Paris Flea Market

One of my favorite activities is to shop vintage. I can always score at least one statement piece.  This weekend, my friends and I decided to wake up at 7am and check out the flea market scene here in (rainy) Paris.

There are quite a couple of well-known flea markets here. The most famous one is the St Ouen Flea Market (also named Porte de Clignancourt). This one is famous for its size and has attracted countless visitors worldwide. It’s a great place to get good deals on antique furniture and such. However, we are not at the stage of our life yet to care about furniture, so we decided to visit another famous flea market, Vanve Market. It’s said to offer many small trinkets.

The Vanve market is open rain or shine Friday thru Sunday from 7am to 1pm. I would recommend getting there around 8:30am, because when we got there at 8am, half of the vendors were still setting up their stand. They have a big selection of jewelry and some designer  purses and clothing. You can also find many vintage photos and antique glassware.

The market occupies two streets. Take your time and look at their displays. One man’s dirt is another man’s treasure. Once you’ve spotted your treasure, you need to play hard to get, aka BARGAIN.

Here is a crash course on basic bargaining. Always have an estimate of how much you are willing to pay for it. Cut the given price by at least half and then use that as the basis. Of course the vendor is not going to be happy, but you need to stand firm. Raise it little by little during the process and then if you are comfortable with a certain number, then seal the deal. One way to get want you want is to walk away after disagreement. Most likely, the vendors will call you back. Otherwise, you can always go back afterwards. You have nothing to lose.

I found a ring for 8 euros and a pair of clip-on earrings for 3 euros. Good luck with your shopping and I hope to hear what you will find!

Post also found on my personal blog maintenantoujamais2012