Isabel Marant Boutique (Paris, France)

Being ill sucks. So does jet lag. Combine the two and what you get is a grumpy tired me who lacks the energy to sort through all the photos taken during my travels in the past few weeks. Which is my excuse for digging out these Isabel Marant shots that were already on my laptop. But to be honest, I've been meaning to post these for a while, as I've long had the biggest crush on her collections which has only grown since I moved to Paris.

FW09 campaign featuring Milla Jovovich who seems to like grabbing her hair... (images: Isabel Marant).

FW09 collection (images: style.com)

What I probably love most is how Marant's pieces represent Parisian chic like nothing else. Tourists who come to Paris hoping to catch a glimpse of girls strutting around in stilettos and wearing Chanel tweed tend to be disappointed by this look. But as a woman who designs clothing for other women (and herself), casual chic comfort was always the key to what Marant created, resulting in the effortless cool look that has since represented French style. During last December's sample sales, I witnessed Parisian girls rushing towards the Marant racks, piling everything they could find by the label in their little baskets, while YSL, Gucci and other big-name international brands were left somewhat ignored. Yet despite attending fashion school in Paris, followed by stints at Michel Klein and Yohji Yamamoto to name a few, the first things Marant created under her own name back in 1989 were jewelry and accessories - not clothes. She released a small line of knits and jerseys under the brand 'Twen' a year later, which in 1994 was officially renamed to 'Isabel Marant'. Subsequent launches included the diffusion line 'Étoile' and a range of children's wear, inspired by the birth of her son in 2003.

Some of the characters in the store window.

All her boutiques have the same look and feel, though I favor the two in the Marais district over the Left Bank location. Rue de Charonne is where the first boutique was opened in 1998 and it still remains special and quaint because of this. For a bigger selection and a loftier atmosphere, the main flagship on rue Saintonge is the place to be. And don't go in without checking out the store windows first... unlike other designers who opt for regular mannequins, Marant prefers the use of quirky Stone Age inspired statues and other artifacts. The effect is both playful and raw with the pebble and cactus garden in some windows adding an extra touch.

View of the entrance area (left) and the jewelry section in a corner (right).

So many accessories....

The interior follows the same organic feel, but is less cluttered and very spacious. Despite the modern sleek lines and the airy ambiance, the wood paneling of the floor and shelves along with the view of the back garden make the boutique more welcoming than intimidating. There's hardly any furniture aside from a few bamboo chairs and the modern closets which house the racks of clothes. Turn left and you'll see a corner showcasing some of the children's clothes in a mini cabinet. Unfortunately these are definitely too small for any adult to wear (yes, I may have tried...). The small cases on the wall nearby display the jewelry, mostly in silver or adorned with semi-precious stones.

The children's range in a mini-closet (left) and a cool chair near the jewelry (right).

The FW09 range (left) and studs galore, incl. the bootie of the season - now on sale (right).

Anyone who's paid any attention to fashion knows that aside from the cool clothes, Marant is responsible for last year's ultimate 'it' shoes - first the chain suede boots for SS09 followed by the studded 'Otway' ankle bootie for FW09. Girls across the globe went crazy trying to source these items - many were told they were sold out or not in stock. Strangely these shoes were available in abundance in Paris... and few were buying them. I'm sure this would make a great case study on how hype is created when an item isn't just worn by celebrities or featured in editorials, but becomes difficult to obtain and carries an exorbitant price tag. For anyone who's still interested (and in Paris) - both these boots are now on sale at 40% off, but beware that the quality is rather disappointing as reviewed by fellow bloggers Sofie and Hanh, so even the markdown might not justify getting them - though they are still very pretty.

More FW looks including cosy fur (left) and last season's chain boots (right).

Loving the open space (left) and the large changing room area (right).

Needless to say, I saw plenty of these boots during my visit to the boutique (though at the time they were still full-priced). But like most consumers in-store, I was more focused on the fantastic fur creations, draped shirt-dresses, tweed or herringbone coats, leopard print jackets, ruched long skirts and anything else from the current hard rock meets hippie collection. Even though the store was buzzing, the large floor area made it easy to browse. Extra attention should also be placed on the soft slouchy leather bags... some studded, others plain (incidentally Jerome Dreyfuss happens to be Marant's husband) and the soft wool and cashmere scarves which will undoubtedly make any outfit look Parisian chic.

A small section of outfits in the middle section of the store (left). The trendiest items at a glance: fur and leopard print jackets (right).

Cash desk and view of the back area with its little garden.

The front section contained mainly the dressier runway looks, but if you're in need of something more casual, the majority of the grungy tees, knits and the complete 'Étoile' range - mainly consisting of tartan shirts and dresses - is in the back. The small garden gives this section an extra bit of light and for the ultimate experience, you'll probably want to try on some of the clothes in the large changing rooms.

View of the mini garden...

Casual looks in the back (left) and more lovely bags (right).

Some of the SS10 items were also on display last week and I can already tell these will be very tempting - my favorite items being the colorful embellished jackets, striped dresses and draped vests.

The Étoile collection in colorful boxes.

Even though Marant has gained international popularity, her boutiques have yet to expand beyond Paris, with the exception of Hong Kong, which strangely has two flagships, and New York & LA where two boutiques will supposedly open this summer. I'm guessing more stores may pop up in the near future, but according to Marant, she'd like to keep her business small to avoid oversaturating the market. Nevertheless some select/old-season pieces are available online via Yoox, or check out the international stockists on the official homepage for more.

SS10 collection (images: style.com)

Address: 47 rue Saintonge, 75003 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:30-19:30
Isabel Marant Homepage