A fashion insider's guide to Paris

emily in paris

Where to stay in Paris?

With each arrondissement having a distinct vibe, flair or, erm, je ne sais quoi (sorry, I couldn't help it), there's so much to be seen. Whilst it completely depends on how long I'm going to be in Paris and what my plans are that will determine which neighbourhood to stay in, there are certain areas that I come back to time and time again.

I just love the vibe of the Marais which feels fun, authentic and achingly cool but equally adore the charm and convenience of La Madeleine. Look to hotels such as The Hoxton (it's in the 2nd but within walking distance to the Marais) or 25Hours Paris (one of our favourite places in the city) which is rather conveniently located across from Gare Du Nord, or if you fancy being within walking distance to the Champs Elysee (and 5-star is your thing), then you have to stay at Hotel de Berri.

Best restaurants to eat in Paris

For the best burgers in Paris, you have to go to Cafe Ruc or Cafe Charlot. If you're after a luxe but chill Bistro setting make sure a trip to Le Castiglione is on your to-do list. Balagan and Bambou are both achingly cool and LouLou serves some seriously good food.

Things to do in Paris

There's so much to see in Paris, you'd need a week or two to truly make the most of it. However, if you only have 48 hours, fret not, here are a few must-sees to pack in a weekend.

The Musee Ives Saint Laurent: Don't miss out on a visit to the incredible Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, which exhibits the couturier’s body of work on the legendary premises of his former haute couture house, alternating between retrospective displays and temporary thematic exhibitions. You'll need to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Palais Galliera: Another excellent destination for fashion fans is the Palais Galliera. You can currently visit the exhibition Love Brings Love, a tribute to Alber Elbaz, which celebrates Alber Elbaz in an unprecedented exhibition format, recreating the collaborative show that was presented in tribute to the legendary designer on October 5th, 2021.

If you're after a more whimsical experience of Paris, and by that I mean if you want to pretend you're in Emily in Paris, then make sure you stroll around the Jardin des Tuileries or enjoy a boat tour that will give you splendid views of Notre Dame. An espresso and La Duree macaron are a must for all selfies.

Best shops in Paris

Being one of the fashion capitals of the world, Paris is a dream when it comes to shopping for new outfits. The newly refurbished La Samaritaine, originally opened in 1869, is the perfect place to start. The designer lab in particular houses up-and-coming and established designers such as Jacquemus and Chloe. Plus, you can easily spend the whole day there, since there are high-end restaurants as well as a spa on the premises.

For a slightly more traditional - yet nonetheless luxurious - shopping experience try the Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps in central Paris.

A stroll in the Marais district is a must, as it plays host to many independent boutiques (Nose is THE go-to destination for perfume lovers) as well as more established brands such as The Frankie Shop. You won't go wrong with Parisian labels Sezane or Merci Paris either.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.