Jérôme Drefuss

 4 rue Jacob Paris 6th 11 rue de l'Echaudé Paris 75006 Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

French luxury handbags never go out of style, but for women who prefer a more individual statement, the bags here are fabulous, clever, versatile and durable. Dreyfuss knows what features women want in a bag, and his best-seller, the Billy, has expandable sides, a zip pocket for cell phones, inside compartments and two sets of straps to be worn in any possible configuration. The collection also includes wallets, sunglasses, leggings and cropped jackets in soft stretch leather. Menswear is located down the street at 1 rue Jacob (tel. 01.43.54.70.93) and a smaller boutique can be found at 127 Galerie de Valois (tel. 01.42.60.38.76).

En Attendant les Barbares

 35 rue de Grenelle Paris 75007

The pioneer gallery, which opened in 1984, boasts an A-list including unique pieces, limited and unlimited editions by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, Andrée Putman, Arik Lévy, Hilton Mc Connico and Eric Schmitt.

Jamin Puech

 43 rue Madame Paris 6th

Handbag designers Benoît Jamin and Isabelle Puech opened their first boutique in 1996 after designing bags for Chanel, Balmain and Karl Lagerfeld, and their bags quickly became hallmarks for the bobo—bourgeois bohemian—fashion set. The designers’ fanciful limited-edition bags are handmade in leather, raffia or embroidered fabric, with meticulous detailing and decoration in all-natural materials—wood, seeds, horn, bone, shells and beads. They’re fun, colorful and practical.

Serge Amoruso

 37 avenue Daumesnil Paris 75012

Former Hermès designer and craftsman Serge Amoruso custom-makes handbags, suitcases, briefcases, wallets, watchbands and other luxury leather goods in rare and exotic skins and colors.

L’Ours du Marais

 9 Rue Alasseur Paris 75015

A shop entirely devoted to teddy bears, dressed up in every conceivable fashion, including full Napoleon regalia.

Pâtisserie des Rêves

 93 rue du Bac Paris 75007

Philippe Conticini, the chef of the most buzzed-about pastry shop in town, claims to be on a mission to "reach people's souls through their taste buds."

Ra

 14 rue de la Corderie Paris 3rd Métro: Temple

A fabulous concept boutique Paris’s Haut Marais where clothes are displayed on a curtained mini-stage, jewelry is in a stylized coffin and the mannequins seem ready to speak, as if right off a Jean Cocteau movie set. Some of the shop’s limited-edition pieces are closest in spirit to theatrical costumes, but there are plenty of outstanding everyday pieces, along with some fairly wacky headgear, handmade leather goods, a small vintage collection and a bookstore.

Musée Jacquemart-André

 158 blvd Haussmann Paris 75008 Métro: Miromesnil

The exquisitely decorated mansion of 19th-century magnate Edouard André and his wife Nélie Jacquemart, whose private collection of mostly 18th-century furniture and art also includes Italian Renaissance masterworks by Mantegna and Botticelli. Open daily.

Georges & Co.

 138 quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris

The lustrous shop on the boutique-lined rue du Bac is devoted to the highest-quality contemporary materials manufactured in France and Europe for correspondence, diary-keeping, calligraphy, announcements, invitations and anything else that involves writing by hand. There’s an “ink bar” with refillable bottles in a rainbow of colors, a section for deluxe leather goods—notebooks, diaries, agendas, address books—and a tempting array of pens, elegant paper and envelopes in various weights and colors.

Eurolingua Institute: Study Abroad Programmes

The Eurolingua One-to-One French language homestay immersions are available year round in some of France’s most beautiful locations.

Maison de Balzac

 47 rue Raynouard Paris 75016 Métro: Passy

19th-century author Honoré de Balzac's home from 1840-47, displaying original manuscripts and memorabilia.