The Best Thrift Stores In Paris | Dogdays of Summer (2024)

FAQs

Is Paris good for thrifting? ›

Paris is an excellent destination for thrift store enthusiasts. From the bustling racks of Free 'P' Star to the polished and curated selection at Mad Vintage, there is no shortage of unique and affordable fashion finds to be discovered.

The Emmaus shops in France are usually a veritable treasure trove selling all manner of recycled second hand goods, from furniture, bric-a-brac, records, books and clothes to cookers, fridges, electrical goods, French antiques and bicycles.

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen

A true vintage mecca, this flea market is one of the most famous antique markets in the world.

Emmaus Boutique in Paris– a French thrift store, similar to what we in the US know as Goodwill or a second hand store.

It is substantially cheaper to buy luxury products from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, or Gucci in Paris, their prices being on average between 30% and 40% cheaper in France than in other countries, especially those outside the European Union.

Monoprix. Okay, we're going to start with the closest thing that you're going to get to Target in France, which is Monoprix. They have some smaller city center stores, but the larger Monoprix has a lot of great clothing and food selections.

French supermarkets

You can find everything from groceries to houseware, clothing, and even books or DIY and sports accessories. Often, they have taken the place of smaller shops or, conversely, are providing services in rural areas that were not available before.

Carrefour (Kar-Fewr) is a French “Hyperstore” chain which resembles the American version of Walmart. The first Carrefour appeared in France in 1960; now, Carrefour is the 2nd largest retailer in the world with over 9,500 locations dispersed around Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America.

Paris is known as the shopping capital of the world. The best, iconic department stores in Paris include: Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché to Printemps, BHV and La Samaritaine (reopened in July 2021). These Historical “Les Grands Magasins” are a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

What is good to shop in Paris? ›

Champs-Elysees is the most famous shopping street in Paris. Avenue George V and Champs-Elysees is famous for shopping in Paris. Clothes, accessories, jewellery, shoes, vintage clothes and handbags are the best things to shop in Paris.

1. Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann. This department store is amazing, with 7 floors of merchandise, colorful displays, and a 360° view of Paris from the...

Budget-Friendly Shopping in Paris

For more affordable shopping in Paris, try shopping in the Marais district, spread out over the 3rd and 4th arrondissem*nts. Here, you can find many quality clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as bigger brand-name stores. Another option is Rue de Rivoli.

Thrift stores will sort through the clothing before putting it on display and throw out anything that has stains, damage, or a bad odor. Regardless, as a general rule, we still strongly encourage you to wash your clothing purchases, new or used, before you wear.

Goodwill Industries International Inc., often shortened in speech and writing to Goodwill (stylized as goodwill), is an American nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs for people who have barriers to their employment.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

One of the most famous avenues in Paris, the Champs-Élysées historically housed big luxury fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Guerlain. More recently, mainstream brands such as the Gap, Zara and H&M have planted flags there.

The best places to go vintage luxury shopping in Paris are Opulence Vintage Paris, Depot Vente Luxe Paris, Monogram Paris, La Marelle Paris, and Cornerluxe Paris.

Also called the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, it's home to a variety of luxury shopping establishments, cafes, and theaters. The 1.9-km street stretches between Place Charles de Gaulle – where you'll find the famed Arc de Triomphe – and Place de la Concorde.

The top things to wear in Paris are berets, shades, blazers, shirts, dresses, trenchcoats, loafers, and boots. Men must not wear extremely short shorts, chunky sports shoes, sweatpants, graphic tees, and clothes with bright and bold words on them when in Paris.

One of the great things about shopping in Paris, and Europe in general, is that the European brands are much cheaper over there than here in the US.

What store in Paris is like Target? ›

Monoprix is basically the French equivalent of Target.

1) Le Bon Marché

Walmart stores opened throughout the rest of the U.S., with Vermont being the last state to get a store in 1995. The company also opened stores outside North America, entering South America in 1995 with stores in Argentina and Brazil; and Europe in July 1999, buying Asda in the United Kingdom for US$10 billion.

Carrefour is the French Walmart equivalent.

Although many French people prefer bottled water, in most places in France, tap water is perfectly okay to drink. Some locales, like Paris, even pride themselves on the quality of their tap water. But there are a few regions or cities where, sadly, the water has been contaminated due to issues like pesticide runoff.

Restaurants. As a general rule, Parisians go for lunch between midday and 1.30pm and dine between 8pm and 10.30pm.

Carrefour: One of the most popular supermarkets in France and around the world. There're different types of Carrefours, depending on the size of the store.

Carrefour

These range from small convenience-style stores all the way up to the French equivalent of Walmart. These bigger Carrefours stock pretty much everything.

Fortunately, both brands have stores in Paris, France – and yes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton bags are much cheaper there than they are in the US. That's because of the VAT (Value Added Tax) refund that you can get when you shop in Paris.

What is cheaper to buy in France? ›

The most popular designer brands that are cheaper in Paris vs the US is the following: Alexander McQueen, Armani, Balenciaga, Balmain, Berluti, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Celine, Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Goyard, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tom Ford, Valentino, YSL / ...

Champs Élysées & the Golden Triangle Shopping Tips

Roosevelt Metro Station, the commercial portion of Champs Élysées stretches for almost a mile through the swanky 8th arrondissem*nt and is the most famous shopping avenue in Paris - a must-see destination for visitors from around the world.

Galeries Lafayette is one of the most popular, chic and distinguished shopping centers in Paris. Beauty and fashion enthusiasts are passionately attached to this city, where some of the most remarkable fashion moments happened since the time of Kings and Queens.

The Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous shopping streets in Paris, was once home to major luxury fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton and Cartier.

Parisians do wear jeans and over the years they have become more of a classic French wardrobe staple. Jeans can easily be worn year-round and dressed up or down in that chic French way.

Parisians wear clothes that flatter their bodies. For instance, they ensure that they wear pants that are neither too tight nor too big, too short, or too long. Their shirts can be oversized only if they are designed to be so. Dresses are not too-tight, too-revealing, or too-short.

Christian Dior, Chanel, Lanvin, Hermès, Louis Vuitton — these globally-renowned institutions are uniquely French luxury fashion houses that all had their beginnings in Paris, and they were all founded by the person whose name they still bear today.

Just like with machine washing, you'll want to add a little germ-killing vinegar to your water as well. Fill a basin or sink with hot water. Add the soap and vinegar in, and then slowly soak your entire garment. Give your piece a nice deep clean, like you're massaging your scalp, and keep an eye out for bleeding.

Vintage clothing and even new thrifted items may have strong odors from perfume, scented cleaning products, or musty storage. If the odor remains after the garment has been washed, soak the clothing overnight in a sink or bucket filled with lukewarm water and 1 cup of baking soda before washing again.

Does Goodwill disinfect clothes before selling? ›

Does Goodwill clean items before placing them on the sales floor? The majority of our merchandise is secondhand. While our employees do not wash clothing items, we do wipe down household items before placing them on the sales floor. Goodwill complies with all laws in regard to the resale of secondhand items.

Asked why Goodwill wants to partner with Mark Cuban for his Suit Up Experience, Goodwin said, "This is what we do. This is exactly what we do. It fits right in with our mission.

The Seattle Goodwill Flagship Store is the largest. Goodwill store in the country.

Cat Goodwill - This type of goodwill is considered best. In cat goodwill, the customers are loyal to the brand or the organisation. The persons who conduct business don't concern them.

If you are traveling to Europe this year and plan to go shopping, you may be wondering is it cheaper to go shopping in London or Paris. The short answer is it is cheaper to go shopping in Paris due to the VAT tax refund, the currency conversion, there is no import tax in Paris!

Books, Eiffel Tower replicas, champagne, wine and chocolates are the best souvenirs in Paris.

Europe is blessed with a thriving thrifting scene, with thousands of flea markets and charity shops trading second-hand clothing over the counter and online every day.

Always choose the local currency, euros, to avoid extra DCC charges. Consider limiting your transaction to 100€-200€, as you can get a better deal at bank and credit union ATMs once you're in Paris proper.

Fortunately, both brands have stores in Paris, France – and yes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton bags are much cheaper there than they are in the US. That's because of the VAT (Value Added Tax) refund that you can get when you shop in Paris.

What do English people call thrift stores? ›

In England we call thrift stores 'charity shops' or 'second hand shops. ' As well as independent charity shops, there are lots of different chains of 'charity shops' in the UK- each dedicated to a specific charity.

Clothing in thrift shops is usually from generations past, things that have withstood the test of time. Sustainable clothes tend to cost a bit more, thanks to the fair wages and sustainably-produced fabrics and textiles, and you can find them potentially much cheaper than new in a thrift store.