I am traveling to Paris very soon and I would love to experience some clothing shopping for a few hours for one day. I am not looking for big names stores, I am looking for small cute stores with unique clothing. What’s the best district or streets to go shopping? Thanks
We stayed in the Marais and I enjoyed stopping in the unique, boutique style clothing stores. I think you would enjoy the variety of what is offered. The Marais has a great vibe as well.
I agree with above poster, Le Marais had great shops... Sound like you may also be there when they have there annual August sales. Enjoy!
The sales (soldes) started June 27 and finish Aug. 7 (in Paris).
The best for the time: https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/
Great shopping; beautiful building; plus you can go to the rooftop cafe when you are done for champagne, snacks, and stunning views of Paris.
In addition to the Marais, I like BHV department store on Rue du Rivoli, for reasonable, and Monoprix for inexpensive clothes. For more high end or to just walk through and browse, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette and Le Bon Marche are fantastic for what they have, as well as their architecture. Merci, on Blvd. Beaumarchais has fun, unique, high style clothing --- and pretty high end prices -- you can check their website.
Their cafes are hip places to hang out too.
If you don't want big stores, there are a bunch of covered galleries that have mostly boutique stores in them. I think it may be just what you would like. They're essentially city street blocks that were covered with glass, probably 100 years ago, to become an indoor mall. Two that come to mind are Gallarie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas, but those are only two. The ones I've seen are well maintained and have a Victorian feel. They are in various places, but mostly north of the the Louvre (right bank) - in the area of Gallaries Laffayette.
Edit more than 100 years ago:
https://bonjourparis.com/markets/historic-shopping-arcades-paris/
Going over during the "soldes is well worth it...great choices, variation, check out the clothing at Monoprix. I've bought dress shirts there at decent prices.
I am not sure where you are from or if you have heard of Desigual before, but Paris has several large shops. Desigual is a Spanish design with interesting colours, I love their clothes and large scarves are great. If you google you can find details.
Diwali is a shop with only scarves and is fabulous. Several shops in Paris.
Open air markets often have scarf vendors. Great finds there.
Have a great trip.
Depending on where you will be staying, and how far afield you wish to go, I'll recommend in addition to those stores/areas listed above just a few more distant choices
1. The side streets in the area between Le Bon Marche and rue de Rennes up to Montparnasse
2. The shops around rue de Passy and Ave Mozart
3. Ave de Ternes turning into Rue de Faubourg Saint Honore
4. The area behind Printemps up to Gare St. Lazare
We just did a tour with Paris Greeters around the Faideherbe Village and there were a lot of small independent shops with fashion/jewellery and everything else. An amazing part of Paris we were lucky enough to discover.