Paris Fashion Editors’ Secret Vintage Spots
Where the city’s most stylish insiders go to hunt, whisper, and twirl through time.
Welcome, darling, to the undercurrent of Paris fashion—the vintage labyrinth where editors lose themselves not for stories, but for stories in fabric. This isn’t your average thrift map. This is couture spelunking through time-warped ateliers, moth-scented mansions of mystery, and salons that hum with the ghosts of YSL muses and Balenciaga rebels. Where do Paris fashion editors really go when they’re not front row but on the prowl? The Socialites went digging, sipping, and occasionally fainting from joy to bring you the very best.
Chez Sarah: The Archive That Dresses Vogue
Let’s start in the hallowed halls of Chez Sarah, tucked quietly in the 18th. This isn’t just a vintage shop. This is the Louvre of lace, the Versailles of velvet. Editors from L’Officiel, Numéro, and even the Condé Nast crew slide through here like ghosts, borrowing pieces that have draped everyone from Catherine Deneuve to Zendaya. Think 1930s Lanvin, 1970s YSL safari jackets, and original Chanel boucle hidden in drawers like state secrets.
🔍 Pro tip: Ask to see “le fond.” It’s not on display. And don’t wear perfume—it competes with the scent of century-old silk.
Quidam de Revel: The Speakeasy of Threads
To find Quidam de Revel, you’ll need two things: the address (shhh—it changes), and a fashion editor’s sixth sense. This nomadic showroom pops up in lofts, courtyards, and once inside a former synagogue in the Marais. Appointments only, naturally. Here, stylists like Clara Cornet and Camille Charrière pick pieces for editorial shoots and award seasons. Expect avant-garde 90s Japanese, Maison Margiela before it became a hashtag, and dreamy Belgian obscurities that make editors weep with delight.
🖤 Style hack: Go with a minimalist look—you’ll want to try everything on, and this place is sacred ground.
Thanx God I’m a V.I.P: The Editors’ After-Hours Playground
Don’t be fooled by the Instagram-friendly racks and mirrored floors—Thanx God I’m a V.I.P. is the playground where fashion editors come to let loose after shows. Located in the 10th, this space is where you’ll overhear fashion assistants arguing about shoulder seams and old Céline vs. new Celine. Curated with obsessive chic, the stock rotates weekly, and if you blink, you’ll miss that Tom Ford-era Gucci coat for €200.
✨ Editor’s ritual: Grab an espresso next door, then loop in three times—the best finds never reveal themselves on the first lap.
La Mode Vintage: The Power Pieces Are Here
Rue de Grenelle’s best-kept secret, La Mode Vintage, is where the power editors go—think Emmanuelle Alt or Carine Roitfeld. This is a shop for sharp tailoring, boss blazers, and vintage Hermès pieces that whisper, I command the room. The owner, Fabien, has an eye for archival haute couture, and his backroom? An Aladdin’s cave of editor-approved treasures.
🔥 Scene tip: If Fabien likes you, he’ll unlock the reservation pile. If he loves you, he’ll sell from it.
Odetta: For the Ethereal and Editorial
Editors who write with more poetry than punctuation adore Odetta in the Marais. This boutique reads like a novella: fragile organza dresses from forgotten French houses, moody 70s suede capes, and one-off accessories that shoot straight to Lula or Purple Magazine. It’s where the dreamers shop—where styling becomes spell-casting.
🌙 Vibe enhancer: Arrive around 4 PM, when the golden light hits the front window just right. It’s practically a photo shoot.
In the gilded underworld of Paris fashion, vintage isn’t just retro—it’s coded language, cultural archaeology, and aesthetic rebellion. It’s the thrill of slipping into something that lived before you, and will outlive every trend du jour. These secret spots? They’re the wardrobes of the elite, accessible if you know the knock, the wink, the whisper.
And now—you do.
With love from the racks,
The Socialites
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Chez Sarah
Located at 18 Rue Jules Vallès, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, within the renowned Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market, Chez Sarah offers an extensive collection of antique and vintage clothing, attracting fashion and costume designers worldwide. -
Quidam de Revel
Situated at 55 Rue des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris, Quidam de Revel specializes in vintage haute couture and prêt-à-porter pieces from the 20th century. The boutique operates by appointment, catering to a discerning clientele. -
Thanx God I’m a V.I.P.
This stylish vintage store, located at 12 Rue de Lancry, 75010 Paris, is known for its curated selection of luxury vintage apparel and accessories. The boutique is organized by color and style, providing a unique shopping experience. -
La Mode Vintage
Located at 12 Rue Rochebrune, 75011 Paris, La Mode Vintage is a showroom offering a large selection of luxury vintage clothing from major brands such as Hermès, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Lanvin. -
Odetta Vintage
Situated at 76 Rue des Tournelles, 75003 Paris, Odetta Vintage is a boutique that offers a mix of the best vintage finds and new buys under one roof. The store features past-collection pieces from designers like YSL, Lanvin, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Chloé.