Shopping Rive Gauche

Ever since the 1960s, when Yves Saint Laurent cashed in on the neighborhood's bohemian-artistic allure, the Rive Gauche has been synonymous with iconoclastic style.

All the major names in French fashion have since taken his lead, transforming the Rive Gauche into a bastion of Parisian chic. Trendsetters line the jumble of streets in the 6e arrondissement, around Rue Bonaparte, Rue du Four, Rue du Cherche Midi, and Boulevard St-Germain, and tons of exciting boutiques line the charming streets near St. Sulpice. In the 7e arrondissement there is the Rue de Grenelle, the venerable, treasure-lined Rue des Saints Pères, Rue du Bac, and that jewel of a department store, Le Bon Marché. To see it all would take weeks; with a well-drawn-out plan, however, you can see quite a lot in an afternoon or two. There's always the option of doing what Parisians do best: stroll, observe, discover.

Best Time To Go

Although Tuesday through Friday afternoons are recommended, this area covers enough ground never to seem too overcrowded, even on weekends.

Best Find for a Sweet Tooth

Ladurée's stylish boxes alone are worth the purchase; filled with their legendary lighter-than-air macarons—in flavors like salted caramel, rose, or cassis-violet—they make a celestial offering.

You can take it with you! Pierre Hermé, Paris's star pâtissier, offers a scrumptious, zesty lemon cake preboxed and dense enough to survive the trip home. Maybe.

Refueling

With the Luxembourg Gardens nearby, pick up picnic savories and sweets from the time-honored pâtisserie-traiteur-chocolatier Gérard Mulot. Try a yummy shrimp-salad sandwich or paté en croute topped off with a mini caramelized-orange tart or a few delectable macarons.

If you prefer to be served (however haughtily), the illustrious Café de Flore offers pretty good café fare with excellent opportunities for people-watching—inside and out.

What You'll Want

Clothes à la Mode

Catherine Malandrino. Smart sexy dresses, jackets, and skirts go easily from office to evening.

Comptoir des Cotonniers. Comfortable, affordable, and superchic clothes make this chain popular.

Isabel Marant. Bobo (bourgeois Bohemian) chic with supple leathers, fur, and sheer sweaters.

Maison Martin Margiela. You'll love the soft jersey tops and the edgier designs, too.

Yves St Laurent. Impeccable styling and consummate glamour—ever at fashion's vanguard.

Exceptional Gems

Adelline. A veritable treasure trove of modern, streamlined designs.

Well-Shod Chic

Bruno Frisoni. Alluring, with more than a hint of naughtiness, each shoe is a work of art.

Christian Louboutin. Sensational, vertiginous styles take glamour (and you) to new heights.

Le Bon Marché. A one-stop shop for all the top names in footwear.

Robert Clergerie. Shoes hailed for excellent craftsmanship and enduring style.