VINGT Paris News

A. Zagorski Plant Based Products

A normal looking pharmacie on the albeit chi-chi rue Jacob. Behind these doors a wealth of the normal fun things you find in a french chemist/drugstore, but there's more.  Mme (Annie) Zagorski, the owner, is also a naturopath and makes the most excellent face creams (anti-aging), hand cream, bath essence (the Rose is excellent and beautifully profoundly rose-smelling unlike other synthetic varieties).

The shop also has many excellent and quirky products based on plants such as menthol balms, Melissa drops made in a Convent Carmes Boyer to perk you up (to be dropped into a specially wrapped sugar cube and ingested).

Je t'aime, says Jane, who lives down the street...

Woch Dom Vintage

Lauren Ballinger writing for I V Y paris

Vintage shopping remains terribly à la mode, yet who has the time or patience to rifle through a sea of musty racks, crammed into a 25 square foot store full of anxious fellow shoppers? That's why I was delighted, when I happened upon a certain little shop called Woch Dom.

Slightly south from the hustle and bustle and trashy glories of Pigalle, their selection may be a bit sparse, but easy searching leads to at least one good find, and one can shop in peace.

With inexpensive prices to boot- 10 euros for sweaters, 35 E for coats- it's definitely worth checking out.

Woch Dom
72 Avenue Condorcet
75009 Paris

Photo: Courtesy of Woch Dom vintage

Essentiel

Lauren Ballinger writing for I V Y paris

Tired of finding yourself wearing the drab black and greys of the Parisian wardrobe? For an unusual, yet classy kick of color visit Essentiel.

After a stroll through the Jardin de Luxembourg, hop down to their nearby location and delight yourself with their flashy accessories or perhaps a vivid apple green coat to really stand out among the crowds. One could find something for almost any price and their clothing and leather goods actually last so it's worth splurging even just a little bit.

From bags, to floral silk dresses, pins, bows and the softest of cashmere sweaters with just that extra tiny little detail to add an interesting twist, this Antwerp label will not disappoint.

Essentiel
11-13 rue de Tournon
75006 Paris

Photo: Désirs © Mike Koedinger Editions

Vintage Gabrielle Geppert

The classiest vintage shop in the 1eme is definitely Gabrielle Geppert, if not just because it's located in the Jardins du Palais Royal. The fashion forward vintage and trend shop recently saw the opening of a second floor space just next door to the first one.

Rumor has it that Reese Witherspoon once chose her Oscar night dress from one of these very racks, to name just one celebrity seen hunting through the iles of clothes.

The hand picked vintage and trend setting clothes available offer the cream of the crop from seasons of yesteryear as well as today.

Gabrielle Geppert
Jardins du Palais Royal
31-34 Galerie Montpensier - 75001 Paris

Lush Beauty Products in Paris

Lauren Ballinger writing for I V Y paris

To relax frost-bitten limbs and de-stress from the overwhelm of dreary winter days how about treating yourself to a Lush Bath Bomb. You'll be able to smell your way right up to their door. This UK import has opened their second shop rue Faubourg Saint Antoine in the 12th as of this month.

Lush is world renowned for their all-natural bath and beauty products but their biggest innovation is by far the notorious bath bomb, a large yummy smelling capsule full of essential oil and all that good stuff to make for a glorious bath. They fizz and dissolve upon contact and come in a vast variety of colors and scents suited for every mood. 

From the soothing lavender scented Waving Not Drowning, to the heart shaped Tisty Tosty, the algae infused Great Blue, or Sex Bomb - which happens to turn your water a shocking shade of pink, you may never be satisfied with a normal bath again.

A word of advice, the glitterific variety may leave your body bedazzled for weeks after. So unless you want people thinking you've turned into a huge raver superstar, I'd be cautious about my choice.

Finger in the Nose

Hidden and filled with dusk light comes finger in the nose jeans for kids.
Molding together style rock 'n roll and some fat attitude the brand allows for expression and longevity. Waiting for the neighbourhood store rue saintonge 75003 to poke open soon.

Little Jaffna - Métro La Chapelle

Today I V Y paris and MyMarrakesh kick off the Guardian's brand new My City Secret series...

"Little Jaffna", around metros Gare du Nord, La Chapelle, and Louis Blanc, looks a bit down at heel but you'll find shops selling handmade saris (Saree Palace, 182 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis), cheap and cheerful supermarkets, jewellery shops, Indian music stores, travel agencies (with good deals on flights to India at c 500 euros), and restaurants offering authentic Indian and Sri-Lankan cuisine. 

France's first Hindu Temple, Sri Manicka Vinayakar, 72 Rue Philippe de Girard, is open daily to visitors and welcomes all guests. It also organises the magnificent Ganesh Festival in September each year. Other streets to check out are rue Cail and rue Perdonnet.

On the same street, you can get a glorious Bollywood arch (for only 7 euros!) in the Centre de Beauté Indien, 33 rue Philippe de Girard.  Threading (épilation de sourcil) is the specialist technique for getting those eyebrows in shape and it's even open on a Sunday.

It goes without saying that you can fill up on delicious food here too, which is cheap, healthy, and if you're a Veggie, one of your best parisian options.  Dig that daal.

Photo: Fête de Ganesh in the quartier, takes place every September.

Kids Clothes for the Fashionistas

Here are some of the best places to check out fringues for little rascals...

Visiting fashion editors head for Du Pareil au Meme (list of shops all over Paris). The colours, designs and quality are all excellent and the prices low.

Tout Compte Fait and Sergent Major are also well priced, designed and excellent quality.  For run of the mill items, try Monoprix or the outdoor markets with clothes stalls.

American mother of three, Amy Lassalle, opened her own boutique, Le Marchand d’Etoiles with a collection featuring modern and refined prints with unexpected color combinations. Number 3 rue Chomel, 75007 right next to the Bon Marché was the first shop, there are now five branches in total.

Pedicure Luxe/Budget - Bastien Gonzalez and J-Phil

If you are rolling out the red carpet you could choose the world's best pedicure courtesy of Bastien Gonzales. 

He's a long way from Limousin but Bastien has retained his down to earth ways and sense of humour.  His trademark official pedicure was developed to give the toenails a mother of pearl sheen without the use of any polish, just his top secret polishing tools....wait and see, it really works. 

When he is not travelling all over the world, (he collaborates with One&Only Resorts) he's in Paris a few days a month at the Day Spa at the Hotel Bristol.

Hôtel Le Bristol
112 rue du Fbg St. Honoré,
75008 Paris

Fragonard

Looking for a Paris souvenir that has it all, then head over to Fragonard.

Founded in 1926 in Grasse, France’s perfume capital, the shop sells loads of fabulously chic yet reasonably priced items: perfumes, creams, candles, soaps - but it’s their line of 100 % cotton, hand-embroidered drawstring travel pouches that really caught our attention.

Retailing at around 20 Euros each, a steal for a luxury item, they make lovely and useful keepsakes.