Friday, June 08, 2007

CHARMED...



And so, the gentrification of the north Marais is complete.
The End.

But! Where to now?
Northwards friends, ever northwards...and er, left a bit...



Ooh, that looks more like it. Where's that?
The haut haut Marais I believe some estate agents are referring to it as. Well, it's Temple really. Behind the Carreau du Temple (often used for shows at fashion week) is a very lovely area, and one that I wouldn't really know well if it weren't for the rumour I heard that there was a Lyell shop up there. It's the kind of place people really live and work - go down the cobbled Cite dupetit Thouars and you'll find children on bicycles, homes with windowboxes spilling geraniums, arty looking offices with doors open to let in the breeze and a sleepy dog lying on the mat. Wander round a bit in the quiet, quiet streets - once in a while you get spewed out into the crazy crazy of rue or boulevard du Temple then back in to the cool quiet streets.

In rue Charles Francois Dupuis there is this charming shop opened by a charming Australian girl. It is the Lyell shop but it's actually even better than that. Marie Louise de Monterey is a vintage clothes shop as well. Shoes line the floor around the entire shop, bags hang on one wall and vintage sundresses, white broderie slips and evening dresses hang on the rails. There are (I'm not typing the word vintage again) bakelite belt buckles and jewellery and such and there's a children's (oh bugger it) vintage clothing section. Then one half of the shop is given over to Lyell - their only Paris stockist as far as I know.




I'm really quite obsessed with those tiles.

After much dithering, I bought a snakeskin bag.


It did not cost ninety euros and no one felt the need to have a hissy fit.

{EDIT: Marie Louise de Monterey closed down after about a year, sadly. AA is, at the time of writing, still there, still selling neon headbands.}

13 comments:

Mrs Fashion said...

I love your bag!
Mrs F x

The Spicers said...

Oh No! I'm so sad to see American Apparel in the Marais. What street is it on? Rue Vielle du Temple?

Claire said...

thanks Mrs F and ihf - yes I'm afraid it's on rue vieille du temple right opposite APC.

Anonymous said...

lovely bag!
oh but i am more alarmed about the starbuck's invasion....
delphine

Anonymous said...

Some say the Haut Marais starts at rue de la Perle - right up to the rue Charlot ! Then the carreau du temple with its great 'terrasses' is a bit 'off' :-)

Claire said...

I would say so too, since I'm lucky enough to stay in rue Charlot - that's why I said haut haut and left a bit! Seems like they really want it to be part of it though - someone had put a large banner across the street in rue CF Dupuis proclaiming "artisans of the haut marais"...as the haut marais becomes saturated, also with the carreau du temple being redeveloped, it seems to be expanding that way...

negrito said...

Hi lola,
I am happy someone else noticed also the complete take over from American Apparel on Paris, it is amazing :)

erica said...

love that lyell top, but does it wear well? beautiful bag, too. the lyell shop in nolita has some nice vintage finds, especially boots.

Claire said...

e: unfortunately that top, although gorgeous, is impossible to wear! The lace comes down TOO low and a bra or anything underneath would spoil it..I went through all the options! It looks amazing from the back though - just wish they'd cut the front about 4 inches higher. And yes, I love the Nolita Lyell shop too, the Paris one is huge compared though - at least four times the size (but a lot more vintage stuff)...

la femme said...

Oh, I love that top so much but agree about the bra thing...

travel notes said...

That was my favourite item in the Lyell collection, it's a shame about the lowness. But never mind, I will definitely visit that little gem in September. Bis! Bis!

Unknown said...

Hello!

Do you know of an Australian girl who opened a vintage shop in Paris??

Thanks x

Claire said...

H India - yes it is this shop - Marie Louise de Monterey. Opened by a girl called Maria if I remember...