Saint Germain Quartet

Even the most intrepid shopper might find the sheer number of fabulous shops in Saint Germain des Prés daunting—or think it’s paradise found. This bourgeois/bohemian neighborhood, where the Paris intelligentsia once famously smoked, squabbled and imbibed, sets the standard for what makes Parisian chic the world’s most enviable—an unerring sense of individual style. Among the worthy French brands and Paris-based designers with shingles hung on these crooked streets, there are also scores of one-off boutiques with expressive clothing, jewelry and accessories not easily found in the US.

For that elusive combination of style and comfort, look no further than Eskandar. This soaring 3,000-square-foot boutique, set back on the charming rue Princesse, houses London-based designer Eskandar Nabavi’s exquisite separates for women and men. In contrast to form-fitting styles flattering to only a handful of women, here volumes are generous—without being matronly—and kind to all body types; masterful draping renders a tall woman statuesque and an ample woman elegant.

Nabavi learned his craft as a young boy in Tehran, where he was taught to knit at his grandmother’s knee—the beginning and end of his formal training. Now 48, the designer has gained a large and loyal following of women who swear by his sensualist’s feel for fabric and color, and the impeccable quality of his clothes, which only seem to improve with time and wear.

Nabavi works with the best cashmere, silk, linen and merino wool, mostly in black, charcoal, navy, brown and beige, punctuated by gorgeous, saturated colors: claret, burnt orange, marigold, sky blue. Handmade necklaces, including a chunky model in sleek ebony, or flowing printed silk scarves are attention-grabbing additions to the look. As if more allure were needed, there’s also a choice selection of artisan ceramics and French antiques. 7 rue Princesse, 6th, 01.43.26.10.10

Designer-collector Karry Berrebi’s flair for hunting down fabulous one-off vintage jewels has made her rue des Saints Pères boutique Karry’O the go-to destination for international style mavens. There’s enough here to satisfy jewelry lovers of all stripes, whether a vintage-inspired piece made by Berrebi herself or a unique bijou from her eye-popping collection of designer jewelry from the 1950s to the 1970s. With a nod to hall-of-fame fashion icon Jackie O, Berrebi goes for full-on glamour, seeking out rare couture pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Jacques Fath, Givenchy, Ossie Clark, Balenciaga, Madame Grès; and period jewels from Chaumet, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cardin, Bulgari and David Webb. What matters most in a piece of jewelry, according to Berrebi, is “strength of character, craftsmanship and originality,” all of which are in ample supply here. A delicate hammered-gold and onyx cuff that snakes around the wrist, mile-long amethyst-and-diamond earrings or a modernist silver necklace would do as well with an evening gown as with jeans and flip-flops.

Harmonizing nicely with the vintage pieces, Berrebi’s own designs include multi-chain necklaces punctuated with glass pearls and chunky gold rings with precious and semiprecious stones. She adds new pieces constantly, so there’s always something new to covet. 62 rue des Saints Pères, 6th, 01.45.48.94.67

The sleek Apriati boutique offers irresistible jewelry by two young Athens-based designers, Themis Bobolas and Athina Axioti, who pooled their talents to create a collection of habit-forming jewels destined to be worn all day, every day. Graceful string and chain bracelets, rings and necklaces sport tiny gold charms, a single black pearl or a tiny full-cut diamond—so light and comfortable that it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them.

Apriati’s signature style mixes a whimsical look—not too polished, not too mainstream—with warm 18-carat gold, precious and semiprecious stones for a modern, youthful appeal. Pieces work well individually and are easily mixed and matched for effect. Or opt for a flashier statement, like a choker dripping with hundreds of tiny black diamonds or a superb multi-strand bracelet filigreed with row upon row of white diamonds set in yellow gold. Apriati is the ancient Greek word for gift, and the collection offers perfect choices for marking a birthday, holiday or special event, with prices to suit any budget, from about €45 to €20,000. 54 rue du Four, 6th, 01.42.22.15.42

Secret Maison continues a long French tradition of fine handcrafted linens, updated to suit 21st-century tastes. Descendants of the sturdy sheets and tea towels that grand-mère ironed into crisp submission, Secret Maison’s lin brut, or raw linen, is a natural, vegetable-dyed linen fabric in earthy neutral colors: foam, ink, ebony, amethyst, lichen, pearl, sable and black. It doesn’t require ironing, and capitalizes on the fabric’s natural beauty. Perfectly suited to your Provençal farmhouse or sleek Tribeca loft, there’s everything here for the well-appointed bed, including sheets, duvet covers, pillows and eiderdown comforters, along with a good selection of luxurious mohair and cashmere throws.

And it doesn’t stop in the bedroom; everything in this apartment-like boutique is for sale, from a moonlike handmade paper suspension lamp to an ultra-contemporary line of minimalist furniture in metal, wood and leather. A limited selection of clothing includes soft kimono robes, oversize shirts and casual dresses, along with handmade jewelry and roomy tote bags in leather or hemp. Room scents and candles make wonderful gifts. And everything in the shop is handcrafted in France by fine artisans. 17 rue des Quatre Vents, 6th, 01.42.05.09.09

Originally published in the September 2011 issue of France Today