There's no denying that Paris is an epicentre of global fashion. It is host to the 'Paris Fashion Week'; part of the four major global fashion weeks (the others being in London, Milan and New York). In fact, the first recognised Paris Fashion Week was held in 1973 as a fundraiser to restore the Palace of Versailles. Fast forward to today, and the city sets the agenda for trends and influences we see coming in to not only our wardrobes, but our homes too. We've looked inside five of our favourite Paris fashion stores to showcase their incredible interiors.1. Sonia Rykiel Located on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, the Sonia Rykiel store pays homage to the Left Bank's rich history of authors and publishers. It was recently renovated to bring in 50,000 books, turning the store into a quasi library, with bookshelves running the length of the walls. Whether a book lover or fashion fan, this pop up concept is abound with old world charm.
2. Lydia CourteilleJust like the jewellery the brand is famous for, the interior of the Lydia Courteille store on rue Saint-Honoré is like a gem itself. With sapphire-toned upholstery, gem encrusted decorations and cabinet display themes that range from under the sea to Russian royalty, the space makes up for its tiny size with huge amounts of theatrical ambience.
3. Christian DiorDior's Avenue Montaigne flagship store is steeped in history. It was in this former townhouse that Christian Dior created his five-floor fashion boutique in 1946, full of ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. Within seven years of opening the doors, it had expanded to house more than 1,000 staff and 28 workshops. Today, it features room after room of luxury, almost like a mini Paris itself.
Images from here.
4. Azzedine Alaïa
Running over three levels, the Azzedine Alaïa store is housed in an 18th-century mansion and uniquely has no window displays. With white Carrara marble, an incredible chandelier made up of brushed metal garlands that stretch down the run of the circular, internal staircase, and UFO-like circular light fixtures, the space is a modern oasis in the historic city of Paris.
5. Le Bon Marché
While Gustave Eiffel is most well known as being the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower, he also worked with architect Louis-Charles Boileau to create the 323,000-square-foot mall - Le Bon Marché - in 1852. It's Left Bank's oldest department store and attracts 15,000 people through its doors each day. Design wise, its roof is almost like a crystal with its glimmering shards of glass, while marble and stone surfaces are the perfect accompaniment to its haute couture stores.
