Paulie and me: Boutiques in the First Arrondissement of Paris

Love is in the air at Paulie and me. Not just between the owners, Paul and Lili Chambel, a charming husband and wife team, or because their boutique inhabits what was once the 18th-century love nest of Madame de Pompadour and Louis XV. The romance of the duo’s chic, beautifully-designed wares radiates from every corner of this bright, friendly boutique and in every item hand-picked with affection.

“The things we show here are honest – they have a soul, a savoir-faire,” says Lili. “We want to show designers who really convey something unique.”

Although the search for young talent and hand-crafted items is a definite trend among Parisian concept stores, Paulie and me goes a step further: “We offer space to talented young designers who might not have an easy way to show what they do”. This means that the clothes, jewellery, leather goods, shoes, hats, bags and accessories offered here are hard to find anywhere else. Paulie and me isn’t limited to items which are made in France. Their range includes Cavage shoes, which are made in Brazil from super high-quality leathers – the heels, flats and booties could easily be mistaken for designer items costing twice as much. And then there are Maison Passage’s gorgeous, oversize merino and cashmere scarves with unusual prints, such as cartoons or feathers.

Paulie and me specialises in knockout jewellery by small labels, such as Sweety Jane, Alpha Beta and Clara Jasmin – the latter crafts lace-transfer necklaces, bracelets and rings on 24-carat gold-plated copper. One of the store’s more high-profile designers is Marion Godart, whose highly sought-after, chunkily jewelled necklaces are equally chic with a casual shirt and jeans or evening attire. There’s also a rack of gently-used designer clothes and shoes, at a fraction of their original prices, and a ‘50 percent sale’ corner.

Paulie and me, 68 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris 1st. Tel: +33 6 85 94 04 34

From France Today magazine