Haut-Luxe hippy chic fashion designed by Sophie Albou who named her company after her two small sons in 1995. The romantic boutique in rue des Saintes Péres resembles a boudoir and also carries the designer’s line of cute, colourful cosmetics.
For men and women who like a touch of colour, of pattern, of fur and leather, added to sober French cuts. I love the fine-gauge v-neck cashmere sweaters, which come in every colour, the 1970s-style schoolboy shirts and the silk camisoles. Others fall for the sweetie-coloured retro-styled silk cocktail dresses and coats or the cute knits which might have been designed for Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour or Parapluies de Cherbourg.
This season the French designs are a little more utilitarian than usual, full of gingham and denim, and have a US workwear twist, complemented by floral voile maxi dresses and all-in-ones fit for an LA starlet.
The new label, Paul & Joe Sister is the big sis's credit crunch diffusion range, offering the same shapes in simpler cuts and fabrics. Next door is Paul & Joe for men, and little Paul & Joe. Paul & Joe would dominate this side-street off the Boulevard Saint Germain if it wasn't for Sonia Rykiel's empire which stretches down the rue and beyond to the rue Grenelle. Looks like, between them, Sonia Rykiel and Sophie Albou have the rue des Saintes Péres all sewn up.
If, like me, you fall in love with the boutique’s opulent scent, it’s all down to the Votivo Redcurrant candle burning at the till. 66 rue des Saints Péres, 7e, St-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, 01-40-28-03-34, Metro: St-Germain-des-Pres
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