Shopping - Paris e-guide: The Travel Guide with its Own Website - page 63

Centre

11 C4

AB33 affordable fashion
33 rue CHARLOT, 3ÈME • 01 42 71 02 82
Open 11-8 Tue-Sun (until 9 on Thu)

aware of what's out there on fashion's cutting-edge,
she manages to mix the season's hottest catwalk
looks with clothes that are fun, easy and wearable.
These are all arranged on accessible, colour co-
ordinated rails, offering an extensive selection of
mainstream lines such as Vanessa Bruno, Isabel
Marant, Cabane de Zucca and celebrity jeans of
choice Notify, showcased alongside delicate Italian
lingerie by Kristina Ti and designer knits by rising
Belgian star Christian Wijnants.
AB33 accessories, which include original jewellery
creations by Marine de Diesbach and luxury leather
bags by up-and-coming Danish designer Malm
Strecker, have an edgier look. Agathe also produces her
own line of customized suede and leather shoulder
bags; clients can choose their own colours and fabric
combinations (thus giving them a stylish one-off
creation for 260 € ). Allow five days for production.

Located in the heart of the retail hub that has
emerged in the northern Marais, AB33 has an appeal-
ing take on both women's fashion and the shopping
experience. Dynamic young owner Agathe Buchotte
(the AB of the store's name) revamped an old grocer's
shop with the help of her architect father, giving the
space a lived-in feel with rugs, a magazine-strewn
coffee table and a scattering of velvet poufs.
You won't find snooty Parisian vendors here,
though; Agathe is an upbeat Marseillaise with a laid-
back attitude who extends a friendly welcome to all
and encourages browsing and extended trying-on
sessions. She takes a highly personal approach to
her buying, putting collections together as if they
were her own wardrobe. And while Agathe is keenly