5 new luxury and fashion hotspots in Paris to visit, from an Instagram-friendly Dior store to the city’s most anticipated five-star hotel
- Paris has retained its timeless allure during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that does not mean there is nothing new to check out
- Here are some new or revived stores and hotspots that luxury and fashion lovers might like add to their ‘to-do’ list when visiting the French capital
Ask any traveller from Greater China where they are most looking forward to heading when they are once again able to and Paris is likely to be near the top of their list. The French capital has long been a magnet for Chinese tourists, not just for its cultural offerings but also for its retail scene.
The lack of Chinese travellers has been a topic of conversation in Paris for three long years.
A lot of things have changed since the Covid-19 outbreak, but Paris has retained its timeless allure. That does not mean, however, that there is nothing new to check out. Here are a few new or revived stores and hotspots that luxury and fashion lovers might like add to their “to-do” list.
La Samaritaine
Once one of Paris’ most celebrated department stores, La Samaritaine dates back to 1870. It reopened in June 2021 having been closed for more than 15 years and following the extensive renovation of its art nouveau building.
Cheval Blanc Paris
In the same building as La Samaritaine is Paris’ most anticipated new five-star hotel: Le Cheval Blanc, the first property in the City of Light from the LVMH-owned hospitality group.
On the Seine river, a stone’s throw from the Pont Neuf bridge, the hotel, which opened a year ago, offers sweeping views of the city from sleek and bright suites. Its two restaurants – Italian Langosteria and French Le Tout Paris – and lavish Dior Spa are magnets for fashionable Parisians.
Lemaire Accessory Boutique
Helmed by couple Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran, Lemaire is the go-to label for well-made wardrobe staples that do not scream “fashion”. The French brand’s pared-down aesthetic extends to its accessories, which include the popular Croissant bag.
That and more of the brand’s timeless accessories are available in the Lemaire’s boutique on one of Paris’ most beautiful squares, Place des Vosges, in the heart of the trendy Marais. Befitting the brand’s aesthetic, “the accessories are staged in a minimal and organic decor – an abstraction in shades of white, grainy, smooth, powdery”.
Dior at Avenue Montaigne
It is part of a larger complex that also features La Galerie Dior fashion museum; a restaurant, Monsieur Dior, which would not look out of place in the south of France; and a display of hundreds of miniature Dior garments and accessories that has become one of the most Instagrammed spots in Paris.
Boys Don’t Cry
The store sells a great edit of cool men’s labels such as Stockholm-based CDLP and New York-based Bode as well as a small selection of books, magazines and design items.
