Where You Need to Go During Paris Fashion Week, According to the Pros

June 21, 2016

With Milan Fashion Week behind us, we glide on through SS17 fashion month by trotting on over to our next destination, Paris.

Visiting a new city is always a gamble. Between figuring out where to stay, what to do and how to get around, planning your itinerary isn’t easy. Throw fashion week into the mix, and the stress just reached new heights. If you’re a seasoned Paris Fashion Week attendee, then you probably know your way around the French capital by now. If not, don’t worry – you’re not completely in the gutter.

Street style photographers are professional globetrotters, so they know a thing or two about what places to hit up during each city’s respective fashion week. I hit up a few of our shutterbug friends to weigh in on their favorite Parisian hot spots so that you get the most out of your stay (provided you have the time, of course).

Check out our Milan and London guides and be sure to stay tuned for more fashion week guides as the ensuing festivities take place throughout the month.

Best Hotel

Mama Shelter

Mai Works

“Airbnb in Le Marais.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“It depends if it’s men’s or women’s fashion week as I like to stay near the shows. For men’s, I’d stay in Le Marais, probably at Jules et Jim, for women’s, I’d stay at Costes. But I’m really an Airbnb kinda guy…I need a fridge and privacy.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Mama Shelter; it has a really cool concept, totally different from all the other hotels you’ve been to. I love the concrete walls in the rooms. Also Hotel Amour, it’s the coolest hotel in Paris right now.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“I usually stay in Airbnb with other photographers that are also friends; it’s fun to be editing with others until late listening to some good music (usually rap). The best areas to stay in Paris during fashion week is either near Trocadero or the Eiffel Tower, which are close to some of the main venues, or to be more central, in Le Marais.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Cafés to Hit up Between Shows

“I try to avoid the tourist traps that will charge you 7-8 euros for a coffee/tea. So I usually go t0 coffee/food chains like Starbucks or Pret A Manger.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“I go to Fondation in Le Marais or The Broken Arm just around the corner. Coffee in France is otherwise horrible and MAY cause cancer. Buyer beware.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“The Broken Arm, F ragments and Boot, which has also has some of the best homemade cakes.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“In Paris, any corner has an amazing cafe. I’m happy with a freshly squeeze orange juice and a pain au chocolat, easy! I cannot remember any specific place as I just go to anywhere close when I have time to eat something. Near Trocadero, where Théâtre National de Chaillot is (one of the main fashion week venues) you can eat yummy macarons at Carette.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Place to Grab a Cocktail

“I don’t really go out for cocktails in Paris.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“Not a fan of cocktails, but I’d get wine (with dinner) at Nanashi, or drop by Le Progrès or Café Charlot as they are near my place and normally ‘everyone’ is there. But, in all honesty, it’s wine or beer at my desk while I work until 5 a.m….every night.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Le Mary Celeste and L’Entrée des Artistes in Pigalle. A great beer at any traditional French bistro in the 4th district is always a good idea, too.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“In Paris, one of my favorites is Silencio, the David Lynch club. It’s usually hosting parties during fashion week.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Fashion Week Party

“Due to workload, parties are very rare.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“No idea.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“I’d say Pigalle, they always have the best music.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“In Paris one of the best parties is Givenchy, where Travis Scott performed last spring/summer fashion week. Les Benjamins is also one of the ‘must go’ ones.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Stores to Grab a Last Minute Outfit

“Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, COMME des GARÇONS Trading Museum (they also have a nice Gosha Rubchinskiy collection) and Acne.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“The Broken Arm, L’Éclaireur Hérold and colette.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“The Broken Arm and L’Éclaireur Hérold.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“In Paris you cannot miss DAAD Dantone, an avant-garde concept store where you can find brands like Uma Wang, Damir Doma, BBS or Rick Owens. One store you should definitely visit if you are true to all-black clothing is the actual Rick Owens store in Palais. Another cult place is colette, I love the magazines they sell.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Neighborhoods to Hang out for Style Inspiration

“Le Marais and Canal Saint Martin.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“Le Marais, Etienne Marcel and Pigalle.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“10th or 9th arrondissements and Le Marais during PFW (especially mens fashion week).”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“The best places to find style inspiration are the surroundings of the main showrooms like D/Ark, Cube, House of Malakai or Void.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Means of Transportation & Mobile App

“Metro is still the fastest. Each city has their own metro app but the Google Maps usually works the best.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“We’ve been getting BMW motorcycles in Paris which is so fast and so easy.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Bike or scooter or just the metro because it’s actually very efficient. I don’t use any apps in Paris.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“I always use Citymapper, it’s the best for me. It tells you different routes but also in which part of the train you need to get on to exit faster.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Area Most Likely to Get You Street Styled

“Le Marais and Canal Saint Martin.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“Go to the shows! But I suppose my list from above would give the best areas.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Le Marais.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“During fashion weeks, we are around every show and we’re moving continuously throughout the city. So the best way to ensure that you have a chance of being shot is going outside of every venue.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Restaurants to Get Dinner After a Long Day

“L’As du Fallafel and Kotteri Ramen Naritake.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“I eat groceries. I don’t get the luxury of ‘dining out.’”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Le Mary Celeste in Le Marais.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“There’s a burger place that’s really good called L’Artisan Du Burger. For those who love cheese (like me), Fromagerie DANARD near Palais Royal is yummy; you can try even green or red cheese. My third recommendation is a Japanese/French restaurant called Le Clos Y; it’s a bit further than the other two options, but definitely worth it. These are my choices, but in Paris, you can eat really well in almost every restaurant, especially typical French bistros.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Best Sites to Visit After a Long Night out

“Museum of Modern Art or Grand Palais.”
-Acielle, @styledumonde

“I can get down with Paris no problem. The Jeu de Paume, Musée D’Orsay, Sainte Chapelle, BnF (which is unreal) and walking literally ANYWHERE in Paris is the absolute best.”
-Adam Katz Sinding, @le21eme

“Driving by the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to Republique and looking at the river surrounded by the beautiful Parisian architecture.”
-Julien Boudet, @bleumode

“Paris is full of amazing art galleries you can spend the day in.”
-Eva Al Desnudo, @eva.al.desnudo

Be sure to follow Fashion Week SS17 to keep up with all of this season’s happenings.