After nearly 20 years living in Paris, I’ve learned this: lingerie here isn’t hidden away in back drawers or saved for special occasions. It’s everyday architecture, the first layer of confidence a Parisian woman puts on in the morning, long before the coat, the scarf, or that perfect red lip.
In Paris, we dress for ourselves. For comfort, pleasure, and the quiet joy of knowing something beautiful is resting against our skin, even if no one else ever sees it. This is the heart of French lingerie culture, and it’s completely different from what you’ll find elsewhere.
Here is your insider’s guide to the best lingerie shops in Paris, from heritage houses and intimate boutiques to everyday local favorites. I’ll share addresses, history, cultural insights, and a map you can follow across the city.
A Brief History: How French Lingerie Became About Women, Not Men
France has been the heart of lingerie craftsmanship for centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Paris was home to lingères, skilled women artisans who created corsets, chemises, and petticoats for aristocrats and stage performers. These early garments were all about structure, status, and silhouette.
But the 20th century changed everything. As women gained independence, lingerie softened with us. Corsets loosened. Bras evolved from rigid contraptions to supportive companions. Lace became playful instead of restrictive. By mid-century, brands like Simone Pérèle began designing lingerie not to control the body, but to honor it.
Today, French lingerie has completed its transformation. Walk into most Parisian lingerie boutiques and you’ll notice something immediately: the saleswomen ask about you, your comfort, your lifestyle, your body. Not what your partner might like. Not what’s “sexy.” But what makes you feel beautiful.
I think this is the fundamental difference between French lingerie culture and what I grew up with in the States (and what many of my American tour clients tell me they experience back home). Here, lingerie isn’t about the male gaze. It’s about self-relationship, how you feel walking through the city, sitting at a café, or simply opening your drawer in the morning.
Where Parisians Actually Shop: Everyday Lingerie Favorites
Parisian women are pragmatic romantics. We want lingerie that feels good, lasts, and still makes us smile when we see it. These are the brands you’ll find in real Parisian drawers (including mine):
Monoprix
📍 Multiple locations across Paris – see the map below 🙂
The local secret– and no, we’re not ashamed. Monoprix is where actual Parisians buy their everyday underwear. Their cotton basics are surprisingly well-made, their soft bras are comfortable enough to forget you’re wearing them, and their lace-trimmed pieces have just enough French charm. Practical, affordable, and always there when you need it. I probably buy 60% of my everyday lingerie here.
Princesse Tam.Tam
📍 78 Rue de Rennes, 75006 (+ other locations)
Playful, feminine, and lighthearted without being juvenile. This is the brand for colorful, cheerful lingerie that feels very Parisian, fun but never over-the-top. Perfect for everyday elegance that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Etam
📍 38 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 (+ other locations)
Reliable, comfortable, and modern with an excellent size range (including extended sizes that are harder to find in Paris). Their fitting specialists are knowledgeable, and the quality-to-price ratio is excellent. A French mainstay for good reason.
Undiz
📍 Forum des Halles, 75001 (+ other locations)
Fun, youthful, and affordable. Think graphic prints, cute matching sets, and comfortable basics that won’t break the bank. Popular with students and young Parisians, but I’ve been known to grab their cotton sets too.
Oysho
📍 20 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75004 (+ other locations)
Minimal, soft, and perfect for the comfort-first woman. Their loungewear-meets-lingerie aesthetic is very now, and everything feels like second-skin softness.
Petit Bateau
📍 48 Rue de Sèvres, 75007
Yes, the children’s brand! But their adult cotton basics are legendary among Parisian women. Timeless, perfectly soft, and ideal for layering. These pieces last forever.
Heritage & High-End: Where Craft Becomes Art
This is where French lingerie shows its true colors — pieces designed to last years, not seasons. Made with exceptional craftsmanship, fitted with expertise, and beautiful enough to be heirlooms.
Simone Pérèle ⭐
📍 136 Rue de Rivoli, 75001
Founded in 1948 and still family-run, Simone Pérèle is the gold standard of French lingerie. This is where heritage lives. The brand is known for exceptional fit, durability, and refined elegance that never goes out of style.
What makes them special? Many of their laces are sourced from historic lace-making regions in northern France, including Chantilly, yes, that Chantilly, the town with centuries of lace-making tradition. This is the same lace once worn by royalty and used by couture houses like Dior and Chanel. When you wear Simone Pérèle, you’re wearing French textile history.
The pieces feel like a second skin and genuinely last for years. I have bras from them that are seven years old and still perfect. This is investment lingerie at its finest.
Eres
📍 2 Rue Tronchet, 75008
Minimal, architectural, and famously timeless. Owned by Chanel, Eres designs lingerie (and swimwear) that moves with your body, never against it. No wires, no fuss, just impossibly elegant construction. Very expensive, yes, but if you want that effortless Parisian aesthetic, this is it.
Aubade
📍 29 Rue Tronchet, 75008
Sensual, confident, and iconic. Aubade made lingerie both playful and powerful, especially through their legendary “Leçon de Séduction” advertising campaigns (look them up — they’re art). This is French lingerie at its most unapologetically sexy, but still designed for the woman wearing it.
Chantal Thomass
📍 211 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001
Parisian lingerie with humor, attitude, and a fashion designer’s eye. Think stripes, bows, ribbons, and a certain irreverence. Chantal Thomass proves that lingerie can be both sophisticated and fun — very, very Parisian.
Fifi Chachnil
📍 16 Rue de Sévigné, 75004
Vintage fantasy, romance, and old-world charm. If you want lingerie that feels like stepping into a 1950s boudoir film, this is your place. Lace, silk, corsets, and pure theatrical femininity.
Independent Boutiques: The “Bridgerton” Experience
These are the shops where shopping becomes an experience. You’re measured carefully, guided thoughtfully, and cared for, slowly, respectfully, beautifully. This is where French lingerie culture truly shines.
Cadolle
📍 4 Rue Cambon, 75001
A historic Parisian institution. Cadolle has been fitting women since 1889 and is credited with inventing the modern bra (they separated the corset into two pieces). The expertise here is generational. Expect bespoke service, traditional French craftsmanship, and pieces made to honor your specific body.
Un Amour de Lingerie
📍 80 rue Montmartre, 75002
Warm, intimate, and deeply personal, the complete opposite of rushed American-style retail. The owner Martine fits you herself, asks questions about your life and needs, and helps you find pieces that work for your body, not a trend. They specialize in larger cup sizes (up to O cup), which is rare in Paris. This is where you go when you want to feel truly seen and cared for.
Sabbia Rosa ⭐ (My Personal Favorite)
📍 71-73 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006
Art Deco glamour, silk robes, embroidered slippers, and pure boudoir magic. Walking into Sabbia Rosa feels like stepping into a 1930s Parisian film, jewel-toned silks, handmade lace, and an atmosphere of quiet luxury. Everything is custom-made or carefully curated. This is where you go when you want to feel like a muse. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth it for something special? Absolutely.
Les Rituels
📍 27 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006
Elegant, sensual, and refined. The name says it all, lingerie here is treated as ritual, as self-care. Beautiful curation, expert fitting, and a focus on making you feel exquisite.
The New Generation: Modern Parisian Lingerie
A new wave of French lingerie brands is emerging, sustainable, inclusive, and designed by women for women.
Ysé Paris
📍 117 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris
Modern, responsible, and beautifully simple. Ysé uses recycled lace and French-made materials wherever possible. Their minimalist designs prove that sustainable can also be sexy and elegant. This is conscious lingerie without compromise.
LIVY
📍 83 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris
Bold, fashion-forward lingerie for women who see underwear as self-expression. Think statement pieces, gorgeous lace, and designs that feel empowering. Very Instagram-friendly, but with real substance behind the aesthetics.
Noo Paris
📍 Online + occasional pop-ups
Graphic, youthful, and confident. Noo makes lingerie that feels powerful and free — less “pretty” and more “I own my body and my choices.” Refreshingly modern.
Short on Time? Go to a Department Store
Both of these Parisian institutions house the best of French and international lingerie under one roof, with expert fitters and beautiful selections:
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
📍 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
📍 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007
Why French Women Buy Lingerie for Themselves
Here’s what I want you to understand: French women don’t buy lingerie for men.
We buy it for joy, for comfort, for beauty, and for the private pleasure of knowing something lovely is with us all day. It’s a small daily ceremony, a reminder of self-worth stitched into lace, cotton, or silk.
In nearly 20 years here, I’ve watched Parisian women shop for lingerie the way they shop for bread — regularly, thoughtfully, for themselves. It’s not a “special occasion” purchase. It’s Tuesday. It’s a rainy morning. It’s “I deserve something that makes me happy.”
And that, more than any lace or brand name, is what makes lingerie in Paris special.
My Personal Recommendations
- For everyday elegance that lasts: Simone Pérèle
- For Art Deco fantasy and pure indulgence: Sabbia Rosa
- For practical comfort (because real Parisian women are practical too): Monoprix 😉
- For the full Parisian fitting experience: Un Amour de Lingerie
📍 Your Paris Lingerie Shopping Map
THE PARIS LINGERIE MAP HERE
What questions do you have about lingerie shopping in Paris? Drop them in the comments — after 20 years here, I’ve probably got an answer (or at least a story)!