ABOVE: Shopping on the chic
Shopping on the chic
Best for: bookworms
For those of the literary persuasion, Shakespeare and Company is the holy grail of bookstores in the French capital. Originally established in 1919 at 12 Rue de l’Odéon by leading Parisian expat Sylvia Beach, it soon became famous as the wellknown hang-out of a number of the ‘Lost Generation’, a collection of literary and creative figures living in Paris after World War I. As a stockist and purveyor of English-language literature, Shakespeare and Company’s famous clients included Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and James Joyce. The shop gained notoriety in 1922 when Sylvia Beach published the latter’s renowned Ulysses because the author was unable to have an edition published in English-speaking countries. By the end of 1941 the original Shakespeare and Company’ was forced to close due to difficulties during World War II – in true characterful form, Ernest Hemingway ‘liberated’ the shop in person in 1944, but it never re-opened for business. The modern incarnation of the store now sits on the Rue de la Bûcherie across from Notre-Dame and was founded by American George Whitman, with permission from Sylvia Beach to use the original name. George’s daughter Sylvia Whitman is now in charge of proceedings. Much in the same vein as Beach’s venture, Shakespeare and Company still sells English-language texts, as well as hosting readings and writers’ meetings. In keeping with the hospitable ethos of yesteryear, young writers are offered accommodation in exchange for work in the bookstore. When visiting be sure to take a look upstairs – the doorway at the top of the staircase still bears the famous inscription that sums up this unique institution: “Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise”.
Shakespeare and Company
37 Rue de la Bûcherie 75005 Paris
Tel: (Fr) 1 43 25 40 93
www.shakespeareandcompany.com
Best for: standing out from the crowd
Yes, the hat-maker Marie Mercié also has a shop in London’s Knightsbridge, but there’s nothing quite like visiting the original flagship store in the heart of Paris. Describing her start in millinery as “making hats on a whim”, the talented Mercié began designing in 1987 and hasn’t looked back since. Her client list runs as long as your arm – from politician’s wife Bernadette Chirac through to Franco-Brit award-winning actress Kristin Scott Thomas, she has also catered for the aesthetic needs of supermodel Milla Jovovich and the French actress Judith Godrèche. Mercié’s hats are created in her Parisian workshop using traditional techniques – the boutique itself is decorated in a boudoir style, with floor to ceiling shelves running the length of the far wall, showcasing the variety of designs on offer...
Read the full article on pages 52-56 of this month's issue.
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