Parisian accessories: the buyer's guide
The bag, the beret and the scarf: three objects that make an outfit read as Parisian and three brands that still make them in France. Here is which size, which style and what to check.
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Longchamp Le Pliage
The folding nylon tote with leather trim, designed in 1993 and inspired by origami, is the most-carried bag in Paris. It comes in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) and two handle lengths; the Medium with long handles is the everyday one, and the Large with long handles is the weekend and carry-on bag. The Le Pliage Original is nylon; the Le Pliage Green is recycled nylon; the Le Pliage Cuir is all leather and much more expensive. Longchamp is counterfeited heavily, so buy from Amazon-fulfilled or Longchamp's own listings.
Laulhère berets
Laulhère has made berets in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, at the foot of the Pyrenees, since 1840, and is the last French beret maker. The Authentique is the plain merino wool beret; the Héritage is the tighter, lined version. Berets are sized by head circumference; measure before ordering. A real one is felted wool with a leather or cotton sweatband and a 'Laulhère' stamp inside.
Le Tanneur and Lancaster leather
Le Tanneur, founded in 1898 and the inventor of the seamless wallet, makes understated full-grain leather wallets and bags in the classic Paris style at a fraction of the luxury-house price. Lancaster Paris makes crossbodies and totes in grained leather that is close to the look of the big names and far cheaper.
The silk carré
The square silk scarf, 90 cm on a side, is a Paris institution, and the Hermès one is the most famous object in French fashion. Short of that, the French makers worth knowing are Inoui Editions, Vivienne Westwood's French-made scarves, and the vintage market; any 100 per cent silk twill 90 cm square, tied correctly, does the job. Learn the knots before buying the scarf.
Spotting fakes
Longchamp, Laulhère and the Hermès carré are all faked. Check the brand's own site for the current logo and tag, buy from Amazon-fulfilled or the brand's store, and treat a price far below the usual as the warning it is.
What to buy
| Product | Why |
|---|---|
| Longchamp Le Pliage Medium Long Handle | The everyday Paris bag. |
| Longchamp Le Pliage Large Long Handle | Weekend and carry-on size. |
| Laulhère Authentique Beret | The real French beret, merino wool. |
| Le Tanneur Leather Wallet | Full-grain leather, made in France. |
| Lancaster Paris Crossbody | Grained leather crossbody. |
| Silk Twill Carré Scarf 90 cm | Square silk scarf for the classic knots. |
Questions people ask
Is Le Pliage made in France?
Le Pliage nylon bags are assembled in France and other countries; the leather Le Pliage Cuir and the luxury lines are made in France. The label inside says where.
What size beret?
Measure around your head just above the ears and eyebrows, in centimetres, and buy that size; 57 to 58 cm is the most common.
Does Hermès sell on Amazon?
No. Any Hermès carré on Amazon is secondhand or fake; buy vintage from a reputable reseller instead.
More paris guides: Fashion · Perfume · all brands