Haute Spots: The Stylish Traveller’s Guide to Paris, According To Fashion Insiders

The Fashion Insider’s Guide To Paris

What’s an underrated Parisian neighbourhood you love?

Morgane: The 7th arrondissement will always be my favourite spot in Paris – it’s now the home to our Sézane headquarters, The Rodin Museum and Le Bac à Glace, which serves the most imaginative and seasonal ice cream and sorbet flavours.

Ellen: Step away from the packed centre and discover Belleville – fantastic cafés, bars and vintage shops, and you won’t stumble into hordes of tourists. For quiet rambling streets, an excellent farmers market, and a long walk into the Bois de Vincennes, Fonteney-sous-Bois is worth exploring. It feels like Paris’ answer to Richmond.

Serena: I love walking around Le Marais – it is my favourite part of the city, filled with historic charm and wonderful galleries, cafes and shops to visit.

(c) Ellen Francis

What should we wear when visiting Paris in the springtime?

Morgane: Paris weather is known for being unpredictable, even in the springtime. I like to wear a versatile overcoat over jeans if it’s slightly cooler, or floaty dresses for those unexpectedly hot spring days.

Ellen: Layers! The weather is as changeable as London, so I would always recommend a vintage trench coat – chic and sustainable. In spring I tend to pack my trusty staple: a 1960s London Fog trench that always makes me feel put together on a blustery morning. For going out in the evening, I’d err on the side of understated with possible pops to keep things fun. Parisians don’t tend to overdress or wear a lot of makeup. And ditch the heels, they’re no fun on cobbled streets!

Serena: During the day I always wear Rothy’s trainers, which can actually go in the washing machine when I return home, cropped flared jeans, and a blazer which smartens up any day look. A cross-body bag by Demellier is key so that you can have your hands free to take plenty of pictures. Make sure you bring a pair of kitten-heeled Manolos to dress up your day look for dinner in the evening!

How can we shop more sustainably?

Morgane: Often the secret to shopping more sustainably is opting for good quality basics that you can wear time and time again. These are the pieces that go with everything and work every season. Think high-quality, timeless pieces that can be worn and loved for a lifetime.

Ellen: Besides the obvious, which is buying used and vintage clothes that greatly reduce the need for new production if done on a grand scale, I’d always say check your labels. Not all man-made fibres are bad, but avoid polyesters and fabrics full of plastic. Fabrics such as denim bleached cottons are super water intensive to produce. And be careful of big brands greenwashing their products with clever wording and marketing. The bottom line is, we all want to and will buy new clothes that make us feel great, but it’s best to buy far less, be selective and avoid impulse buying. Alsp, purchase reputably sourced, natural clothing where possible.

Serena: I always believe that it’s not what you buy, it’s how much you love what you buy. Invest in pieces you will wear time and time again.

What is your favourite shop for vintage clothing in Paris?

Morgane: The Room in Le Marais always has a great curated selection of vintage styles.

Ellen: Lapin Boutique on Rue Oberkampf is an absolute gem. Also, not a shop per se, but try to find some brocantes or flea markets. There can be a lot to delve through but Parisian markets hold some unique treasures. My favourite is midweek in the Marais.

Serena: Resee is an online platform based in Paris with the most incredible curation of vintage. I bought a Chanel jacket from them when they first launched over 10 years ago and it is still one of my most treasured items.

Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (c) Ellen Francis

Which new designer really excites you right now?

Morgane: I really admire Lucia Vergara’s work. She is the founder of Après Ski, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with her on a collection for Sézane and Petit Sézane that was launched earlier this year!

Ellen: I’m really loving Nensi Dojaka at the moment. Such a modern, powerful take on femininity. I have a blazer from last season’s Calvin Klein collab that is a total wardrobe staple. On an haute couture scale, Schiaparelli knocks it out of the park every season for me. I’ve also been living in Madeleine Thompson’s versatile cashmeres this year which are a great suitcase staple for variable spring weather in Paris!

Serena: Liberowe. A jacket from this brand is top of my Spring wishlist.

Best restaurant or bar for celebrity spotting during Fashion Week?

Morgane: Anywhere in Le Marais, like the artisanal coffee shop Partisan, where you can sit outside and watch the world go by.

Ellen: Let’s state the obvious: Hotel Costes will have a lot of glamorous people coming through its doors, but I’d be more excited about their tremendous pavlova if it’s on the menu. Brasserie Lipp will have a vibrant late night crowd, as will Le Progrès Marais.

Serena: Bar Hemingway at the Ritz or Hotel Costes.

(c) Ellen Francis

Favourite rooftop bar in the city?

Morgane: The rooftop of Terrass Hotel in the heart of Montmartre gives you a panoramic view of Paris.

Ellen: To drink or dine, the rooftop of Gigi provides fantastic views, as does the Perchoir at the Garre de l’Est.

Best restaurant for authentic French food?

Morgane: Divellec for their delicious seafood dishes.

Ellen: Le Bon Georges is a real classic—a changing chalkboard menu of daily dishes with a huge cellar for anyone craving a glass of something.

Serena: L’Annexe in the 9th—delicious French staples where the menu changes seasonally.

Is there a restaurant you recently tried that you’ve loved?

Morgane: I recently tried Racines, which is hidden in the Passage des Panoramas. It’s an ode to all things Italian.

Ellen: My last trip to Paris was in August and we had a balmy late evening meal at Sugaar. The steak and the langoustine are particularly good, as are the Martinis. For something vegetarian friendly, Tekès is a lot of fun—try the olive oil mousse au chocolat!

Serena: La Fontaine de Mars, especially in the springtime.

(c) Ellen Francis

Which hotel should we book?

Morgane: Hotel de l’Abbaye! This classic Parisian house first opened in 1973 and is still today a hidden gem in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood.

Ellen: If it doesn’t totally break the bank then The Ritz is a real institution and one of the best smelling hotels—bar The Connaught—that I’ve ever visited. And its setting in Place Vendôme is absolutely spectacular. If that’s not an option, then do get a drink in one of its bars and soak up the ambiance. For something more affordable, the five-starred Maison Breguet is surprisingly reasonable and very comfortable.

Serena: Hotel de LaBoétie—designed by my friend, the talented Beata Heuman, this is a gem in the heart of Paris.

Favourite museum?

Morgane: Musée de la Vie Romantique is perfect for a dose of culture and a peaceful escape in its hidden garden.

Ellen: There are too many to count! The Musée Rodin is absolutely worth the pilgrimage, as much for the sculptures as the serene setting. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature is a quirky must, and for the literary obsessives out there, the Maison de Victor Hugo.

Serena: I love visiting Le Louvre, there is always a new unknown discovery uncovered. Last year I visited Versailles for the first time which took my breathe away. I’m very keen to go back and stay with my children in the Airelles Chateau de Versailles where you can go horseback riding in the gardens of Versailles.

Featured image: Thibault Penin, Unsplash