Shopping...the true Parisian pass time.

Shopping is something Paris is renowned for, and rightly so. There are endless options of fantastic places to shop, especially if you have time to wander further afield than the Champs Elysées. In fact, I think that the best shopping Paris has to offer comes in the form of small, local boutiques featuring unique French brands rather than the big glitzy shops of international labels. Obviously, there are shops like this all over Paris, but when you are pressed for time it’s a good idea to head to an area where you can find a mixture of things in a small geographical area- this leaves more time for trying things on!

A top area is undoubtedly the Marais in the III Arrondissement, particularly Rue Francs Bourgeois. On this charming narrow street which epitomises Parisian architecture, you can find a nice mix of clothing stores, gift stores, jewellery stores, make up stores, shoe stores and then some! American Retro, near the Rue des Archives end of the road is aimed at the younger generation, but upstairs they have some simple but elegant casual pieces. Further down the road is my favourite, Les Petites, a French label that has something for everyone, and uses breath taking fabrics and colours. Be sure to look in both shops (they are next door to each other) as they do stock different things. On the corner of Rue du Temple and Rue Francs Bourgeois there is a Paul & Joe sister and man which, although not French, is certainly worth a look.

If you are after gifts, there is a Muji on this street too (again, 2 shops next door to each other with different stock) and if you haven't been into one of these before, you must go, just to be wowed by the simple yet useful designs. The beanbags, as strange as this may sound, are a whole new world

Makeup shops, mainly big chains, abound towards the end of Francs Bourgeois; Mac, Body Shop and Occitane are all within a stones throw of one another.

If you find yourself on the left bank of the Seine, around Saint Germain, it becomes clear pretty quickly that you are in shopping heaven. Though sometimes rather expensive, the shops here are irresistible, and there are certainly some more affordable things on offer. On Boulevard Saint Germain, there is a Shu Uemura makeup store; the staff are very helpful so go in, it's not as scary as it looks! If you turn down Boulevard Raspail, you will come across a series of lovely shoe shops, my favourite being Jonak, a chain store with gorgeous stock. The designs are simple yet wonderful, and the prices are so reasonable that you can buy two pairs of shoes without feeling guilty!

If you head west from here, you can stroll up Rue Grenelle, a veritable treasure trove. The street features two designers from the famous Antwerp 6, making it more like visiting art galleries than commercial centres, so absolutely worth a peak. Sonya Rykiel's shoes are out of this world, but the most fascinating store has to be Martin Margiela. A small white awning is all that mark the entrance to the shop, so keep your eyes peeled. Inside the white continues, right down to the staff who all don white lab coats. The clothes, while not necessarily something you would wear every day, are beautifully designed and made. The men’s section is particularly impressive.

Rue Saint Honore, a big long street which runs parallel to Rue de Rivoli, is an absolute must. There is everything you could imagine, and some. The pick of the bunch is the Colette store, on the corner of Rue du 29 Juillet. This shop, which sells clothes upstairs, coffee and lunch downstairs and everything else on the main floor is like stepping into a magazine. Don't miss out on the spray on makeup, or the mix-to-taste perfume counters!

If you are after smaller things, like gifts and jewellery, a great spot is the Passage du Grand Cerf, just down from Rue Montorgueil in the II Arrondissement. This passage, which is all glamorous art deco, is at its most stunning in winter time when it is decorated with fairy lights and a red carpet- don't forget the camera! Each little shop in the passage has something unique to offer, so take your time wandering around.

The list could really go on and on, Paris shopping is truly limitless! These are certainly some good places to get you started though, and if you are a real shop-a-holic, you can always get a personal guide to cater to your every need!