Our creative director Lindy just returned from a whirlwind market week in Paris for a few days of meetings with buyers and friends—both old and new—from all over the world. Along with her husband Conor, our account executive Liz, and our sales team, she definitely had time for some fun in between all the craziness. Here’s an account of her time spent in the City of Lights.

First things first: Atelier Brancusi. Lindy always makes time to stop by this permanent installation in the Pompidou, which coincidentally happened to be just blocks away from our showroom in the Marais. The atelier is an exact reconstruction of the artist’s original studio per his belief that meticulous design should be displayed in a way that reinforces its roots, which makes it a great place to find creative inspiration—the idea for our Rho handbag came about after one of Lindy’s visits with Brancusi’s sculptures! 

Incredible coffee is another must when in Paris, and from the first morning until the last, Loustic was the café of choice. Lindy and I can both vouch for how good it was; who doesn’t want to start a busy day running around the city with a croissant and espresso from the cutest coffee shop ever? 

Speaking of cafés, there’s also Frenchie To Go (the little sibling of the notoriously hard-to-get-into Frenchie). Lindy swung by here for a fast French-American déjeuner before paying an all-important visit to Merci. We’ve written about this wonderful concept store before, but it’s so worth mentioning again! From the linens to the ever-changing special displays—this time around, it was a vintage Hermès collection—Merci is Lindy’s “favorite thing” in Paris, and as usual, it didn’t disappoint. 

But maybe you’re looking for something more than basic linens. Taxidermy, anyone? Lindy also spent some time wandering around the two most famous taxidermy shops in the city, Deyrolle and Design et Nature. More like museums than anything, they’re the kinds of places nobody would mind getting lost in for a while. Sometimes it’s nice to sit down next to a few polar bears and take a break from a busy day of meetings, you know?

Before getting into the first of many amazing dinners on this trip, Ferdi needs a shout-out. This bar and restaurant is small, friendly, and a known favorite of quite a few celebrities (some of whom we saw, not to name names!). We had some great aperitifs and olives at one of Ferdi’s cozy tables. As Lindy acknowledges, it’s pretty convenient to befriend chefs who can point you in the direction of amazing spots like this one. 

So, dinner. Let’s start with Clamato. The name is funny, the seafood is to die for, and the natural wine selection is one of the best around. They don’t take reservations, so get there early like we did and you just might snag a table. Once you get one it’s yours for the night, so make the most of it and try as many different things as you can. Everything we sprung for was incredible, but the mussels stood out above all else: tiny, sweet, and buttery, it was unanimously agreed upon that a second round was necessary. Order a bottle of Claire Naudin’s 2013 Clematis Vitalba and ask for Jimmy, too. You’ll thank us later.

In Lindy’s words, “It’s important to walk everywhere in Paris!” She’s not wrong—the best things can often be found by accidentally wandering down the wrong street or taking the long route on the way to your destination. The Chambre Noire is one of those stumbled-upon spots, and, still on a natural wine kick from Clamato, our little group was more than happy to continue the trend. 

Another of the week’s great meals happened at Chez Janou, recommended to us by none other than our marketing director Greg. This Provençal bistro brings the south of France to the north, and from the moment you walk into the warmly golden space plastered with Marcel Pagnol posters, you know you’re in for something good. Their mussels rival Clamato’s, they have 80-plus varieties of pastis, and if that’s not enough, their chocolate mousse comes in a massive self-serve bowl. 

Lindy notes that one truly special moment of the trip was her visit to Colette. In the midst of meetings, photography, and exploring the flower markets, we were able to catch Jardin Sacai’s closing show that featured the most adorable little children and drew in the likes of Susie Bubble and Lynn Yaeger. This was the final show season for the exemplary Rue Saint Honoré store, which is set to close for good in December, and it was a privilege to be present for some of the bittersweet festivities.

It may be the end of an era for Colette, but thankfully that’s not the case for Lindy’s other favorite stores around Paris. She made sure to pop into Lemaire, Cire Trudon (the oldest candle factory in the world), and, of course, Dries van Noten—no explanation needed there. 

We’d be remiss not to mention another amazing restaurant that goes by the name of Le Petit Marché. Our sales team suggested this place for a team dinner, and it’s definitely landed on the list of favorites. French dishes with pan-Asian influences dominate the small menu, and all I can say is that the only thing better than people-watching on a narrow Parisian street is people-watching on a narrow Parisian street with the best magret de canard ever on the table. 

Some more experiences worthy of note include drinks at Sherry Butt and Le Perchoir, with the most excellent craft cocktails at the former and glittering rooftop views of Montmartre at the latter. Lindy loved the street food at Miznon, where she met up with her friends from Bird, and also commends the food at Paperboy, although it’s “definitely not for those with peanut allergies!”

We overall had a really lovely time in Paris, and it’s so important that we thank each and every person who took the time to support us. We have such a strong network of people surrounding us, and we so appreciate everyone who met with us, supported us, and worked to create this collection. Until next season! 

Eat Here