Coats, cords, leather bags, crop tops, jackets and ’80s Levi’s: pretty much anything can be found hanging on the overflowing rails in this vintage boutique on the Rue des Petites Écuries. From the bold (a canary yellow bustier) to the even bolder (a green velvet dress), Chine Machine offers an eclectic stock of bright, colourful, verging on garish garments. If ‘vintage’ makes you fear for your wallet, don’t worry – at this boutique, the low price tags are one of the main draws. A woollen jumper with a rose motif is €5 and rare jewellery pieces start from €2, while for men, converses and a shirt will cost roughly the same as two McDonald’s ‘meal deals’. If you want an even better offer, the shop will sell on any unwanted clothing, handing you 30% of the resale price. Of course, a decent amount of rummaging is required to scoop up the best finds, and many clothes are unfortunately without their size labels. But most of the fun is in the trying on anyway.
TRANSLATION: FLORA HUDSON