All this is good and well, but where can you buy gifts which are unusual, and show their recipients you specially care for them? Where can you find presents on which a local color story can be told? "Honey, you won't believe how I found this in a tiny little shop hidden in an inner courtyard right in the..."



Those sorts of stories make the whole present come alive! Well, search no more, my traveler friend. In this series of articles, I will show you where to shop for unusual gifts in Paris. More are posted on my online Paris guide, Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.

Designer depots: Ali Baba's treasure troves

In a previous article I wrote about "designer depots": small boutiques where it is possible to find vintage or last-season designer garb at very low prices. I like these shops; they are treasures troves where finding a deeply-discounted Chanel suit or Yves Saint Laurent dress is always within the realm of possibilities.

"Chercheminippes" is one of them. The name of the shop is a play on words: it means "searching for clothes" and is a reminder of the street name "Cherche-Midi" (or "searching for noon" in French) where the shop is located.

"Chercheminippes" is not just one shop, but a string of five shops lining the Cherche-Midi Street in the plush 6th district (near the "Sevres-Babylone" metro station, and at walking distance from Saint Germain des Pres). Each shop offers a specific category of items: women's wear, designer clothes, men's fashion, child wear, and home decoration.

Every piece of clothing is second-hand but in excellent condition. The owner, Mrs. Bayonne, only buys well-known brands, including French designer brands. She discounts her merchandise by 50% on average.

"Chercheminippes" also offers linen, pens, relatively inexpensive designer jewelry, and various fashion accessories. Unlike traditional designer depot owners, Mrs. Bayonne's also shops for decorative objects, both contemporary and vintage. There lies more gift potential for you!

Swing by Rue du Cherche-Midi, you will find the five shops tucked between No. 102 and No. 124.

Second Stop on Gift Road

Between Saint-Germain-des-Pres and the Seine stands one of my all-time favorite Parisian sites: Place Furstemberg. Ensconced between character buildings and the Abbey of St Germain, the quiet and intimate Place Furstemberg is a rendez-vous point for eternal lovers.

This is the place where the owner of "Nolita" decided to set up shop. Mrs. Lasalle is fond of everything that makes a home prettier and more attractive. French people call this "art de vivre", "things that make living an art". Her boutique is a reflection of her tastes, a very feminine boudoir decor.

Mrs. Lassalle sources her purchases in France, England, and Italy. She carries all kinds of linen, tableware, silverware, glassware, decoration items. A section of the shop is devoted to vintage furniture. You will also find a host of soap bars and toiletries, as well as some clothing articles. Prices range between 10 euros and 3000 euros.

Over the years, "Nolita" has become a shopping spot for American and Japanese tourists alike. I believe I can recommend you Mrs. Lasalle's boutique. You will find it at No. 9 Place Furstemberg. The nearest metro station is "Saint-Germain-des-Pres".

Gardening in Paris? Yes, and more.

"Le Cedre Rouge du Prince Jardinier" carries both indoor and outdoor objects. Located at 22 Avenue Victoria, in the very central first district ("Chatelet" subway station), the shop is a cross between the Outpost, Home Depot, Hold Everything, and Williams-Sonoma mail-order catalogues.

There you will find unwieldy by beautiful outdoor furniture made by local craftsmen (tables, lounge chairs and chairs in teak, marble, travertine, and volcanic stone), as well as garden decoration items and tooling (how about a nice red gardener apron and hat? Or a large hemp-fiber bag to carry your groceries in rugged style?).

Fortunately for travelers, "The Red Cedar of the Prince Gardener" also offers more portable indoor objects, including Christmas decorations, a large assortment of perfumed candles and candle-holders, oil lamps, curious plaids and pillows, extraordinary Venetian and vintage glassware, numerous tableware and silverware sets, vases of various shapes and forms, and many other wares of sorts. Even a series of not-seen-elsewhere umbrellas.

I don't think there is any like shop in Paris. Very unusual, kind of out-of-place, but so interesting it is absolutely worth a visit. And if you fall for a lounge chair or a large fireplace screen, they will ship it to your home. Ask for Patrice, he's a most helpful fellow.

Well, these are but a few useful boutiques to visit should you plan on bringing something out of the ordinary from Paris for a friend or a relative. I will continue to shop for more of these places, and let you know whenever I find some I like.

Meanwhile, prepare well for your next trip to Paris!