Paris’s best fancy dress shops

Don’t make the mistake of calling Iglaïne’s wares ‘second hand’ in front of the owner – here it’s all about vintage and heritage pieces rather than charity shop rejects. So you won’t find dresses for €2 but a whole range of styles from 1900s bodices to ’70s/’80s blouses, sometimes for as much as €400. Carefully-preserved rare pieces are on display, principally intended for use by stylists and costume-makers...

Need to rent an outfit for a retro fifties party? Looking to splurge on a pair of aviator sunglasses or a ‘bibi’ hat? Then head to Mamie. Don’t be fooled by its tiny storefront decked out in pastel colours: inside, the shop has three levels, each filled with treasures from the 30s to the 60s – hats, jewellery, glasses, handbags, miniskirts, military jackets and polkadot dresses...

Sandrine Arnone and Narumi Hérisson have set themselves up in the Marais exhibiting designer pieces collected from all over the world. A pair of shoes by Yves Saint Laurent, an oriental clutch bag from the 1940s, an old dress made by a designer in their youth… all this and more can be turned up by the dedicated rummager...

Late-night shopping is fun at this Aladdin's cave of retro glitz, ex-army wear and glad rags that has provided fancy dress for many a Paris party...