal to the quality over quantity mentality and are the antithesis of the department store.
First came Colette (213 rue Saint-Honoré, colette.fr), the legendary boutique curated by creative director Sarah Lerfel. It opened in 1997, but it’s still the first port of call for fashion lovers because of its showcasing of cutting-edge collaborations, one-offs and hard-to-find labels.
Among the latest openings is Lou Doillon’s as yet unnamed and quite secretive venture. The daughter of Jane Birkin is set to open her store by the end of the year in the 11th arrondissement.
‘We’ll have a mix of fashion, literature, modern and old, and it won’t be conventional,’ says Doillon.
Merci (111 Boulevard Beaumarchais) is found in an 18th-century former wallpaper factory, selling everything from fashion to home-decoration products, fragrances and books. Special features include a gourmet café, flower shop and a curtain-making service.
Hotel Particulier (15 rue Leopold-Bellan, hotelparticulier-paris.com), meanwhile, specialises in cutting-edge labels, selling a range of international, hard-to-find and hot new clothing brands.
Jewellery brand Les Néréides (5 rue du Bourg L’Abbé, lesnereides.com) recently opened a concept boutique in the city’s Marais district. Similarly Aépure (35 rue Guénégaud, aepure.fr) is a beauty concept store dedicated to independent brands.
