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Author Rebecca Perry Magniant, whose first book Chic Shopping was just published by the Little Bookroom, moved to Paris in 2002 and quickly turned her passion for shopping into a personal shopping service. She offers themed shopping tours, including Made in France and Unique Boutique, as well as can arrange custom tours, tailored to suit clients’ interests, whether it’s wedding dress shopping, antique/home décor shopping, even prom dress shopping. In Chic Shopping, Magniant profiles more than 100 boutiques, ranging from classics like Assouline Marie Papier (both in the sixth arrondissement) to finds in lesser-known quartiers, like fabulous new jewelry boutique Anna Rivka (57 Rue Condorcet, 33-1-40-23-92-84) in the 9th and the stores of up-and-coming fashion designers in the 11th. The author spoke to Indagare about her book and favorite secret addresses in the city of light.

How many stores did you consider before settling on the ones featured in your book and what went into the decision process?

I probably looked at over 200 shops in total, but in the end I wanted a mix of favorite shops that sell items or have services that are unique to Paris, along with little out-of-the-way gems that one should go seek out.

If you had to pick a handful, what are some of your personal favorite bonnes addresses for fashion, home and kids?

• Rue Princesse: For stylish accessories & bags at reasonable prices
• Louise Piquant (7 Rue Montpensier; 33-1-42-96-25-58): For glamorous party and cocktail dresses
• Servanne Gaxotte (55 Rue des Saints Pères, 6th; 33-1-42-84-39-93): For her fab little jointed doll pendant necklaces

• Maison de Vacances (63-64 Galerie de Montpensier, 1st; 33-1-47-03-99-74): For chic and understated home accessories.
• Astier de Villatte (173 Rue Saint Honoré, 1st; 33-1-42-60-74-13): The shop is as unique the décor items it sells, and has a great ambiance about it.

• Lilli Bulle (3 Rue de la Forge Royale, 11th; 33-1-43-73-71-63): Because its on my street, and has an irresistible mix of kid clothes & fun accessories.
• Blanc d’Ivoire des Touts Petits (4 Rue Jacob, 6th; 33-1-46-33-34-29): For sweet, Frenchy furniture in muted tones, plus great gift items.

Which stores in your book would surprise/be unfamiliar to a seasoned Paris shopper?

• Valérie Salacroux (69 Rue Crozatier, 12th; 33-1-46-28-79-09): She does gorgeous leather sandals and bags, but the shop is hidden away in the 11th, very off the beaten path.

• L’Objet Qui Parle (86 Rue des Martyrs, 18th; 33-6-09-67-05-30): A total hole in the wall—literally!—filled with little antique treasures

You said in your foreword that some of your finds even impressed your chic belle-mère…do you remember what these finds were and where they came from?

I’d been hording articles on Paris for years, and I remember a great piece about gourmet shopping in Paris, from Bon Appetit, I think. This is how I first began to explore the city after moving here—I’d been here a dozen times, and had done all the requisite touristy stuff, so I was letting my passion for shopping take me on a tour of the city. As for my belle mere, she was impressed that I knew about E. Dehillerin, a cooking supply shop, plus other, more posh shops like Diptyque, which was just starting to be uber-trendy.

If you had to pick a single street in Paris for one-stop shopping, which one would it be and which stores would you recommend along it?

That’s really tough! I think I’d pick Rue Montmartre, in the 1st. You have everything from Claudie Pierlot and Les Petits for clothes, Jack Gomme (No. 6) for bags, Mora for professional kitchen supplies and Mokuba (No. 18) for amazing ribbons and Comptoir de la Gastronomie (No. 34) for foie gras and Champagne.

What are some lesser-known/surprising arrondissements where you can find chic shops (and which stores would you recommend)?

I live in the 11th [the quartier around the Place de la Bastille], and I don’t think it is on the shopping radar of most tourists yet. There are some interesting finds like Petit Pan (7 Rue Prague; 33-1-43-41-88-88), which does kids clothes and accessories out of brightly colored Asian inspired fabrics, and Louison (20 Rue Saint Nicolas; 33-1-43-44-02-62), which does funky glitter handbags along with classic leather styles.

Tell us about your most recent bargain find and/or splurge?

Well, it wasn’t my splurge, but it was a clients—I helped her find a gorgeous vintage Hermès Birkin bag at the puces for €3,000, which is a pretty good deal.

With the current exchange rate, a lot of Americans are hesitant about shopping in Europe. What are some stores that you would consider worth the splurge, because they offer truly unique finds only available in Paris?

I’d go for things that are one-of-a-kind, like a fab little black dress from La Petite Robe Noire (125 Galerie de Valois, 1st; 33-1-40-15-01-04), or a custom made pair of shoes from Christian Louboutin, whose sur mesure service is only available in Paris.

Even shoppers need a break: what are some of your favorite lunch spots and cafes where to take a breather?

I love the little café inside the home décor store Flamant (8 Rue Abbaye, 6th; 33-1-56-81-12-40), off of Place Furstenberg in St. Germain. Delicious big salads and tartines. I also like the Cuisine du Bar on Rue du Cherche Midi, as it offers a healthy, quick menu. In the Marais, I often take clients to Crêpes Suzette (24 Rue des Francs Bourgeois), which offers yummy savory crepes with goat cheese and pesto. And Ladurée is a classic at any time of the day, of course.

As you know, many serious shoppers are interested in exploring the puces outside of Paris. Do you have any advice on how to tackle the immense offerings and do you offer tours through Chic Shopping?

Come on a Chic Shopping Pars tour!- We do offer tours to some of the best parts of the market, and clients can either focus on shopping for ‘smalls,’ i.e. things that are easily taken home in a suitcase, or go for shipping lots of furniture via a container. Advice? Many shoppers mistake the junk stalls outside the puces for the real thing—and never even make it to the right place. So, for starters, do a bit of research and make sure you get to the right place! Then come prepared to bargain and bring cash. And if you see it, and you like it, buy it, as it might not be there when you get back.

What would you say is the most valuable thing you’ve learned about Paris shopping since launching your business?

Patience! You have to have it in spades to live here, work here. Life here is not as scheduled as it is in the US, and sometimes I still have to remind myself to take a deep breath and not hurry. This goes for shopping too—you have to be patient when shopping here, but it usually pays off—the salespeople will give you honest opinions of what looks right on you, etc., if you take the time to take advantage of it all.

For more information about Chic Shopping, Magniant’s personal shopping company, visit www.chicshoppingparis.com.