What a Paris personal shopping service covers
The Écrin d'Aventures personal shopping service covers three main areas. Prior selection: before the boutique visit, the companion identifies available pieces in the right size and according to the client's preferences — so as to avoid spending hours across several establishments before finding what they are looking for.
Boutique appointments: some great houses (Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel) offer private visits by appointment, under conditions different from general public access. These appointments are secured through direct relationships with commercial directors.
The great houses and the private welcome protocol
Parisian fashion houses distinguish between several tiers of clientele. Regular clients and visitors introduced by a recognised provider receive a different level of attention: private presentation rooms, access to pieces not available on the floor, in-house alterations. This distinction is not publicly advertised — it is earned through relationships.
For visits to haute couture ateliers, some designers accept private appointments that allow collections in progress to be seen as they are being created. These visits are arranged on request, with lead times that vary by house and time of year.
Confidential addresses: tailors and independent designers
Paris has a network of tailors, designers and made-to-measure ateliers that appear in no tourist guide. These addresses, known to Parisian fashion insiders and professional stylists, offer bespoke pieces at lead times and price points that do not match the conventional image of Parisian couture.
The companion knows these addresses and can arrange appointments for fittings, alterations or specific commissions. For international clients who return to Paris regularly, these relationships allow a coherent wardrobe to be built across several stays.
Purchases, alterations and deliveries
The logistical side of personal shopping is often underestimated. A dress bought in Paris may require alterations (hemming, taking in). These are arranged with partner seamstresses and can be completed during the stay if the timeline allows, or dispatched to the client's home address after their departure.
Purchases can also be delivered directly to the hotel, so the client does not need to carry bags between boutiques. For clients who travel light and have not anticipated substantial purchases, international shipping to a home address is arranged at the end of the stay.
How to request this service
Personal shopping is arranged ahead of the stay through the concierge. A preliminary exchange defines requirements, budget and availability during the stay. For last-minute requests, our team organises within the available timeframes with the boutiques that can accommodate a short-notice appointment.
Private sales and priority boutique access
Outside the official sales periods, the major Parisian houses regularly organise private sales reserved for their loyal clients and those introduced through a trusted network. These events — held in warehouse spaces or upper floors of the maisons — offer pieces from previous collections at preferential terms, as well as end-of-collection or unique items not commercially available in the boutique.
Our personal shopping service can introduce clients to these events when dates coincide with their Paris stay. Access is conditional on invitation availability and the time of year. These sales are particularly interesting for clients seeking quality pieces under different conditions from the main boutique.
For niche boutiques and independent designers in the Marais or the 9th arrondissement, priority access is negotiated directly with the in-store teams. An off-peak appointment allows the collection to be discovered in ideal conditions, with the full attention of the sales advisers and without the pressure of crowds.
Corporate gifts and institutional orders
Personal shopping also covers institutional procurement: year-end gifts for a management team, selecting presents for foreign clients visiting Paris, or assembling a gift budget for a corporate event. These orders require a coherent selection, careful presentation and often personalisation (engraving, company-branded packaging).
Our service coordinates all aspects: selection of items from the appropriate houses based on budget and recipient profiles, personalisation orders, premium packaging and delivery to the desired address (hotel, office, airport). For substantial orders, a quote is provided within 48 hours with a commented selection proposal.