Top list of the best vintage shops in Paris

The fashion editor of Notorious Mag, Selma von Schönburg, is spending a year in France. And most of the time, in Paris. Tough life, Selma. With a notebook in one hand and a pile of bags in the other, Selma and her daughter Pia have created a top list of the best vintage shops and secondhand in Paris.

Why Vintage Shops is a must-visit in Paris?

If you know anything about French style, you know it’s always on point. Paris is full of designer stores, but you don’t have to break the bank to get that chic French look. Parisians are known for being savvy shoppers, so when you visit the city of love, make sure to check out some of the excellent vintage and secondhand shops in Paris. It’ll be worth your while to look around – you never know what gems you might find.

So, if you’re a fan of the French-Girl style and vintage like us, you want to look for something phenomenal and unique in one of the vintage shops in Paris that Selma sent us.

Where are the best districts in Paris for vintage/secondhand shopping?

  • Le Marais: For more affordable finds, Marais is the place to go. This trendy neighbourhood is home to many vintage boutiques, including some of the city’s best. You’ll find the best stores on Rue des Rosiers, Rue Vieille du Temple, Rue des Francs Bourgeois, and Rue Charlot. But don’t forget to venture outside the Marais too – you can also find plenty of great vintage and secondhand shops in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Have fun exploring.
  • Montmartre: This historic area is known for its charming streets and bohemian atmosphere. You can find many vintage and secondhand shops here, flea markets and street vendors selling vintage finds.
  • Saint-Ouen Flea Market: Known as Les Puces, this is one of the largest flea markets in the world and a great place to find vintage clothing, furniture, and other items. This is the #1 address in Paris for vintage shops. It’s open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
  • Canal Saint-Martin: This area is home to many vintage shops and boutiques, including some of the city’s best.

Finally, our top 10 best vintage shops in Paris:

  • 1. Kiliwatch: This shop is one of Paris’s most famous secondhand stores. And also one of the biggest, with over 600m ². Prices are a bit higher, but the clothes are smartly selected, presented, and in good condition. Kiliwatch also sells brand-new items and has its own brand.  64 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris

  • 2. Free’p’Star: It’s a Parisian benchmark for secondhand clothes. With four shops in Le Marais, it’s hard not to talk about it. Here you can find everything. Really everything. Look no further if you need a quirky outfit for a night out. You find it at Free’p’Star. And by the way, it’s also there that you can make the deal of your life by falling on a Yves Saint Laurent shirt that has gone unnoticed in the middle of the mountains of saps at a low price.  61 Rue de la Verrerie, 52 rue de la Verrerie. Paris 4è. – 20 rue de Rivoli. Paris 4è.- 66 rue Saint-Antoine. Paris 4è.-51 rue Saint-Denis. Paris 1er.

  • 3. Plaisir Palace: This place provides the most extraordinary pieces by Emily In Paris. It’s also the address where French journalist Sophie Fontanel buys her desired pieces. Owner Didier Barroso is a fashion collector, so expect no less than iconic clothes and accessories by Courrèges, Alaïa, and Yves Saint Laurent, from the 70s to the 2000s. 3, rue Paul Dubois Paris 3è.

  • 4. Didier Ludot: It is a classic in all vintage shop guides in Paris. But make no mistake; this is not a place to get bargains. Instead, you will only find vintage couture and luxury brands with a wide range of items from designers such as Chanel and Dior. So Didier Ludot calls himself a fashion antique dealer. 5 Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er.

  • 5. Super Vintage: Founded by Shiri Slavin, a stylist trained at Studio Berçot and former buyer at the concept store Merci, Super Vintage offers clothes, accessories and decorations out of the ordinary. You will find strong pieces, quirky seventies jumpsuits, and lurex bodysuits like those worn by the wrestlers of Glow. But also Victorian-style lace dresses, kimonos, designer scarves such as Dior and Givenchy and YSL shoes. All at a ridiculous price. 11 rue des Petites Écuries Paris 10è

  • 6. Au Grenier de Lucie: Incredible vintage costume jewellery from Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Lanvin, YSL and more. The shop is the project of a British couple who moved to Paris in 2009 to open Au Grenier de Lucie at the Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. 150 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine

  • 7. Lapin Boutique: Originally an online shop, Lapin is since 2021 also been a brick-and-mortar shop. Florentine, originally from Argentina, is passionate about the ’60s and ’70s, rock and roll music, vibrant solid colours, la nouvelle vague, Parisian cafés and miniskirts. At first glance, you will notice her preference for pink, green and purple colours and pop prints. So what will you find at Lapin? Courreges, Moschino, Missoni, Pucci and many clothes made by 70’s sewists. 9 Rue Oberkampf, 75011

  • 8. Le Coffre: Here, you will find vintage clothes from the 20th century.  Besides the fantastic selection of vintage garments, Le Coffre also offers secondhand. It is your address in Paris if you are looking for trousers. There are all kinds and sizes of vintage Levi’s jeans in the racks from 25€. Le Coffre also offers a line of new clothes with 80’s inspirations, such as jumpsuits, shirts and dresses. The service is friendly and professional, with tips and suggestions. 26 rue de Ménilmontant – 75020, 62 rue de Rochechouart – 75009, 20 rue des Dames – 75017

  • 9. Vintage Désir: Many people mistake the name Vintage Désir for vintage hairdresser because the old sign ‘Coiffure’ (hairdresser in French) still hangs on the shop door. But Vintage Désir is one of the best addresses to buy vintage and secondhand clothes. This place is a Parisian institution. Every weekend, the shop fills up with super-stylish Parisians, who come to dig out the shop’s latest novelties, which are replenished every day. It is the ideal place for small budgets, and we suggest you stop by during the week when they are less crowded. 32 rue des Rosiers 75004

  • 10. Emmaüs Défi: This thrift shop is run by the Emmaüs community, a charity organization that helps needy people. They have a wide range of vintage clothing, furniture, and household items at very affordable prices. 5 Rue Curial, 75019

Conclusion

Mix fast, high fashion, new, and vintage pieces to get the French girl style. Also, visit secondhand shops that renew their stock weekly to find real gems for a unique wardrobe. And if you plan a weekend in Paris, take a day to explore a neighbourhood like the Marais, where there is a huge concentration of the vintage and secondhand shops. Happy hunting!

And if you are interested in secondhand and vintage shops in Vienna, Austria, click here.

Images @notoriousmag, @unsplash, @kiliwatch.paris, @freepstar_officiel @plaisirpalace, @DidierLudot, @SuperVintage, @AuGrenierdeLucie, @LapinBoutique, @LeCoffre, @EmmaüsDéfi