To fête their 40 year birthday, and just in time for their gorgeous spring collection to hit stores, Sonia Rykiel reopens its Saint-Germain flagship after a massive refurbishment. Needless to say it’s worth the wait. The bi-level shop is full of glossy black and silver décor, reflected beautifully in dozens of mirrors and counterpointed by minimalist wooden display tables. The re-vamp couldn’t have come at a better time, since Rykiel’s spring collection is the ultimate reflection of the Paris fashion moment with a hybrid 70s glamour and flapper theme. And in typical Rykiel style, you’ll also find boldly coloured stand-out items like trompe l’oeil jumpsuits and pretty chiffon dresses. MM

Concept dining experiences may not be the held in the highest of esteem in Paris, contrary to novelty-loving London, but Coco & Co succeeds in giving gimmicky gastronomy a touch of class and a rustic appeal. The egg plays protagonist in this ‘oeuferia’ which offers an exhaustive list of omelettes, cocottes – or baked eggs, scrambled and fried varieties, that all come with a choice of girolles, hams, the list goes on… Customers can down a quick lunch on the banquette in the diminutive downstairs room, or take the narrow wooden steps up to the mezzanine area. Tiny buckets of chalk on the slate tables invite diners to doodle, whilst further entertainment is played out in the farmyard scene nestled under the low roof. Eggs are far from frugal fodder, souped up cocottes with shavings of truffle and unctuous eggs Benedict are all on the menu, accompanied by lavander-laced salad leaves and herby potatoes. The formule is a steal –8€ gets you an oeuf en cocotte with salad and a glass of wine. FU

Not only did Oscar Wilde die above his means here, he also lost a duel with the wallpaper (but that’s another story). In Jacques Garcia’s signature style, this opulent hotel is swathed in luxurious 19th-century decadence – marble pillars, plush velvet interiors, art deco furniture, with a pool and a hammam to boot. The hotel’s 20 rooms include special chambres such as the Oscar Wilde Room, where you’ll find a recreation of the writer’s living room in England, furnished with the original pieces, or the Mistinguett room. If you’re looking to experience the historic Left Bank’s intellectualism, pedigree and bohemian spirit, this is definitely the place for you. KDG

The New York knitwear duo Tina Lutz and Marci Patmos have made a name for themselves with both beautiful collections and a well-chosen roster of guest designers. This spring’s cape cardigan designed in collaboration with Liv Tyler is a sold-out success and our advice is to get your order in early for their winter collaboration with Julianne Moore. Bored of five-minute trends and with a wish to combine modernity and tradition, the pair favour architectural construction and subtle colours. They back up their celebrity endorsement with solid ethics: the Merino wool is sourced in Uruguay, where the sheep are fed on native grasses (so no antibiotics or hormones) then shorn as humanely as possible, and processed without chemical dyes then woven locally. This conscientious pair even opted for employing a network of artisans to knit their collection at home. BA

Expat Canadian Tara Jarmon's latest boutique has just opened in St-Germain-des- Prés. Jarmon called upon Starck protegé, designer Christophe Pillet to create the space, conceived as a private Parisian apartment combining contemporary austerity with vintage mellowness. You’ll find Jarmon’s latest micro-collection edition on the racks, a collaboration with German abstract painter Peter Zimmermann, whose behind the retro textile designs. CG

Twenty years after launching his women’s-wear line, the discreet Belgian Sixer sets up his first boutique in Paris. (And the gossip is that a companion menswear boutique is to open in a few months, closer to St-Germain dès Prés.) In a spacious 17th-century former bookshop on the quais of the Seine, opposite the Louvre and the bouqinistes, and next door to the Beaux-Arts, the Belgian label has created an elegant two-story Parisian apartment, decorated with antiques and art chosen by Van Noten lui-même. Left-bank values of tradition, discretion, authenticity and taste echo around the luxurious boutique, where you’ll discover a radically new summer 07 collection. Departing from the natural fibres, brocades and prints we’ve come to associate with the brand, the surprising new range is très sportwear, but drapes its polyester like taffeta.

Delicious Australian skin-care brand Aesop finally exports their down-to-earth and uniquely fragrant elixirs to Europe, after 10 years going strong in the Southern Hemisphere. A refreshingly no-nonsense and honest philosophy means they raise their eyebrows at miracle creams and decry the anti-aging obsession. They do champion antioxidants however as a great means for the contemporary urban warrior to battle the effects of stress and pollution. Try their Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream or the Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Eye Cream. Their just-opened boutique in St-Germain, designed by French architect Jean-François Bourdet, is typically understated and chic and stocks the entire range. One of the smart and inspiring quotes decorating the space could very well be their motto: ‘A permanent state of intellectual curiosity will preserve your youth better than a facelift’.

La confidentielle marque australienne de soins exporte enfin en Europe sa précieuse gamme d’elixirs, après 10 ans de succès dans l’hémisphère sud. Leur philosophie honnête et sans chichis les rend dubitatifs des crèmes miracles, et franchement contre l’obsession anti-vieillissement. Par contre, ils revendiquent les anti-oxidants comme un moyen efficace pour le guerrier urbain contemporain de lutter contre les effets du stress et de la pollution. Il faut essayer leur Crème hydratante à l’onagre ou leur Crème antioxydante à la graine de persil pour les yeux. Leur boutique qui vient d’ouvrir à St-Germain, signé par l’architecte Jean-François Bourdet, est typiquement simple et chic, et stocke toute leur gamme. Une des inspirantes citations affichées au murs pourrait bien être leur slogan: ‘Un état permanent de curiosité intellectuelle préservera votre jeunesse mieux qu’un lifting du visage’.

Crowned 'the Queen of Knits' by the Americans in 1967, this red-haired grande dame of Paris womenswear keeps churning out variations on the sweater for a loyal following. Fine and chunky knits in mohair, soft wool, jersey and angora come in fluid shapes for sophisticated Parisians. Left-Bank girls swaddle themselves in cape-like cardigans, long shawls and stripy designs. Easy daywear and for night time, Rykiel has quietly launched a collection of sex toys and lingerie! Vive la France.

‘The smallest couture boutique in the world’ on rue Jacob is slightly off the fashion radar. Still, Leroux, formerly Hervé Leger, has always been something of a fashion maverick. Part of the va-va-voom aesthetic of the 80s/ 90s along with Azzedine Alaïa, the red-head designer lost the rights to his name as part of a corporate takeover by BCBG Max Azria, and took Karl Lagerfeld’s advice on a new identity. And since he left Guy Laroche as artistic director last July, this is now the only place for his loyal following to sample his style. Are the uber-flattering bandage style dresses a thing of the past (Iman’s wedding dress can be seen in all its glory in the photos lining the wall)? Leroux hints at his plans to revisit the style in future collections. Comfy chairs and dimmed lights appeal to couture customers and fashion history gawkers.