As serendipity would have it, I met Audrey (virtually via Couchsurfing) just a couple weeks before I was to head to France to photograph a completely dreamy wedding in a castle.  When I met her in person in Paris, I felt like I was reconnected with a long lost bestie from another life.

Beautiful and full of life, Audrey is an artist and blogger living out her creative life in Paris. She’s one part of a duo that blogs at Al & Cam, while creating clothes, shoes, and jewelry! They host private sales (and sell out every time) and workshops in Paris.  I asked her to show me her favorite spots in Paris and she graciously agreed to spend not only one, but two (!!) evenings with me.

We started on Sunday in true Paris lifestyle fashion: strolling through the streets and enjoying a coffee or dinner with friends. Two practices I plan on incorporating into my lifestyle here in New York. 🙂

 

Our stroll led us to possibly one of my new favorite spots in Paris- Rue Montorgueil. According to Audrey, it’s one of the most beloved streets by Parisians. It’s only open to pedestrians and it’s filled with adorable cafés, flower shops, and bakeries!

 

If you love coffee and all things retro, you absolutely need to go to this place. It may not look like much on the outside, but inside it’s a vintage-lover’s dream. You can find it where Rue Tiquetonne and Rue Étienne Marcel meet!

 

The next evening we headed for my favorite neighborhood in Paris, Montmartre, so that Audrey could show me where she shops for her vintage clothes- both for her own wardrobe and to use in creating new pieces for her clothing line.

 

Of the different shops- this one was my favorite! Chine Machine– it’s hard to miss with it’s bright blue exterior!

 

One of the reasons I love Montmartre so much is because the views of Paris are so stunning.

 

After showing me where she sources her vintage pieces, Audrey took me to the biggest fabric store I’d ever seen in my life. If only I could sew half as well as she can!

 

Below is a little peek into Audrey’s closet that houses her designs!

 

 

My next post from Paris will be my gypsy guide! But I’d love to know- any must-see vintage shops for next time?