How to Buy a Paris hat

The week before Christmas some friends came to Paris. I offered to show them some fun shops.

Chris is French so I knew she'd love this imaginative hat shop in the 6th. Remember I showed you this hat Christmas tree?

Marie Mercie 23, rue St. Sulpice 75006
Both Chris' husband and I said we were too intimidated to go inside.

Naturally Chris marched inside,

I followed behind.

Her husband wandered off somewhere.

Chris says this shop is what the French call 'fantasia'.

And full of fantasia it is.

A lovely retro yet contemporary bow hat.

Did the designer see this bow Bonbon perfume? But bows are everywhere in French design.

I was busy taking in all the wonderful designs.

The amusing display setups.

Like visiting someone's apartment that happens to be full of hats.

Designer Mercie is good friends with artist Hippolyte Romain. He designed her business card.

Meanwhile Chris asked,
"Do you have a hat for me?

Immediately the vendeuse picked out the perfect sculpted beret-style hat for her.

I was oooing and ahhing with enthusiasm.
"This is the perfect hat for you. It finishes you to a T...Utterly chic...bla de-bla bla bla".
Chris was more pensive. Especially when we heard the price tag. She decided to think about it.
We met her husband waiting outside. Then we went on browsing more shops leaving him to go to the jardin Luxemburg.

Don't these pastry shapes look perfect for hats?
For some reason I'm not the least bit intimidated going into patisseries like elegant Gerard Mulot. I got the boule de neige(snowball) filled with meringue and red fruits.
I wish I was more intimidated...

When Chris returned home her husband had a surprise for her. The hat! He said the vendeuse wasn't the least bit surprised when he popped in and asked to purchase the hat Chris liked. She said she wore the hat all night till they went to sleep.