I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought.

I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought.

      Given that I have been in the fashion industry for 15 years, many were surprised to discover that I only visited Paris for the first time last month. To be honest, I couldn't believe it either! Thankfully, I finally made the trip to the fashion capital of the world after receiving an invitation from H&M, which hosted a party in Paris to celebrate its collaboration with Wardrobe.NYC. In just three nights, I attended several H&M events, a few haute couture runway shows, did some sightseeing, and of course, indulged in a bit of shopping. In the weeks before my Paris visit, I saved numerous TikTok and Instagram videos, explored expert recommendations (including Who What Wear's guide to Paris!), and sought advice from friends and colleagues. I ended up with an extensive list of suggestions for restaurants, museums, cafés, and activities, but I was particularly keen on enjoying some retail therapy during my stay. Below, you’ll find what I was advised to buy in Paris and what I ultimately spent my money on.

      **What Was Recommended to Me**

      Officine Universelle Buly personalized comb

      Louise Carmen leather notebook

      La Roche-Posay sunscreen

      Caudalie skincare

      Astier de Villatte candle

      Chanel bag

      Marin Montagut soap

      Maison Bordier butter

      Fragonard perfume

      **What I Actually Bought**

      La Bonne Brosse hairbrush

      La Roche-Posay sunscreen

      Caudalie skincare

      Petit Bateau T-shirts

      Mariage Frères tea

      **My Reasoning**

      **La Bonne Brosse**

      The Small Gentle Scalp Care Hairbrush

      I thought about purchasing a personalized comb from Officine Universelle Buly, which is massively favored on TikTok, but the store was overcrowded, and I didn't want to wait. Instead, I received an even better suggestion. While having lunch with Elisabeth Bento, an editor from Who What Wear, she mentioned she never travels without her La Bonne Brosse hairbrush. Given her decades of living in Paris and her impeccable taste, I didn’t question her recommendation for a second, and I'm so glad I took her advice. The brand offers various brushes tailored for different needs; one is meant to make hair shiny, while another provides a refreshing scalp massage. I opted for The Small Gentle Scalp Care Hairbrush for my sensitive scalp, and it has been a wonderful addition to my beauty routine.

      **La Roche-Posay**

      Anthelios UVmune 400 SPF50+

      This particular sunscreen isn't available in the U.S. due to the inclusion of Mexoryl 400, a sophisticated UVA filter that hasn’t received FDA approval here yet. (This isn’t due to safety concerns but rather because the U.S. is slower to adopt the latest ingredients.) Fortunately, for those not traveling to Europe anytime soon, you can find this European formulation at FrenchPharmacy.com. This innovative filter protects skin from ultra-long UVA wavelengths, so I was eager to try it out. My opinion: I love the milky texture that blends easily, its lovely scent, and how light it feels on my face. I will certainly be repurchasing!

      **Caudalie**

      Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum Vitamin C Alternative

      Unlike the sunscreen mentioned above, this product is available in the U.S. but is priced significantly lower in Paris. At Pharmacie Caumartin Opéra, it cost me €44, around $51. In contrast, it sells for $82 on Sephora's website currently. What a steal! I used to use this serum religiously but stopped buying it to save money, so I was thrilled to find it at a lower price. (Naturally, I bought three bottles.) My skin absorbs this milky serum, which is designed to lighten dark spots, even out texture, and provide a glowing appearance.

      **Petit Bateau**

      Short Sleeve Crew Neck Top

      Interestingly, among the nine people I spoke to before my Paris trip, no one mentioned Petit Bateau, even though it has been a Parisian staple since 1893. I first heard of it when reading Sunita Kumar Nair's book CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. Nair noted that many of Bessette Kennedy's T-shirts, including crewneck styles with both short and long sleeves, were from Petit Bateau. After trying on several tees in-store, I immediately grasped why CBK was such a fan. The 100% cotton quality is exceptional, and the fit is truly perfect.

      **Mariage Frères**

      Thé Vert Marco Polo

      When it comes to popular French culinary staples, one item consistently appeared on my TikTok feed: Maison Bordier butter. While I’m sure it’s fantastic, I worried it might not stay fresh after an 11-hour flight and transporting it could be messy, so I chose something

I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought. I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought.

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I Recently Visited Paris for the First Time—9 French Items I Was Advised to Purchase and 5 That I Actually Bought.

Here’s what I was instructed to purchase and what I ended up getting.