Many of you remember that I travelled to Paris about two weeks ago. One of the highlights of my trip was a visit of the wonderful vintage shop “Les 3 Marches de Catherine B.”, a lovely boutique located in the heart of St. Germain.
Looking through the shop´s windows and seeing the sheer endless luxury, I knew that this visit would feel like being in a wonderland. When I entered the shop, I immediately had to gasp for a moment - event though I own quite a few luxury items myself, I have never been closer to so many things I only knew from high fashion magazines and celebrity pictures. And while Catherine´s two shops may not be very big, they are filled with some of the most beautfiul things I have ever seen: from pink, gold and blue Chanel flaps, an immense collection of vintage jewlery and clothing to the most special Hermès croc bags (you could find them in every single colour!!!) and accessoires on earth, there was everything a girl could wish for.
Catherine B., the owner, is an elegant and charming woman, who openend her store in 1994, but unofficially started to buy and sell bags many years before. Contrary to most vintage fashion stores, Les 3 Marches de Catherine B. is not a consignment-store that offers services for those who want to sell their bags. No, Catherine, who calls herself a collector and only carries pieces from french fashion houses Chanel and Hermès, chooses wisely unique wardrobe pieces, bags and accessoires. If she is offered something that she really likes and that could be a good addition to her store´s inventory, she buys it. “I love every single piece in here”, Catherine explains to me, and “if I am not 100% convinced, I won´t buy it”. Well, with an exquisite taste and good eye like Catherine´s, it is no surprise that her private collections have been the theme for many exhibitions and magazine spreads in the past. In fact, I may go so far as to say that Catherine might own one of the biggest private Chanel and Hermès collections worldwide.
When asked why she specialized on selling Chanel and Hermès pieces only, Catherine answered that these two brands are the “Yin and Yang of the fashion world”, and that she started collecting precious pieces many years ago. In fact, she is the proud owner of the very first Birking Bag ever made - yes, the bag that belonged to the infamous Mrs. Jane Birkin herself. Catherine was able to buy the bag in 2000 when it was up for auction, and being a true collector´s piece, it found its way and destiny into Catherine´s private collection and is not for sale.
Les 3 Marches de Catherine B. is not a usual vintage fashion store, it is more of an insight into the life of a woman that dedicated herself to one of her biggest loves: the world of Chanel and Hermès. Being one of the very few “true” ladies that I have met so far, she is the epitome of elegance and grace, two characteristics that are very rare to find these days. Maybe Catherine is the modern version of what I always pictured Coco Chanel to be - a bit mysterios, very glamorous and most of all fabulously dressed. And even though I didn´t buy anything this time, I know that I will return to “Les 3 Marches de Catherine B.” - there are too many precious things still waiting for me.
Les 3 Marches de Catherine B. | 1, rue Guisarde | 75006 Paris | +330143547418
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