If, like me, you love shoes and tend to collect dozens of them, here’s a list of where to shop in Paris for beautiful shoes. The city is a shoe lover’s paradise with a huge selection for every budget and taste. Many shoe stores offer accessories, like bags, to go with your shoes (if you really must match them). I have focused this article on French brands and indie boutiques. When you walk in the shoes you have bought in Paris, you take a small part of the city with you wherever you go.
(1) Galeries Lafayette shoe department
Galeries Lafayette shoe department
If you don’t have a lot of time to shop, head to the Galeries Lafayette’s massive shoe department in the basement of the main store on Boulevard Haussmann. They have 150 brands on offer — just shoes, shoes everywhere for the shoe fanatic! They carry high-end brands like Roger Vivier, Dolce e Gabbana and Repetto, but also shoes for more modest budgets.
Galeries Lafayette
40 Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
(2) Rue de Grenelle: shoe addict’s paradise in the St. Germain district
This street is deadly for anyone addicted to shoes. It’s another place to visit if you are pressed for time. Begin your shopping tour at the intersection of rue de Grenelle and rue de Dragon, on the little piazza called Carrefour de la Croix Rouge (there’s a cute bar/cafe called the Bar de la Croix Rouge if you need caffeine to fuel your shoe shopping binge or red wine to calm it down) — and proceed till you get to Boulevard Raspail. Along the way, you will find Tod’s, Prada, Ferragamo, Paraboot, Sergio Rossi, Christian Louboutin, and Robert Clergerie.
(3) Roger Vivier: classic, elegant French style
Roger Vivier was a French designer (1907-1998) who is considered to be the inventor of the stiletto heel. He is probably best known for the Pilgrim pumps with a silver buckle worn by Catherine Deneuve in the film, Belle de Jour.
He designed for Christian Dior between 1953 and 1963. You can find Vivier’s original creations, updated for the 21st century, at the store in the 8th arrondissement or at the Galeries Lafayette.
Roger Vivier
29 rue du Faubourg St. Honore
75008 Paris
(4) Christian Louboutin: French modern chic
Christian Louboutin is a French designer who is famous for his very high-heeled stilettos with their trademark shiny red-patent leather undersoles. They are surprisingly comfortable. When you walk in Louboutins, the rest of the world can see you’re wearing the real thing. The boutique on the rue de Grenelle is gorgeous and worth a visit.
Christian Louboutin
38 rue de Grenelle
75006 Paris (St. Germain)
He has another boutique on 68 rue du Faubourg St. Honore in the 8th arrondissement.
(5) Repetto: THE original ballet flats
If you are looking for ballerina flats, like the ones worn by Brigitte Bardot, there’s no better place to get them than at Repetto. Established by Rose Repetto in 1947 to make ballet slippers for dancers and especially for her son, a dancer and choreographer,it has expanded its offerings to include the classic French ballet flat and variations thereof (some with heels). There are several stores around Paris but my favorite is in the Marais.
Repetto
51 rue des Francs-Bourgeois
75004 Paris (Marais)
(6) Robert Clergerie: timeless French style
A classic French brand that was once based out of Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme) where they had all their shoes made, like Stéphane Kélian and Charles Jourdan, it almost went out of business in 2005. With financing from a Chinese investment group, Clergerie has experienced a small renaissance and opened several boutiques in Paris and around the world. You will also find it in the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores. Clergerie makes shoes for Carven, a recently revived French luxury brand.
Robert Clergerie
5, rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris (St. Germain)
(7) 58M: shoe emporium for comfortable, feminine styles
58M is a gem of a shoe store in the 2nd arrondissement near Les Halles featuring brands such as APC, Adidas, Chie Mihara, Lanvin, Avril Gau, Jil Sander, Tila March, Marc by Marc Jacobs and more. Created in 2005 by Marion Rioufol to meet the needs of Parisian women who walk a lot and need comfortable but still feminine styles.
58M
58 rue Montmartre
75002 Paris (Les Halles-Sentier)
(8) J.B. Martin: fabulous comfortable stilettos
Founded in 1921 by Jean-Baptiste Martin père and continued by his son, Jean-Baptiste Martin fils and his family, this is another classic French brand that has survived through the decades, although sadly they don’t make their shoes in France anymore (high labour costs). Their specialty is the stiletto although they also make elegant, comfortable boots, ballet flats and hand bags.
J.B. Martin
13 rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris (St. Germain)
(9) Mellow Yellow: quirky, unconventional chic on your feet
When you walk in Mellow Yellow’s latest creations, you’re bound to be asked: where did you buy those shoes? Never boring but still so cool, the shoes are affordable and easy to wear with different outfits. Here’s one example from their 2011 fall-winter collection, a pair of glitter loafers:
Mellow Yellow’s glitter loafers
Mellow Yellow
13, rue des Canettes
75006 Paris (St. Germain)
(10) Kabuki: great selection of shoes from classics to urban chic
Kabuki is a gem of a shoe store near Les Halles that features a carefully edited selection of shoes from hip brands such as Surface to Air and Opening Ceremony. It also carries shoes from Barbara Bui, Miu Miu, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Repetto and Celine, to name a few. Don’t miss this favourite of Parisian fashionistas!
Kabuki
25 rue Etienne Marcel
75001 Paris
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