SoPi

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I don't want to go all Fodors/Gridskipper on ppl because when I get emails asking for recommendations on cities other than London, I'm notoriously vague.  Reason being is because I have an awful habit of forgetting where I've been, meandering aimlessly and seeing what I stumble onto.  This particluarly works well when you stay in areas that make for good wandering.  In Paris, I like the 11th, 3rd/4th for this purpose and now the 9th, or specifically the SoPi (South of Pigalle).  Hotel Amour gets the big thumbs up from me partly because of a) the hotel and b) its proximity to various vintage/fashion emporiums Woch Dom (which supposedly started the SoPi thang…), vintage accessories/clothing Chezel and Homes For, Mamie et Mamie Blue, NoGoodStore… and Pigalle… where I slipped on some heels in what has seemed like a good age and a half. 

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SlamXHype has given Pigalle a few good write-ups namely because of its head honcho Stephane Ashpool, part of creative collective Pain O choKolat, who dabble in events, production, entertainment in all things cool and completely alien to me.  It seems like Ashpool's multi-stranded career has resulted in the blend at his store Pigalle – the streetwear elements from Wood Wood, Nike, Adidas and Pigalle's own t-shirt line is his Pain O choKolat side and then at the back, where you get past season pieces by Anne Valerie Hash, Rick Owens, Sharon Wauchob and show-used shoes by Gaspard Yurkievich, Givenchy and Dries Van Noten come from Ashpool's other venture Vida9.  With his mother Doushka Langhofer, they have been doing show production and choreography for the likes of Rick Owens, Gareth Pugh, Christian Dior and Sharon Wauchob.   

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I liked the minimal selection and the fact that you never know what is gonna come out from the back cupboard of Pigalle, smoke ash PVC dresses included.  Collaged walls and astone path in a dark and intimate interior, the friendly attitude from Ashpool (at one point a customer was asking whether she can touch a necklace, indicating the prevalent 'Don't Touch' policy in overly conceptual places, to which Ashpool said "Of course, you can try too!") and a bench outside makes for a laidback store with a nice haphazard feel to it.

Specifically for womenswear, the pieces for ex-season, were reasonably discounted and in a heel-starved moment, I picked up some S/S 08 metal-heel, printed/dyed Dries Van Noten shoes used in the show.  The tie dyed pattern is something I've been ogling via Nicole Farhi's current season heels and it was the metal stiletto tha
t did it for me.  Hopefully it's broken the heel stalemate for a bit.  I'm working on training the ankle back up with these surprisingly comfortable newbies. 

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20 comments

  1. woah! immense heels! great post – i know that feeling of never quite being sure where you’ve been… i have a habit of wandering too, especially in Italy where there are so very many winding back-streets with the tiniest boutiques tucked in between grocers and apartment buildings. i always manage to get lost, find the most amazing little shop, don’t buy something i love and then can’t find it the next time i’m there and want to find the item i’ve thought about ever since the first time! sigh.
    xxxc
    http://clothestohealabrokenheart.blogspot.com/

  2. The heels are pretty colours, they certainly don’t look comfortable but i’m glad they are. This must mean that your ankle is well on the road to recovery!

  4. I can see what you mean about the store’s cool vibe. That always makes shopping more fun. It’s hard to get clear photos in lighting like that, but you did a great job of it. xo

  5. where I live , they have not a single quirky little store, and when one appears, you fall in love with it, just for it to dissappear from so little customers! Welcome to finance loving jersey.

  10. More shoe porn! Those are amazing. The store seems very cool, and you’re right, the “touch and try” policy is a breath of fresh air.

  15. I love the style of the shoes. but like the others said be careful if you wear that. the heels too high for me. but anyways i like it! great post!
    -sidney-

  16. Next time I visit Paris I’ll have to check out this store, looks very cool.
    And your heels…I’m just drewling right now..
    🙂

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