Cheap Shopping: Paris Thrift Stores

(Kilo Shop)

There's nothing more satisfying than finding a treasure at a thrift shop. Sure, you may have to dig a bit, but when you find a gorgeous 1950s summer dress for 10€ or a Mad Men-era handbag for 5€, it feels like hitting the jackpot. Here are a few of my favorite Paris thrift stores:

The Best Paris Flea Market: Marché Aux Puces de Vanves

I love me a good flea market, junk shop, garage sale, any place you can get cool old things for very cheap. Paris has its share of great brocantes and vide greniers, but the best Paris flea market I've been to is at Porte de Vanves.

Cheap Shopping: La Petite Boutique

Wandering around the 6e arrondissement the other day, I stumbled upon the most adorable little shop on rue St. Andre des Arts - La Petite Boutique. This place has tons of great and well-priced cards, postcards, jewelry and knickknacks that would make equally great souvenirs or general additions to your home or office.

Cheap Paris Art

(Illustration by Aaron Straup Cope via 20x200)

If you can't come to Paris, keep Paris close to you. I know most of my readers are travelers or travel dreamers, not full-on expats, and Paris is one of those places that just stays with you, whether you've been there or not, whether you're planning to go or remembering the time you spent there. A professional photo or piece of art illustrating Paris is a beautiful way to keep your heart lit by the City of Light, no matter where you are geographically (not to mention it makes a great holiday gift). Here are a few of my favorites I've spotted recently:

Cheap Shopping: Interloque Junk Shops

Maybe it's my fervent garage-saling background, but I love junk shops: those cluttered, disorganized places guaranteed to make you sneeze from dust and hopefully give you a kitschy knick-knack to go home with for a couple of bucks. New York is full of them, but I never thought I'd find a junk store in Paris. Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Interloque Ressourcerie.

5 Under 5€ : Kate Neary

My friend Kate Neary runs the lovely fashion-etc. blog Thrill of the Chaise and has been spending the last month in a dream-state here in Paris. This week we're doing a guest-post exchange! Check out her post below and look for mine on Thrill of the Chaise. 

Paris is a place to escape to and explore. And though it is also a place where spending money can be as easy as walking out the door, this city offers people like you and me (a fully grown fashion student embarking on a complete career change) so much to do, see, eat and buy at pretty reasonable prices if you keep your eyes out for it. So if you're up for a bit of an adventure, I've done some of the groundwork for you. Here are my five things to do under 5 euros in Paris:

Hexagon Accessories

 (Straw/rattan clutch, $35, via Etsy)

Fiesty and energetic Laurie Pike of The Paris Blog has done what thousands dream of doing: she quit her career after 25 years to follow her passion in making handmade accessories. With a background in fashion and a pied-à-terre in Montmartre, she travels to Paris to scour the flea markets, pick up vintage pieces and integrate them into her beautiful, wearable collages.

Brocantes and Vide Greniers

It's officially spring, officially April, and that can only mean one thing: antique/brocante/vide grenier season in Paris! These flea market, swap meet and garage sale-style events are the perfect way to snap up unique souvenirs and gifts for yourself or for loved ones back home. Check out my complete Do's and Don'ts guide to brocantes and vide greniers over at Girls' Guide to Paris.