Thank God I’m VIP By Paix Robinson
For an American in Paris, the idea of basking in the more romantic delights is always at the fortnight of choice. Even with Paris Fashion week, conventional tourism leads those to believe that Paris doesn’t exist outside the Champs Lycee, La Louvre and Place de Vosges, and rightfully so. These places and numerous post card images like them have, and will always be the epicenter of desired destinations, but where do you go to experience the city the way the actual Parisians experience? For the skater gangs, punks and rebels theres La Republique, with its drum circle chants full of hash smoke and improve song and dance, and half pipes always in use and leftover tagging marks around the cobble streets. The Art crowd can be seen with cigarette in hand and literature in toe, sauntering about Rue Des Archives, along the numerous galleries and art houses that decorate the small streets and alleyways in Le Marais. One spot in particular that any and all fashion enthusiast should check out is “Thanx God I’m VIP”, located in the in the Montorgueil neighbourhood. Whereas the name of the store may offer a more pretentious vibe, the atmosphere and energy of the store, its sales associates and manager are anything but. Located at just a couple minutes by foot from Republique, this vintage heaven offers every color, textile, decade, pattern or print that would even make Carine Roitfeld say “Mon Dieu”. Erected in 1994, The construction of the store itself allows for you to enter without the overwhelming introduction of smells and cumbersome racks that many vintage stores may have. Curated by seasonal colors and sexes the entire store makes a giant U-shape, with womens on one side, mens on the other and beautifully decorated little cafe in the middle. Walking inside is an affair that rivals the archive closets of French Vogue, or maybe just the scene from Devil Wear where Andy Saks (not Emily) finally gets the makeover she didn’t know she needed. There were a mix of French, American, Japanese and other foreigners all basking in the color assembled awesomeness that is “ Thanx God…:”. After chatting with the store owner Sylvie Chateigner and some of the sales associates it was evident that this particular vintage boutique caters to people in all forms of fashion, from the chic to the hipsters, the posh and the grudge. If any one thing could be said about this place it would be the comfort. The petite cafe offers a grand delight to the shopping or browsing experience that makes you feel like any well treated buyer in a couture showroom. So this fashion week if you're looking for a spot to upgrade your street style or just to add more one-of-a-kind pieces to your wardrobe, check out this gem in the heart of Paris to make your personal collection complete.
Address ~ 12 Rue de Lancry, Paris
