Sprezza Shopping Guides

This is the second-ever Sprezza shopping guide I’ve made. The first one I made was for London. The next one will be New York City!

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(Over) generalizations about Paris and style

Paris is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited where style is concerned. I spent a good amount of time roaming the city for a week (which still wasn’t enough), and here are some observations—we’re going de Tocqueville style—I walked away with.

Everything’s rhythmic — clothes, food, movement, and architecture are all connected in a beautiful, poetic way. There’s a rhythm to the cigarette smoking, afternoon espresso sipping, canal bicycle riding, and mid-day sunbathing.
Everything’s effortless — people move with ease, from work to eating to drinking. Part of it is cultural, and part of it is connected to the way Paris is built around walking and cycling (as is the case with Europe et al). There’s so much room for serendipity and connection in third spaces.
Footwear report — the shoe spread was fascinating to me. Of course, the French love to support their own, so you’ll see Vejas and Paraboots everywhere. That said, I also saw a ton of Air Force 1s, Reebok Classics, Nike Dunk lows, and New Balance (specifically 574s, which I found surprising).
Vintage scene — it’s quite good in Paris, especially with American brands. Where London loves to curate Japanese stuff, I found a treasure troth of excellent American vintage. Hell, some places I visited have better vintage in Paris than back home!
Everyone takes pride in what they wear—whatever they wear, which, to me, is dope. I feel like owning your self-expression is the best way to operate in a world where everything is “cool” right now. If everything’s cool, then nothing is cool. So just be yourself and pride in it.

Now, on to the good stuff—

Brands

Le Vif // Vintage Americana

Neighborhood(s): 16th arrondissement
Price: $$$
Featured brands: Levi’s, Russell Athletic, true Military vintage, Woolrich, Carhartt, Champion
NOTES: Man. This is truly one of the better vintage shops you’ll visit anywhere globally. I got the chance to meet Arthur, one of the co-owners of Le Vif, and he’s a master vintage head. Arthur isn’t just riding trends, he understands where nad how to find the best, most unique pieces, and curate them in a way that’s simple and tidy. The space is small, but filled with gems. It’s about quality over quantity.

Brut Clothing // Vintage, workwear, military

Neighborhood(s): 3rd arrondissement
Price: $$-$$$
Featured brands: Pendleton, Schott, Levis, old military stuff, and more
NOTES: Another fantastic amalgamation of French workwear infused with great vintage. Brut is plush with options, and everything is fairly priced too. It’s worth a visit when you’re in the 3rd A. visiting all the other shops in this guide.

Drôle de Monsieur // streetwear, contemporary

Neighborhood(s): 11th arrondissement
Price: $$
NOTES: I’ve been following DDM and its co-founder, Dany dos Santos, for years (since early Instagram days). You’ll see NOT FROM PARIS MADAME on many of their pieces, which is a “middle finger” to the establishment of Parisian fashion houses. They’re an independent at heart, doing things they’re own way, drawing inspiration from French aesthetic, mixed with hip-hop and sneaker culture, and some casual tailoring.

And before you call them the French ALD, remember that DDM was born first!

HUSBANDS // Tailored, sportswear

Neighborhood(s): 2nd arrondissement
Price: $$$
NOTES: Visiting HUSBANDS was the highlight of my trip. I had the pleasure of meeting Nicolas Gabard, the founder, and his entire team one afternoon. What I can say is that they’re a perfect example of what premier hospitality looks like. I walked in, and they offered me espresso, we talked for over an hour, and I walked away feeling energized, inspired, and taken care of.
Nicolas doesn’t care about trends, he’s building a brand for the long haul. A brand that honors the classical tailoring with contemporary luxury nuances. Outside of suiting, you’ll find the shop stocked chelsea boots, cashmere knitwear, heavy outerwear, and even denim.

A.P.C. // contemporary

Neighborhood(s): Literally everywhere
Price: $$-$$$
NOTES: Look, A.P.C. is everywhere in Paris. It’s a bonafide staple in this city, so you can’t escape it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth exploring. Their collections feel similar to what COS offers, stylistically and with the silhouettes, and French denim has become something of a novelty (Sid Mashburn was an OG stocking it in his shops in the 2010s).

Fursac // Luxury sportswear

Neighborhood(s): Also, literally everywhere
Price: $$$
NOTES: Fursac is a French brand from the 1970s that’s recently revived itself, thanks in part to creative director Gauthier Borsarello—who is truly the GOAT in men’s clothing right now. Fursac epitomizes what a modern French brand looks like, which is a compilation of soft tailoring, luxury knitwear, outerwear, accessories, and more.

Paraboot // French footwear

Neighborhood(s): Lots of locations
Price: $$$
NOTES: Is there a more honorable, iconic French shoe than Paraboot? It’s become an absolute staple, not just in Europe, but across Asia and parts of the US. Their boots are fantastic, sturdy,, and breathed new life into this genreless wave in the menswear we’re riding, especially post-sneaker.

Retail

Distance Running // athletic gear

Neighborhood(s): 3rd arrondissement
Price: $$$
Featured brands: HOKA, Ciel, Nike, District Vision, Satisfy Running, On Running, New Balance
NOTES: Distance is an absolute masterclass on how to build the perfect athletic retail space in 2022. For the longest time, it feels like the spectrum for what exists in running world is either Nike/Adidas, small independent brand shops online, or big box stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods. And then there’s Distance, a running shop based in the 3rd. They’re more than a cool space too; the way they do community building around their shop with events, races, and is one of the better experiences you’ll find.

SNS // Sneakers, streetwear

Neighborhood(s): 2nd arrondissement
Price: $$-$$$
Featured brands: Adidas, New Balance, Nike, ASICS, Salomon
NOTES: SNS is a household sneaker store at this point. They’ve got locations in all the big cities. That said, it’s worth calling out for the people who want a reliable place to grab some kicks. Other than that, they don’t carry anything that’s out of the ordinary but it’s worth a visit if you’re into kicks.

Beaubien // Workwear, casual sportswear

Neighborhood(s): 11th arrondissement
Price: $$
Featured brands: OrSlow, Rototo, Universal Works, Howlin’
NOTES: Another great spot. Beaubien keeps it simple, and there is a lot to like about that. I appreciate a store that is careful about how it curates and selects pieces. The space is smaller and intimate, but well-stoked with quality pieces from Europe, Japan, and the US. They focus a lot on independent menswear brands.

KITH // Sneakers, streetwear

Neighborhood(s): 8th arrondissement
Price: $$$
Featured brands: KITH, Rhude, ESSENTIALS, Salomon, Nike ACG
NOTES: Whatever your personal opinion is of KITH (and I know there are many), it’s worth visiting if you’re near the Champs-Élysées. KITH took over what used to be the Pershing Hall Hotel, and before that was the Parisian outpost for the American Legion. When you step inside, the space is plush marble, $50,000 vintage timepieces, modern art, and an assortment of luxury streetwear brands. It’s night and day different from the KITH Soho store.

Merci // French workwear, casual sportswear

Neighborhood(s): 3rd arrondissement
Price: $$-$$$
Featured brands: Universal Works, Corridor, Beams, OrSlow, Norse Projects
NOTES: Merci is a lovely retail concept. I’ve been a fan of their multi-use space for a while. Outside of clothes, the space is plush with linens, home and kitchenwares, the best table books, and clothes and accessories. If you want, you can grab coffee and read a book while you’re there. Oh, and they’ve developed their own product lines under the name: Merci. Some locals may tell you it’s become a bit too big and basic at this point, but I love what Merci has built.

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Where to shop in Paris