So this is officially part two, and honestly I could keep going forever because Paris and I are just not done with each other yet. There is something about wandering these streets with an empty tote bag and a very full heart that makes me feel most like myself. I grabbed a coffee, tucked my hair into a little clip because the wind kept betraying my redhead volume, and set off to poke through every rack I could find. Come with me?
If you have followed me for a while you already know thrifting is not just a hobby for me, it is basically a personality trait. Nothing makes me happier than finding one gorgeous, slightly imperfect thing that nobody else has and imagining the whole new life I am about to give it. Paris just does that better than almost anywhere, because the pieces here carry a softness and a history that you simply cannot buy new off a rail.
The shops that stole my heart
I always start in the Marais, because the little vintage boutiques tucked between the pastry shops are so my aesthetic it is almost embarrassing. Think tiny lace collars, powder-pink silk slips, and gloves that look like they belonged to someone very glamorous in 1962. Then I wandered over to the flea-market side of things, which is dustier and messier, and where the real treasure-hunting happens. You have to dig, and my manicure did suffer, but that is half the romance.
My best tip is to go slow and actually touch everything. I run my hands along the rails, check the seams, and hold pieces up in the light before I let myself fall in love. Chatting with the sellers is part of it too, because they always seem to have a story about where something came from. If you want to see me in full happy-chaos mode digging through the bins, that is exactly the kind of thing I film for my YouTube, so come say hi over there.
The finds and how I'd re-style them
Now the fun part. I came home with a blush-pink slip dress that is very coquette on its own, but I am already picturing it layered over a little white tee with ballet flats for that soft princesscore look I cannot stop wearing. I also found a cropped cardigan with the tiniest pearl buttons, which is getting a gentle re-dye and maybe a ribbon detail, because you already know I cannot leave a good thing alone. Upcycling is my love language, and half the joy is turning someone else's forgotten piece into the most-worn thing in my closet.
If you want the deeper story of how I got into all of this, and why vintage means so much to me, I put a lot of it on my about page. And if any of these little treasures make it into my shop after I have restyled them, I will always let you know first. For now, thank you for wandering Paris with me again, my loves. Save your pennies, keep your tote bag ready, and go find something that makes your heart flutter. #liviasloves