Two yards of fabric that I bought on my honeymoon 27 years ago -- made a skirt when we came home and wore it for years and years.

Last year, at a flea market, I found a coat hook made out of an elk hoof. Paid the 5 Euro and sent it to my college son for his room in the fraternity house. . .made for quite a conversation piece, so I'm told.

topping

This is such a fun thread...I have to keep it going. Favorite purchases from my recent Paris trip:

1) Gorgeous, uniquely designed leather handbag from KESSLORD in the Marais district;

2) Beautiful oil-on-canvas painting (small) from Montmartre -- a gift for Dad to put in his study;

3) Miniature Eiffel Tower which changes into 4 or 5 different shades (fiber optics?) -- bought late evening by a street vendor hanging out underneath the real Eiffel Tower;

4) Inexpensive but still yummy chocolate bars from an ordinary local supermarket (great from feeding all my co-workers);

5) gorgeous knit sweater in lavender from a Marais boutique called TRAZITA, run by a nice young Japanese woman (I LOVE beautiful knits);

6) duck pate from Jo Goldenberg, a Jewish deli in the Marais;

7) beautiful minimalist silver earrings from ANNICK B. in the Marais -- such a nice lady working there!; I accidentally left a whole bunch of my personal stuff in the store, and she waited for me later that day before she closed up shop;

8) funky, reasonably priced shoes resembling ballet flats at Mellow Yellow in the Marais (young, girly and trendy stuff here); AND

9) very inexpensive bottle (5 euros) of red CHINON wine from a local grocery store -- not easy to find Chinon wine here at home.

NOTE: For fans of Roger and Gallet bath products, their items are on sale in all French (and Itlaian) pharmacies, and are very reasonably priced. They are starting to appear in specialty pharmacies in NYC.

For L'Occitane and Oliviers & Co fans: Their products are not much cheaper in Paris than here in NYC, for example.

Cheers!

In October 2003: Our very own apartment in Paris!!

What a great thread! Keep it up as I'm going next summer and am already making a list!

JEH

Lutece: An appartment...ooh...that's nice.

Yes, when my husband and I were in the Marais, we wandered past many real estate offices wondering, maybe...

I just love those dark wood beams on the ceiling...

Plus, Paris real estate is slightly less insane than New York real estate, God help me!

I was freezing waiting in line to go up the Notre Dame towers so on the way out we stopped at this souvenir store to buy a scarf. We found a lovely, very long, burnt red, orange and yellow striped scarf for 15 euros. Every time I wear it here I get compliments, and to the inevitable question of Where did you get it?, I admit it always gives me pleasure to say I got it in Paris. :-D

The best pralines that I ever had in my life. Can't remember where I bought them though.

Lamarthe handbags--too beautiful for words, great quality and amazing price. I bought mine at Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, but the best thing is that you can now get them in America. They have a new website-- lamartheusa.com. I haven't seen them in stores. I think this is the only way to get them in America. Check it out. The new Exception bag is so fabulous!

ttt

bookmarking

I purchased beautiful antique-looking drop earrings from Passion d'Avril on the rue de Bievre in the 5th! I've worn them everyday since. :)

bookmarking for future ventures...

can you please tell me the cost of a Longchamps Handbag, medium size, nylon in france? They run about $115 U.S.
Shelizard

ttt

One very special thing I was able to buy were some personalized items for my daughter. Some stationary, pen etc. with her name, Genevieve, printed on them. I've never been able to find her name on anything in the States so she was thrilled.

I bought some beautiful soft yellow table linens for my mother at a flea market. The one way up by Montmarte... Clichy?

For myself, a bottle of Serge Lutens Rahat Lokhoum from the Salons Shiseido Palais Royale.

Ahhhh, I love to shop in Paris. I'm thinking about a new handbag or a Hermes scarf on my next trip :)

On our last trip to France, they had the most wonderful-smelling dishwashing liquid in the kitchen of our rental house: Thyme & Basil scent, made by Maison Verte.

It seemed like a funny thing to bring home, but I just LOVED it, so I found it at Monoprix, and brought home 2 bottles. Now every time I hand-wash dishes, I'm reminded of France.

I bought a huge blue and gold silk scarf for my girlfriend at Versailles 12 years ago that she still wears. It has to be the best thing I ever bought anywhere because she figured out I was crazy about her and married me.

This spring while we were at the Le Meurice I went out for a walk and bought her a three strand graduated pearl necklace at a little shop that is right on the Pont Neuf to celebrate that she has been my movie star gorgeous wife all these years.

The Pearl Shop has been in the same family since the 1920's.

The poster shop at the Louvre has some of the best posters anywhere. At great prices. We have had a huge framed Nike, Winged Victory in all of our houses since that first visit to Paris together in '93.

Let's not forget chocolates from Maison du Chocolate. If you only buy one eclair in your life for your love buy one there. Simply the best in the world. Period.

We return to Le Meurice for our Anniversary in Nov. with two friends starting their their honeymoon on the way to Beijing.

I will use the tips to find my wife the perfect gift from her favorite city.

I once bought a very attractive young lady a drink in Paris and we have now been married for 40 years.

Harzer

A limited edition of Sempé's dog cartoons that were never published(you might be familiar with his New Yorker covers)
Framed insects from Dayrolle, my Hermé scarves.