Hello all, I am finally home! Our vacation in Europe was only two weeks but it seems like it’s been a month at least since I saw my comfy bed, warm bath, and tidy closet lol. It was a wonderful but exhausting trip, heavy on sight seeing and very light on lounging or relaxing.

During our week in Paris I visited the Repetto store I blogged about a couple months ago. The store was quite small and very busy! These photos are of the store near the Galeries Lafayette but I also visited the store near the Bon Marche. The boutique near the Bon was just slightly larger but nearly identical to this one.


The store is not much larger than you see here. It just fits these three tables plus one more with a couple pairs of boots and men’s shoes in the corner.



I caught the friendly and tres French salesman in this photo. I asked him when I entered the shop if it would be okay if I took a few photos. He smiled, laughed a little, and said of course!
I wish I would have tried some shoes on this day but I was just too tired. When I went shopping at the second Repetto, near the Bon, the staff was less friendly and not particularly helpful.


The shoes! Sigh. They were are all so pretty I couldn’t begin to decide which I wanted.



When I went back to Repetto later in the week, I did decide on a pair. These gorgeous black nappa leather flats with patent toe.

They had a pair size 37.5 on the table. It took a good 10 minutes plus to get the attention of one of the staff only to find out that this was the only shoe in this style left in the store…. or maybe she just didn’t feel like going downstairs for my size…
I stood around for another 10 minutes waiting for her to bring me a little sock to try on the shoe.

I tried very hard to be patient knowing that customer service in Paris or any big city is going to be different but honestly I was pretty annoyed and frustrated. It made me really appreciate the helpful service that I have grown accustom to receiving here in the states from stores like J.Crew and Anthropologie.

Even though I’ve heard Repetto’s run small, the 37.5 was a pinky width too big. I’d need my regular size 37. So, no Repettos for me :(

During this trip, I discovered I have a very hard time impulse shopping. I cannot just go out, make a decision, and buy something. I have to mull over it for days, weeks even. Occasionally something jumps off the rack at me and I buy it instantly. But sadly, nothing in Paris did. I know that sounds completely shocking. How could I not find something I wanted in Paris?!

I did see loads of gorgeous designer items at the Galeries, Printemps, and the Bon. Including drool worthy Balenciaga bags but I wasn’t about to spend a third of our total vacation $ on a handbag.

There were many, many mid level shoe brands at the Galeries. I browsed hoping to find a pair of flat short boots but nothing was quite right. They were all too cowboy, too blinged in buckles or studs, or just too heavy looking for me. Because they had a big sale going on, there was a ton of shoes and handbags in the 150-200 euro range. But I do not think they were actual leather and the soles and heels looked cheap. I took a close look at a couple pair of boots that I hoped would be winners and the finishing details were just not there. One pair was 300 or 400 euro and the top edge of the boot was just cut and unfinished, like you had just cut the leather with a pair of scissors.

I went through a few smaller stores near our hotel as well and saw many cute things, all in grey and black btw lol. I was really tempted buy a bag at Zara but again the price and quality did not match up. Almost $75 for a non leather bag with a cheap looking chain, I couldn’t part with my money for that.

I was very sad to leave without a goody from Paris but nothing gave me that little jolt. That, buy me buzz. It’s hard to find truly unique retail items that demand to be bought, even in fashion mecca. Everything was very expensive and in this day and age what can you not buy online later? The effortless Parisian style reaffirms this, making you realize how much you can do with basics found any where (more on Paris style later). Although, the one thing I did want to buy, the black Repetto flats, I cannot find any where online :(
Please email me if you spot them!