Reading · Smooth Brain by Ali Whittle

Hi friends!

I always forget how crazy May can be with work. June has been a similar story. I’m not at all complaining - it’s been a truly wonderful, surprising, fulfilling (and yes, a little stressful) few months!

During this time I’ve attended Australian Fashion Week, navigated and gotten on top of some health stuff, read a bunch, worked with some great brands, completed lots of school work (I’m studying Gemmology), had my mid-year Gemmology exams (thank GOD that’s over), tried some amazing products (this substack details all of them!), went to France for 10 days for work and finished organising our upcoming July Europe holiday.

It’s been a juggle and I’ve surrendered to the fact that not everything can be done all at once. Everything I’m currently involved in has been stuff I’ve dreamt of and thought about for years so it’s a fantastic but admittedly, challenging time. All very worth it!

In this substack I’ll be sharing an updated list of my Paris recommendations - including shopping (lots of vintage), cafes/coffee/matcha spots, some restaurants and accommodation highlights. Here’s my Paris guide from last September for more recs. And at the end I’ll share my purchases of the trip.

Details that make a trip unique:

Scent of the trip: D.S. & Durga Debaser in Bloom - I always love taking a new fragrance with me on a trip so I associate that scent with that specific moment in time. I immediately fell in love with Debaser in Bloom!
Product saviours: July Capsule Carry On Pro - this carry on is a total game-changer. Not only does it move so smoothly but the top down packing fits so much and feels so efficient. I also love the compartments at the front for easy access to my laptop, books etc. Sodii Hydration Salts were so great while flying. The travel size of the Kit Pillow Mist meant that my nightly ritual could continue with ease while travelling.
What I read: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez & Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - I’ve been on a real romcom book spree. Romance is my happy place.
Soundtrack of the trip: I mostly listened to Justin Bieber, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift!
TV/Movies downloaded for the plane: Off Campus (Amazon Prime), The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime), One Tree Hill (Stan).

Louise Carmen - for beautiful customised journals. My pro-tip; get there early to avoid the lines. The store opens at 12pm - I got there at 11.25am and was first in line. I grabbed a coffee from (nearby cafe) Nami and enjoyed that while I waited. I made these TikToks about my experience. Watch here, here and here.

The Broken Arm - perhaps the coolest multi-brand concept store in Paris. They stock an edit of high end designers like YSL, Valentino and Prada alongside lesser known emerging designers. There’s also a cafe connected to the store. Everything is laid out perfectly and I found the space and inventory super inspiring.

Jkeuss - While staying in the Pigalle area I spotted this store front while walking to get coffee in the morning. They had beautiful bags hanging in the window - and a bubblegum suede number caught my eye. I went back when they opened and purchased the pink bag! I met the owners and learnt that the bags are handmade using fabrics sourced from the surplus stock of fashion houses. Everything is made in limited quantities.

Christen - A longtime admirer of Nina Christen’s work, I couldn’t wait to check out the newly opened Christen store and see her shoes in person. Nina is the current design director of shoes at Dior (previously she designed for Loewe, Bottega Veneta, The Row and Celine). Christen is her own brand and I just love what she’s doing.

Rubirosas - Another store at the top of my list was Rubirosas. They specialise in just a few items; cashmere knits, shirting, loafers, socks, boxers and pyjamas in a kaleidoscope of colours - and only the best materials and fabrics are used. A stellar store experience, the staff were wonderful and so attentive.

OFR Bookshop - An independent bookstore focusing on art, design and photography.

Repetto - rooted in the ballet scene, Repetto is known for their classic ballet flats (both flat and heeled). They make their shoes in a variety of colours and leathers - patent, suede and calfskin - just make sure you try them on as they run small in my experience.

Hardest part is working out which colour to get.

The vintage shopping in Paris is excellent. I love a curated store just as much as I love to sift through racks and racks at a flea market. All in the name of discovering epic finds. Here are my favourite discoveries.

Desert Vintage - this store blew me away. Edited to perfection, Desert Vintage felt like a serene oasis and the experience was exquisite. They had vintage Chanel bags, vintage Levis, stunning archival formal wear as well as casual. I found three standout pieces; a Phoebe Philo Celine era skirt, a beautiful YSL jacket and my favourite; a Nina Ricci blouse. Note: Prices are high here.

Revoir Vintage - a great mix of cool secondhand pieces and vintage designer. Leans a bit Y2K.

Seconde Vue - restored secondhand/vintage eyewear! Coolest place. They also have an optometrist operating at the back of the store so you can get your prescription sorted if needed.

Secondhand/vintage eyewear is where it's at!

Guerrisol - a cheap and cheerful traditional thrift store where nothing is over 10 or 15 euro. It’s good to go into a place like this with an idea of what you’re after so you can focus on specific sections. I find I’m less likely to get overwhelmed when I do this.

Brut Archives - a mix of vintage and vintage inspired pieces. Beautiful suede and leather jackets!

Nuovo Vintage - A cool store with a great edit. They also stock their own in-house brand, Nuovo here. I liked Nuovo’s long-sleeve coloured tops.

Curated By - a lovely edit of vintage clothes, accessories and homewares but I did think most of it was overpriced.

Comptoir Vintage - loads of epic leather jackets, vintage designer heels and bags.

Marais Markets - I didn’t have enough time to spend here but the markets had a great (albeit busy) vibe with loads of stalls and lots to discover.

Galeries Lafayette - Secondhand level: Restore: Nestled within Galeries Lafayette is a treasure trove of secondhand delights. Preloved designer pieces at discounted prices, alongside other secondhand gems.

DokiDoki - delicious handroll sushi, they make it in front of you. Everything is so fresh and yum.

Could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Racines - a lovely, romantic spot inside an arcade. Really lovely Italian food.

Bar Nouveau - perhaps the best bar I’ve ever been to! Bar Nouveau is in the top 50 bars in the world and it absolutely lives up to the hype. The drinks are so interesting and delicious and the team’s process and creations are truly fascinating.

Evi Evane - super yum Greek bakery.

Les Deux Magots - a Parisian institution. This historical restaurant opened in 1885 and was frequented by creatives Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre and Ernest Hemingway to name a few. It’s also right next to another iconic venue, Cafe de Flore.

Le Cornichon - bistro/diner style restaurant. Had delicious steak frites!

Coffee/matcha/treats

Nami Coffee - best coffee of the trip was had here!

Mamiche - Had a life-changing, melt-in-mouth type choc chip cookie here. Cannot wait to go back and try more! The lines in the morning were insane so I went back in the afternoon and it was empty.

Fauna - Scandi-style cafe. Incredible coffee, breakfast plates and cinnamon buns (make sure you have it warm). Love to people watch here.

Flaneur Coffee Club - super cute coffee spot. They also make great juices!

Blondie - incredible bakery/cafe. I had an insanely delish cookie here that I keep dreaming about to this day.

Dreamin’ Man at The Broken Arm - A little hole in the wall coffee and pastry spot connected to The Broken Arm concept store. Great coffee, cool vibes.

Cafe Nuances - excellent iced lattes and iced matchas here.

Partisan Cafe - great coffee, good vibes, yummy baked goods.

Hôtel Massé - Super chic, boutique hotel in the Pigalle area. The space feels crisp, fresh and inviting with the mix of modern and vintage furniture / decor. The staff are welcoming and so helpful, the beds are lush; essentially, the vibes are immaculate. I stayed in the Pigalle area about 9 years ago so it was really great to explore the neighbourhood again! I loved this hotel so much I booked it again when I’m back in Paris in late July.

The Hoxton Hotel - I’ve stayed at the Hoxton in Amsterdam a few times, as well as the Hoxton in Williamsburg, Brooklyn but this was my first time at their Paris spot. I loved the location - a short walk to pretty much everywhere I wanted to go and very close to the Marais. Great buffet breakfast, friendly staff, heaps of different areas to hang and just overall a great place to stay!