I went to Paris for the first time
And you're all lucky I came back.
A month ago, I went to Paris for the first time.
It took me a while to decide what I wanted to say about it, especially because it felt like it was all I had been talking about for the months leading up to the trip. I dedicated my life to crafting the perfect itinerary, securing every reservation I could, and meticulously curating the perfect wardrobe that I believed would make me pass as a cool French girl, and not an American making her inaugural visit.
I loved every single part of Paris. I’m already trying to figure out which pocket of my life will allow me to live there for an extended period of time. I really believe that the U.S. government should sponsor a trip for all girls nationwide from the ages of 18-24 to go so they can experience the indescribable feeling of young womanhood in a place so magical. We’ve all been fed ideas of a Paris being so romantic and fashionable and remarkable from the days of Madeline children’s books and Disney movies, so it’s the least they can do honestly.
As someone who didn’t go abroad because of COVID, this experience was a long time coming, and I couldn’t believe it was finally here. My seventh grade self who had made the choice of French class over Spanish class was buzzing. From the minute we got to our hotel, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that the four days we had carved out wouldn’t be enough. I was mourning the end of a trip that hadn’t even begun yet, and I felt eager to make the most of our time there.
My priorities were:
Vintage shopping
Eating
Sightseeing and museum hopping
In that exact order.
I took my suggestions from friends, co-workers, and websites like Goop or Vogue Travel, trying to avoid TikTok as much as possible in my never-ending search to cosplay as a Camille Rowe-esque cool French girl. Everyone’s expertise was probably why I loved Paris so much—we were able to enjoy both local favorites and the touristy spots that sometimes you have to shamelessly go to, mainly because they’re famous for a reason. I’m not sure why you would listen to someone who’s just dipped her toe into the Parisian experience, but I think the best way to summarize my trip is through my top 5 recommendations and places from the time we spent.
Vintage shopping: Thanx God I’m a V.I.P.
I seriously pounded the pavement in and out of as many vintage stores as I could. I will say—I was really proud of how financially conscious I was. I only bought around 5 things during my entire trip, and focused on getting things that were high quality, fit perfectly, and could be staple in my closet. Thanx God I’m a V.I.P. had a truly sick assortment and great prices. I could’ve spent hours in there and didn’t even dive into the men’s side. I came out victorious with an oversized Max Mara trench coat and some ultra chic Carolyn Basette Kennedy-adjacent Jil Sander trousers, both for around $250. If that store was in Williamsburg, they probably would’ve been double.
Drinks: Le Meurice Paris
Everyone should treat themselves to fancy drinks in Paris. This was a recommendation from my favorite podcaster and spiritual guide, Jackie Schimmel-Haas of the Bitch Bible, who says she loves to enjoy a solo martini here on her periodic trips to Paris. I’m really glad this was the hotel we got a drink at, the service was great, the martini was in fact delicious, there was a live pianist and bass player, and the vibes were simply put—rich.
Dinner: Les Antiquaires
Dinner at Les Antiquaires was one of those happy accidents that happens on vacation and ends up being the thing you can’t stop talking about most. My mom and I wanted to go to Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte for the famous steak frites, but the line was already down the block before it opened and we didn’t feel like waiting. I can’t remember exactly how I had bookmarked this place on Google Maps, but we loved every part of this dinner. The boeuf bourguignon was tender and delicious, the service was warm and friendly, and everyone in there was speaking French, so I’m pretty sure it was a local hotspot, which made us feel really cool.
Museums: The Dior Museum
I had high expectations for places like The Louvre and Versailles because of how much I had learned about both. However, I found them a little underwhelming (Versailles was dusty and empty, there, I said it). The true star of the museum show in Paris is the Dior Museum, which I cannot stress enough is something that cannot be skipped. It was beautifully curated, experiential, enriching, and the exhibits rotate every few months due to the size of the Dior Archive, so you’re guaranteed a unique experience. Buy tickets in advance!
Vintage shopping: The top floor of Printemps
I’m a sucker for a department store, especially one abroad, like Selfridges or Harrods. I loved my time on the regular floors of Printemps, trying on Tabi’s and perusing the racks of The Row as if I was ready to drop that kind of dough, but the top floor has some of the coolest archival vintage I had ever seen. Another place I could’ve spent hours, some personal highlights for me were Michael Kors-era Celine and those 2019 vertigo Fendi Bags (obsessed that they considered it vintage).
I could talk about this trip for hours, and already have to many of you. It was exciting to discover a place that I connected so deeply to, and have only really scratched the surface of. It was also so shockingly easy—there’s an intimidating, sort of stressful aura surrounding going to Paris for the first time, at least for me, and I realized how silly that was fairly early on. But I guess that’s just the epitome of the French vibe, easy going, chiller than anyone else, and unimaginably chic.
I’m counting down the days until I can go back, and every so often Googling “how long can you stay in Paris without a Visa” just to cover all of my bases.