This week is La Rentrée – the Parisian post-summer return to work and a new school year. The French summer vacation is a sacred tradition, and most Parisians can take off several weeks, when they head to the coast or country to relax with family and friends. That means, come early September, everyone is refreshed and raring to go for La Rentrée. It also doesn’t hurt that the city seems to conspire to make the concept an appealing one, with department stores and boutiques brimful with new-season buys that aim to re-organise and re-energise your state of mind (not to mention desk and wardrobe, too). Read on for some of Paris’s best September shopping spots …
Papeteries Gaubert
There are many beautiful stationery stores in Paris, but Papeteries Gaubert, which dates to 1830, is particularly special. It has long been a go-to for nearby legal workers, but its polished wooden shelves heave with all sorts of products that will appeal to any lover of chic desk accessories. And if you’re a writer in search of divine inspiration: Gaubert still sells the power-blue paper on which Colette once penned her beautiful prose. Plus, you can’t beat it for location. One door opens onto the exquisite Place Dauphine which, with its horse chestnut-shaded café-terrace tables, is the ultimate place to get to writing that book of yours.
28 Place Dauphine, 75001
Marin Montagut
This exquisite treasure chest of a store sells whimsical objects that will infuse your workspace with inspirational prettiness: from illustrated notepads and colourful pencils, to quirky mail clips and pen holders, to hand-painted scatter trays and water jugs. With designs inspired by Paris, or traditional Parisian artisanship, these products also double as the ultimate souvenirs.
48 Rue Madame, 75006
L’Appartement Sézane
La Rentrée, which coincides with the slow easing into autumn, is also the ideal time to buy new-season accessories, and one of the best boutiques for this is Sézane. There are elegant tote bags to fit all your work essentials, and a great range of footwear that is both chic and office-friendly (including loafers and ankle boots). And as for that ultimate fall wardrobe staple, the trench coat — Sézane sells some of the best in town.
1 Rue Saint-Fiacre, 75001
Monoprix
On a budget? Monoprix sells a wide range of impressive fashion items, for women and men, at refreshingly reasonable price points. There are stylish work-appropriate outfits, and also some nifty accessories, such as scarves, if you’re looking to update old looks. If you need to stock up on smalls, Monoprix is your go-to, and it’s also the best Parisian spot for tracking down perfect marinière striped tops, which often come in a variety of colour options. Also, don’t miss the homewares department, where you’ll find an eclectic range of products to dress up a desk or home office.
Various locations, including 95 Boulevard Sébastopol, 75002, which is set within the fantastical former Félix Potin building (pictured above).
City Pharma
Transitioning from holiday back to reality, from summer to fall, usually also requires a tweak to the beauty routine, especially if your vacation has left your hair and skin a little sun-ravaged. For the best, and cheapest, selection of hair oils, nourishing body creams, treatment skin serums, rejuvenating face masks, and so much more, head to City Pharma. Warning: this pharmacy is usually packed to an almost claustrophobic extent, so try to get there right on opening (8:30am on weekdays, 9am on Saturday, 12pm on Sunday).
26 Rue du Four, 75006
Merci..
Will be there soon and look forward to discovering some of these!