On this page, you’ll find some of the locations of In The Paris Fashion, and where you can find them in the novel–and in real life!

In Paris:

First off, here’s the beautiful colour version of the gorgeous map of Paris locations, which Cheryl Orsini created for the novel.

Académie de la Grande Chaumière, on the Rue de la Grande Chaumière, Montparnasse (https://www.academiegrandechaumiere.com/). In the novel, this famous art school is where Alice attended art classes in the late 1920s (and which my own grandmother Marie-Louise also attended). It appears in chapters 1, 23 and 24, as well as in the extract from Audrey’s manuscript, after chapter 23. The school ran its classes in the same building from the early years of the 20th century to late July 2025, when the classes moved to new premises in Rue Jules Champlain, a 2-minute walk away. You can still see the old building though.

In this street, you can also see plaques commemorating famous artists who had workshops there.

Avenue Montaigne, famous fashion street in 8^th arrondissement, near Champs-Elysees: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/avenue-montaigne-p1984. It appears in chapter four.

As well as many designer showrooms, you can also see the Callot Soeurs mosaic on the pavement of Avenue Montaigne, commemorating the now-vanished but once-famous couture house run by four sisters, from late 19^th cent to mid 1930s. Callot Soeurs is mentioned in chapter four and in the extract from Audrey’s ms following chapter four.

The fabulous Montmartre fabric district, just down from the basilica of the Sacre Coeur, mentioned in chapter 10: https://thegoodlifefrance.com/the-fabric-district-of-paris-buttons-baubles-and-beads/

Below you can see pictures I took inside the famous fabric store, Tissus Reine, and the gorgeous little button store, Dam Boutons, both of which Audrey visits in the novel.

(Another interesting location for fabric/sewing aficionados–not however mentioned in the novel– is the Sentier district in the 2^nd arrondissement, which is home to many wholesale and retail fabric stores.)

The site of La Belle Jardinière department store, near the Pont Neuf: it was one of Paris’ famous department stores but though the store itself closed in the 1950’s, the building remains and now houses different shops, see info and pics here: http://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris00/gds_magasins/la_belle_jardiniere.htm

It’s first mentioned in chapter 2 of the novel and has other smaller mentions later.

Photos below are of pages from various 1920’s catalogues from the store. (The illustrations are by unnamed artists at the Castex fashion illustration workshop, where my grandmother worked as a young apprentice in the late 1920’s/early 1930’s. None of these would have been hers as they are too early.)

La Samaritaine department store, also near Pont-Neuf, https://www.dfs.com/en/samaritaine —this has been recently renovated to its former glory. It’s mentioned at the end of chapter ten.

Other locations associated with fashion briefly mentioned in the novel:

The second-hand/vintage clothing op-shop, Emmaus Alternatives, on Boulevard Beaumarchais, in the 11^th ( see https://www.emmaus-alternatives.org/boutiques/boutique-beaumarchais-2/) briefly mentioned in chapter 8.

The Palais Galliera, which houses the Musée de la Mode, or Fashion Museum (only briefly  mentioned in the book, not visited by the characters): https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/palais-galliera-musee-de-la-mode-de-la-ville-de-paris-p3569

The Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the 8^th: it’s the other famous high end fashion/couture street, with the Avenue Montaigne, but it’s only briefly mentioned in chapter 4.

Locations in Paris not mentioned in the book but which might be of interest to fashion fans:

Various Paris locations linked to Coco Chanel: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/paris/articles/9-places-in-paris-that-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-coco-chanel

The Jeanne Lanvin apartment, within the fabulous Musée des Arts Decoratifs, which also has lots of other interesting collections pertaining to fashion: https://madparis.fr/jeanne-lanvin-s-apartment-designed-by-armand-albert-rateau-1924-1925-1700

The Yves St Laurent museum, housed in his former workshop: https://museeyslparis.com/en/practical-information

La Galerie Dior, museum devoted to all things Dior: https://www.galeriedior.com/en

Outside of Paris, and mentioned in the book:

Biarritz, the famous Basque seaside resort on the Atlantic coast where Chanel had her first headquarters, see the pics below–the sepia one from back then and what it looks like now (I visited it while I was in Biarritz). It’s mentioned in extract from Audrey’s ms, after chapter four. And Biarritz btw is a gorgeous place to visit as well, with amazing beaches, beautiful architecture and fabulous shops and restaurants (it’s also a beloved family stamping-ground for me!)

Toulouse, beautiful medieval city in the south-west, where chapter 20 is set, and which is mentioned several other times in the book—it’s also a beloved family stamping ground for me! Full of gorgeous historical buildings, a lively atmosphere, fantastic food, and fabulous little shops and great markets including the Carmes, which is in the third set of pics below, and which is specifically mentioned in chapter 20.

Senlis, a lovely ancient town north of Paris, where Audrey and Alex go in chapter 34: a very nice place to visit, with lots of historic sites nearby as well.