Since living in Paris for the past two months I share this fact with almost every non-french human living creature I met in Paris who loves to shop and basically loves fashion (who doesn't) that Paris is so hilariously expensive and we could easily get the same exact looking piece of clothing in our own country whether Australia, America or the UK for half the price. Shoes are insanely overpriced, a cheap looking ballerina flats would start at about 59euros normally so that is equivalent to almost 120Aus dollar and you could get a really nice pair in Melbourne. So anyway while I dream of buying clothes at local boutiques like
Sandro, Zadig & Voltaire and
Isabel Marant almost every second day, I happened to (I think I was meant to find it after two months in Paris) bumped into
CHERCHEMINIPPES at
102 Rue de Cherche-Midi (hence the name I suppose). It was literally like finding a treasure box filled with gold coins! There were racks and racks of brands that I mentioned above plus
Agnes b, Paul & Joe, Margiella, Comptoirs de Cotonniers and many other chic French local brands. And to my advantage the prices started at 4.50euro, yes you red it right!! Being an experienced shopper, I think I am very good at controlling my spending here, ha ha, I surveyed the whole shop for probably about 1 hour and really really found a lot of things that I really like. However since I already know that I will probably come back a dozen times more, in the end, I only bought two really nice cream-rosy blouses for a total of 13.50euros!! I still can't believe it and it is truly one of those unexpected joys in Paris and one of the reason I love this place so much, is that everything is so mysteriously hidden and that you just have to find it at your own pace and not force it.
End of story, I found three other Chercheminippes along
Rue de Cherche-Midi, high-end couture boutique with Diane Von Furstenberg silk dresses starting at 45euros (insane!!), Costume National skirts from 20euros and designer shoes and bags from 40euros. Chercheminippes for Men, Children and one specially carrying only shoes and bags. All European labels and all starting at the most 10euros. I love PARIS.
the above photos are from http://www.magasins-paris.com/magasins/chercheminippes-femme-createurs/
The Jazz ensemble at Île Saint-Louis, entertaining, funny, cool and totally jazzy...with their matching hawaiian shirts...
The Red shoes ensemble...
Staring at the sky from Bastille
Metro Parmentier, 11eme arr. White bum bum slides, like the ones my brother has in his restaurant and the one we have at home in red. Miss sitting my bum bum on those...
Attended a cousin wedding yesterday in London. She wore the coolest wedding dress, simple but classy and cream ballerina flats. Had the loveliest time, ate too much truffles, but I enjoyed every moment of it! Thank you Melissa and Laszlo, you guys rock my world!
tickled pink. I know they're so granny-ish but I've always wanted them in pink. and they were such a bargain I had no choice. Literally no choice.
I like how the door curves at the top with the similarly curved sign done in simple black and white. Pure white walls, not overly done, with the antique window panels, it's like bringing the whole look back to its original state, back to ol' Montmartre. Dessous translates to 'being underneath' or 'under', Ginette is probably the name of the old owner, probably named because the place is under a stairway. Ginette's Hangout...
original photo from here.
The tilt of Sacré-Cœur can be seen from above the photo as most of Montmartre is made up of winding hills and narrow steps. 
Au Petit Théâtre du Bonheur tucked in between the little houses that made up the up and down steps. How cute, like a red dot in the middle of everything white.
Another small gallery near Rue Lepic, where the french classic, Amélie was shot. Can you see my tiny weeny reflection on the narrow mirror inside at the center of the room?
A small restaurant, Chez Marie.
The replica of Moulin Rouge. A restaurant.
Rue Martyrs that goes down to the 9eme arr. has a lot of bakeries, food shops, epiceries and such. A nice afternoon scroll, children and mommies buying baguettes, dads too, and some tourists.
Why don't they make perfume bottles like this anymore?
