What I Did Last Week (and what I'm looking forward to)

What Vintage Shopping in Paris Taught Me About Business

Dec 12, 2024

Welcome to the 12.15.2024 Edition of "What I Did Last Week (and what I'm looking forward to) where I share what I am doing personally and professionally

Today at a glance

Vintage Shopping in Paris: How I did it
7 Stores I would visit again
What I learned about myself
The Pause, Prioritize, Propose framework for saying ‘no’ this holiday

I’m overwhelmed by the term ‘vintage shopping.’

I didn’t understand it.

Until now.

To be fair, I spent the year, researching and learning about it.

A little background:

When I turned 50, I made a pledge: I would no longer buy clothing with synthetic fibers.

No polyester, polyamide, viscose or acetate.

My heart sank to my stomach when I saw the Netflix documentary “Buy Now.” Images of locals wading through clothing strewn on the beaches in Chile and Ghana, as the waves washed in. Fish with plastic in their guts. Fast fashion and sneakers that refused to break down in the land fills.

Not buying synthetic as I turned 50 would be my singular contribution to the planet.

As I researched how to do this, there were the words: “vintage shopping.”

A more sustainable choice for the planet.

So once my retreat was over and my clients were safely back stateside, I gave myself a project: Learn how to vintage shop.

After all, I was in vintage shopping mecca: Paris.

Sure, there are stores where the musty smell of age greets you as soon as you walk in.
Clothing in shambles and everywhere.

I don’t know how to shop for treasures that way.

But here in Paris, there are well-ordered, well-organized stores. Clothing well maintained. Clean.

I did a ChatGPT search. Cross referenced it with a Google search. I put pins on a map of all the vintage shop locations, transferred it to my phone and set off for the Marais, where a high concentration of “Frippe” shops are located. I carried a hand written list in case my network was crappy.

I’ve always been confused and overwhelmed by vintage shopping. Stylists for Sarah Jessica Parker wax lyrical about reimagining this jacket or that blouse for her characters.

I didn’t have an eye for it. I didn’t get it.

Yesterday, I made a decision.

I’ve done all the major attractions in Paris. The museums, Chanel, Dior, the gardens. The sanitary ‘Paris’ experience.

Vintage shopping would be a new way to see a city I had been visiting since high school. I struck out on my own self-crafted adventure.

Stop 1: Open Dressing

Address: 63 Rue de Turenne

I decided to be patient with myself. Go slowly. Introduce myself to the clothes as I sifted through. I refused to be intimidated.

This also meant I would have to leave behind all my notions about the traditional shopping experience.

Sanitary. Unimaginative. Orderly.

I had to immerse— as Craig Storti writes in “Why Travel Matters.” Don’t be afraid to mix with the locals. Be a traveller. Not a tourist.

I stared at the racks and racks of clothes and decided I would go in search of a houndstooth jacket. Narrow the search. As I rifled through the rack, I swiped past YSL jackets in ‘smalls’ and ‘extra smalls.’ Pass.

I have —ahem—assets.

I found a black and white houndstooth jacket, size 8. Just eyeing it, I could tell this would fit. Once in the dressing room, it fit like a dream. The workmanship was apparent. So this is why people buy couture.

Even though it was vintage, it wasn’t a bargain. The jacket would cost me $500.

I walked out of the store and went to sit at a cafe to think about it.

My first YSL. (500 EUR)

Vintage. It was something really special.

I had just done a private tour of Galerie Dior with clients. I learned how Yves Saint Laurent would become founder Christian Dior’s first successor and creative director upon his expiry. I was not just bying a piece of clothing.

I was buying history. The tags attested to it.

Stop 2. The Room Vintage

Address: 71 de la rue de Turenne

I WAS intimidated by this store, so I didn’t go in. I cruzed by 3 times.

I even just stood on the street and stared in. It’s down the street from “Open Dressing” so it wasn’t a big stretch.

The belts looked interesting, but it was intimidating in the way Chanel on 5th Avenue is.

Stop 3. Parisian Vintage

20 Rue Saint Claude

I was distracted by the beautiful hair on the male salesperson. His accent didn’t hurt as he inquired, “How did you learn about us?” I showed him my ratty little paper, torn from my Mr. Boddington’s journal, with all the names and addresses of vintage stores I planned to visit written down.

It was crowdsourced from Google search, Chat GPT prompts and blogs.

I assured him this was an intellectual endeavor.

More YSL jackets here. I salivated a bit over the jewelry, but didn’t buy anything here.

Stop 4: Dressing Particulier
Address: 1 Rue de Normandie

I’ll be honest. I was on my way to another vintage shop called “Predilection” and got distracted by this one. I was so glad to go in.

The place was by far my absolute favorite.

The store attendant was really nice.

Everything was really well maintained.

I fondled ALL of the scarves, letting the silk run through my fingers. I’m still thinking about a blue and white one, that was a no-name brand.

I might still go back and get it.

I did walk out with a brown leather belt with pauses for a gold carriage. It was reminiscent of Hermes (but wasn’t) (75 EUR) I even bargained a little on the price.

I went over to Predilection afterwards. A little too ‘goth’ for my taste.

Stop 5: Lapin Boutique

Address: 9 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris

The next day, (my actual birthday) I decided to do away with my list and just freestyle it. I would walk the streets of Paris in search of vintage stores.

This was actually a much better way to find vintage stores that AREN’T written about in a blog, but offer an exquisite shopping experience.

I lusted after a Lanvin cream blouse here at Lapin Boutique. But at 500 EUR, I had to walk away.

Stop 6: Re Voir Vintage

12 Rue Commines, 75003 Paris

I found a NAF NAF leather jacket that I can’t stop thinking about here at Revoir Vintage (160 EUR).

I tried it on, and the patina of the worn in leather made it cozy and immediately comfortable.

I did restrain myself and walked out of the store. If I’m still thinking about it 24 hours later, I know where to go.

Stop 7: Kanelle Vintage

48 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris

Everything looks like a ‘whisper’ here at this vintage store. Delicate slip dresses in pinks, peaches, and translucent white beckoned me off the street and into the store.

A little ‘Anthropologie-esque.’

Here I bought a silk blouse in black, mustard and fuchsia (90EUR) with a Peter Pan collar.

As I grazed the ancient tag, I knew it was something really special, hearkening back to the 1950’s.

I asked the sales person, how to style it. She recommended hi-lo.

Pair it with something modern, like jeans or a leather skirt.

She even let me pick out a vintage post card from a stack to go.

Conclusion

What did I learn about myself?

Vintage shopping, much like creating anything of value in life, takes time and focus. It requires me to go slowly. Introduce myself to the clothes. Be choosy.

Curation is key. Just as it is in editing words for a post like this. Business relationships. Business opportunities.

This was clothing that already lived one life. It carried a narrative. A story.

For my next Paris retreat, I may fashion a vintage shopping day for clients, encouraging clients to find a signature piece that defines their brand.

It’s allowing me to make powerful, unique style statements, owning my own story and brand as I head into 52.

The Insider’s Edit

Links I love

1. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Charli XCX had a major media presence this year, and there are several lessons you can take from their communication strategies. Here’s what you need to know.

2. Let go of the need for approval at work. When your self-esteem and decision-making hinge excessively on others’ opinions, or when you compromise your values to avoid disapproval, it's time for a change. Here’s how to find the right balance between trusting yourself and considering others.

3. Master the art of the one-woman show. Doing things alone can be scary or intimidating to many, but a solo date to Broadway or a nearby theatre can be comforting and even empowering Here’s how to make the most of the “me” time.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
1.Join the Samita Lab Mastermind. Join 7 other women leaders in giving a TEDx style talk on a NYC stage in front of 200 people at the end.
I only enroll for this program once a year.
The waitlist is open for the Class of 2025.
or think outside the box and play this video game
2. The Anatomy of a 'No' If you’re struggling to say ‘no’ gracefully at work, I created a digital community where all my scripts are organized (15,000 downloaded)
I’ll add to it each week.
3. Enroll in my workshop: “3 tips to supercharge your TEDx Application”
1600 already took it.