How to Save a Ton of Money Shopping in Paris

Don’t forget to thrift luggage to put all your finds in!

The thrill of the thrift. We know the feeling of finding the proverbial “needle in a haystack,” a gem among rocks, or, in a thrift store, a cool vintage dress or jacket that fits like a glove and costs next to nothing. A bargain. A true find. A treasure.

Last year, my thrifting hit a feverish pitch when I realized I was not the kind of tourist who drops into Paris and happily hits Louis Vuitton or Dior with a limitless credit card. My card has clear limits and, in my head, those limits are even tighter as I remember how long my limited funds needed to last. Paris is not a cheap city, and I stayed in decent hotels, took Ubers, and ate well, but when it came to what I would take home, I loved the thrill of finding thrift and vintage stores selling everything from bathing suits to designer scarves. After a couple of days, I loved the thrill of riding the Metro once I figured out the intricate system that could take you to every corner of the French city–but it may mean several stops and a half-mile walk underground in major stations. Saving money on transport meant more for thrift.

I knew from back when I had been a married twenty-something living not very well off in the south of France how to find a bargain and furnished our home with second- or third-hand finds at stores like Emmaüs, which offer used furniture, clothes, and accessories at pennies on the euro. I was a big fan and knew everything I bought at Emmaüs meant money back into the organization’s vast social and charitable activities. I’d like to say I had these upbeat and holistic thoughts when shopping, but, in reality, I just wanted a bargain.

Fast forward to Paris last summer when I was taking an Uber between hotels (I tried four in ten days to truly get to know different sectors of the city) and spotted a sign that recalled my early days as a struggling French wife, Emmaüs Boutique. The difference here is the word “Boutique” and, although I speak pretty good French, boutique means the same in French and English. In the U.S., Goodwill Boutiques are the upscale versions of the eponymous Goodwill stores that support the good works of the Goodwill organization. What if, here in France, Emmaüs Boutique held the same allure, the same upscale treasures? I was on my way to find out, backtracking the route taken by the Uber driver a few hours earlier.

The Joy of Thrifting While Traveling

Exactly as I hoped, Emmaüs Boutique was the luxe version of their massive furniture and equipment thrift stores. Smaller and more organized than the common Emmaus thrift stores and occupying pricey Parisian real estate, I quickly made the rounds of the racks and displays, grabbing an Italian-made white jacket and a Longchamp handbag for less than €50 total. The €24 jacket is now a staple in my wardrobe, and I get compliments whenever I wear it. The best part? I get to tell the story of my brilliant thrift store find and point out the thrill of the hunt, even while traveling.

The best part? By purchasing used goods in a charitable thrift store, the tourist is actually promoting sustainable travel. We all have so much “stuff,” and most of us don’t need more. And, yet, we all want a souvenir, or physical memory, of the travel we enjoyed. How cool to have something that belonged to a local and that, by now owning it, money has gone back into society to sustain programs that promote social welfare at a time when the world needs this help badly.

Thrifting while traveling is not just a foreign concept. Some of the best thrift store finds have been in my own backyard in Northern California or while traveling around the U.S. and Canada. Some of my first scores were in Wyoming when I found both a turquoise necklace and a pair of gently worn (the best kind) cowboy boots in a local charity boutique near Buffalo, Wyoming, and I found two Louis Vuitton bags at a thrift store in a gas station in South Dakota. All of these cheap finds became treasures in my wardrobe.

How to Go Thrift Shopping in Paris

Back to Paris, where, aside from the great bargains at the luxe Emmaüs Boutique and the mid-market Emmaüs Alternatives, there are some reliable non-profit thrift stores throughout the city and many for-profit vintage boutiques. All promote sustainability in that they sell recycled clothes and accessories. Most take a bit of looking to find quality at a bargain price, and some take patience to maneuver crowds and fortitude to sort through both the good and the less-than-good in the quest for a deal.

The Marais area of Paris is ripe with vintage, thrift, and much pricier consignment or resale boutiques. My last wander through the Marais netted both a vintage black swimsuit that screams elegance (think Audrey Hepburn era) and a Soléido traditional Provençal print skirt that is bright, fun, and flirty. Both are from Tilt Vintage.

Thrift stores are “Fripéries” in French, while flea markets are “Marché aux Puces,” and while millions flock each year to the well-known Paris Antique Markets, that is usually not the place you will find bargains and steals. As you may presume, with city streets full of farmers markets, every day a different area, the same is true for antique and flea markets. One Sunday during my July visit, I was heading to the major Parisian antique market sprawl, which was two metro trains and a mile-long walk away, when I literally walked into a flea market smack in front of my hotel on Boulevard des Italiens in the 9th Arrondissement. By the time I finished breakfast, the first vendors were opening, and the first shoppers were stumbling through the drizzle to see what was on display: everything from truly antique furniture to €2 clothing items, of which I bought several. It is never ideal to thrift in the rain; nevertheless, when bargains are to be had, bargain hunters are undaunted.

Where to Go Thrift Shopping in Paris

If you’re headed to Paris, the following shops are worth checking out for thrifted treasures.

– Emmaüs Boutique: 158 Bd Diderot, 75012 Paris
– Tilt Vintage: 8 Rue de Rivoli 75004 Paris
– The King of Frip: 33 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris
– Hippy Market: 41 Rue de Temple, 75004 Paris
– Kilo Shop: 125 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
– Bottega Vintage: 11 Bd des Filles du Cavaliere, 75003 Paris