LILLI BULLE The darling of French fashion editors—thanks to its jam-packed selection of clothes by young European designers—Lilli Bulle, located near the Bastille, is the only Paris children's boutique with its own blog, www.lillibulle.typepad.com. GO FOR Poppy-red dresses with flower appliqués ($104), dotted terry bibs (two for $20), and ladybug-patterned moccasins ($39). 3 Rue de la Forge Royale, 11th Arr.; 33-1/43-73-71-63; www.lillibulle.com.
YOUNLY A visit here practically qualifies as a cultural experience. In a gallery-style space, with white walls, white modular counters, and spotlights, Younly shows blue-chip children's lines: DKNY, Burberry, Kenzo, Elle, and Timberland. GO FOR A no-holds-barred designer wardrobe for your darling. 113 Ave. Victor-Hugo, 16th Arr.; 33-1/45-05-19-50.
So French—and Affordable!
OKAÏDI Give the Gap a French accent (and a bit more savoir faire), and you get Okaïdi, a French chain with a decidedly sporty edge and 10 locations in Paris. Check out the two-story flagship store near the Bastille. GO FOR Sawed-off pinwale-denim skirts ($24), surf-style swim trunks ($15), and padded baby sleep sacks ($36). 32 Rue Charles-Baudelaire, 12th Arr.; 33-1/53-33-88-86; www.okaidi.com.
DU PAREIL AU MÊME For two decades, savvy Parisians have been turning to DPAM for cheerful, unbeatably priced baby and kids' clothes, shoes, and accessories. The brand currently has a whopping 27 outlets in Paris; for the most complete DPAM experience, head to the three-in-a-row address below. Tip: DPAM, unlike most Paris kids' stores, accepts overseas Web orders. GO FOR Striped cotton button-down pj's ($12), Mary Janes and hiking boots (from $15), and bunny rattles ($12). 120–22 Rue du Faubourg-St.-Antoine, 12th Arr.; 33-1/43-44-67-46; www.dpam.com.
SERGENT MAJOR A chain that wants kids to look like kids, not baby rappers. Quality is great—and most pieces, for infants to 14-year-olds, are under $25. GO FOR Boys' windowpane-plaid shirts (from $18) and toddler button-front jackets with striped cotton linings ($25). 80 Rue Traversière, 12th Arr.; 33-1/44-74-88-22; www.sergent-major.com.
MONOPRIX Paris's beloved neighborhood department store—with 49 spots around town—carries well-thought-out baby and children's lines, often featuring the work of hot young designers. GO FOR Petit Bateau cotton T-shirts ($11), girls' quilted jackets (from $25), and denim cargo pants (from $20). 340 Rue de Vaugirard, 15th Arr.; 33-1/56-23-90-60; www.monoprix.fr.
The Classic Look
BONPOINT The last word in important-occasion kids' wear—think ring bearers and flower girls at royal weddings. The label has 15 shops in Paris; its just-opened flagship store, in a 17th-century building near the Luxembourg Gardens, offers a tearoom and its own garden. GO FOR Moiré silk party dresses ($294) and pinwale-corduroy plus fours ($85). 6 Rue de Tournon, Sixth Arr.; 33-1/47-42-52-63; www.bonpoint.fr. (Bargain hunters' alert: discounted past-season items are sold at Bonpoint Fin de Séries. 42 Rue de l'Université; 33-1/40-20-10-55.)
LA CHÂTELAINE In a marble town house not far from the Bois de Boulogne, this 60-year-old boutique sells layette items and handworked children's wear. GO FOR The finest smocked dresses ($148) and flower-embroidered crib linens (from $125) in Paris. 170 Ave. Victor-Hugo, 16th Arr.; 33-1/47-27-44-07.
LE PETIT B.B.; AGNÈS B. ENFANT Agnès B.'s schoolgirl charm translates extremely well into kids' lines for up to age 14. These two stores are across from each other, on a street almost exclusively dedicated to the Agnès B. universe—outfit the whole family. GO FOR Rompers patterned with gray hearts ($62), zebra coveralls ($92), and girls' snap-front cardigans ($86). Le Petit B.B., 19 Rue du Jour, First Arr.; 33-1/42-33-27-34. Agnès B. Enfant, 2 Rue du Jour, First Arr.; 33-1/40-39-96-88; www.agnesb.com.
Nadine Frey, an American writer and mother of two, is based in Paris.
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