By Suchita S.
The one thing I’m always happy to hear about is a new décor store or café opening its doors in town. That, and ‘My you’ve lost weight’. But vanity aside, considering I spend most of my days running the length and breadth of Delhi, there’s nothing quite like losing oneself in the confines of a beautifully decorated store or café, sipping on cappuccino’s while reading a book or penning a story, or rummaging through rows and shelves of vases and lamps, cushions and cutlery, lights and furniture. What’s making the rounds in Delhi these days is ‘Concept Stores’ where people are catering to all needs within one space- a place to eat, sit and shop for yourself or your home. Extending into this realm is Les Parisiennes.
Les Parisiennes opened its {very French-chic} wrought-iron gates in Shahpur Jat about a year ago. The space is incredibly elegant, and it’s from where owners Catherine Barbier Prakash & Lucie Salaun sell apparel for women. The idea behind the store was to transport their customers to the place they call home- Paris. The apparel section stocks dresses, tops, bags, accessories and a beautiful range of scarves that are vintage-inspired and French in their aesthetic. “We started with a focus on clothes and accessories for women, and have really been amazed by the sort of response we got! Having understood our customers through this, we wanted to grow our reach by giving people a more holistic experience- so that’s where we got the idea to expand into a café and a home-décor store.”
We were invited to their charming French-vintage inspired space for an exclusive preview of the new sections. The décor of the store is splendid by itself- exposed brick painted in beautiful white and accents of noir in the ceiling and furniture. And what’s on offer? Think wondrous things in black and white, mirrors, floral patterns adorning lampshades, quilts, cushions, vintage-inspired tins and containers, beautiful crockery {including a coffee cup with heart-shaped designs, big enough to cater to my café addiction}, furniture and lamps sourced from all over India. “What inspired us was really this space itself. Lucie, my partner, bought this space as a home for herself actually, but her dram was to have a shop in it at some point. She’s an interior decorator by profession, and when we met, we got talking and discussed the idea of starting a store… And here we are today!”
But the experience doesn’t end there- there’s a beautiful little café poised in the middle of this store, where the duo will be serving {you guessed it} French food. ‘We’ve kept the food very simple, with quiches, salades, soups and cakes to choose from. And café, teas and juices of course.’ Catherine tells me.
While I’ll have to wait for their opening {slated for coming Monday, 8th October} to try the menu, what I can say for sure is this- the French are finding their foothold, and je suis amoureuse with the new aesthetic they’re bringing to the Capital!
Notes in our Little Black Book |
~ Range of products | Women Clothing and accessories {from 1000 inr}, Bedlinen and soft furnishings {from 500 inr}, lighting {from 1500 inr}, crockery {from 100 inr}, decorative items {from 1000 inr}, table linen {from 500 inr}, furniture {price on request}
~ Opening hours | 10am to 7pm, 7 days a week
~ Address & Contact | Les Parisiennes, 5B Shahpur Jat- Asian Village, Dada Jungi House
Telephone- 01126496754, Mob- 8826518943