Don’t get overwhelmed planning your bucket list trip to Paris.
Fashion Experience Tours has your dream trip. Ready to go..
All you need to do is book it!
Creativity. Connection. Culture.
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Get inspired by the creativity of artisans.
Visiting artisan workshops wouldn’t be possible without my strong connections in the Paris creative community. These talented artisans are opening their doors to share their work with you, offering a unique opportunity to discover the connection to your own creative practice.
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Small groups for better connection.
Large bus tours can often feel impersonal. Travelling in a small group enhances your experience by allowing for greater exploration and better connections with like-minded travellers. With only 14 people maximum, places are extremely limited so don’t wait to book your spot!
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The culture of Paris is creativity.
As an outsider, it can be tough to really connect with Parisian culture. You need an insider. Fashion Experience Tours has 10 years of experience bringing people to Paris for you to discover the city’s vibrant creative scene while creating meaningful connections.
5 days in Paris October 9 -16
€3950
This includes lunches on the itinerary, all entries, transportation, workshops, a hand-crafted gift, a Seine cruise, and more.
What you’ll get…
A private before-hours tour of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, including his atelier
All lunches on the 5-day itinerary
All tickets, entrance fees, and private guided tours
Transportation during the tour with a metro card
Shopping at an outdoor food market
Parisian picnic at the Eiffel Tower
Guided tour of the Paris fashion museum
Meet artists and vendors at the Paris flea market
The creative genius of Azzedine Alaïa
Shopping at French concept shops like Merci and Buly 1803
Haute Couture feather atelier visit
Historic Paris Fashion house tour with special gift
Make a signature scent at a 200-year-old perfume house
Shop the beautiful covered passages
Discover the art of the Palais Royal
The incredible Bijoux Galleries
Inspirational atelier presentations
The textiles and fashion wing of the Decorative Arts Museum
Help with your hotel booking, apartment rental, dinner reservations, additional travel days, and organizing your free time during the tour
Travel tips, packing list, safety recommendations, and more
Multi-day retreats can limit your control. The five-day retreat gives you options. Book your own lodgings while still enjoying exclusive inspirational visits from Fashion Experience Tours.
It might be hard to include your family in your travel plans during a retreat, but there’s still lots of free time to spend time together. You can meet for happy hour, visit a museum when it's less crowded, or enjoy a meal from the nearby market together in your fantasy Paris apartment.
You might not care about the amenities of a 4-star hotel. You’d rather spend that money during your guided tour of the giant Paris flea market. Not having access to a kitchen limits your meal options, but by renting an apartment, you can shop the fantastic food markets and have breakfast at your local cafe instead. Maybe there’s a cute little boutique hotel you’ve always wanted to try, or you’ve always wanted to book a special evening at a 5-star hotel for your last night in Paris. It’s up to you but I am here to help!
You don’t need to spend extra to get the benefits of travelling with a group. This 5-day creative retreat gives you all the inspiration you need at a significantly lower price.
The tour is extremely limited with only 14 spots available. Don’t miss your chance to get inspired! Book your retreat today.
Fri. Oct 10 - Passages, Palais Royal, Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Today, we’ll get to know each other better on our walk through some of the most beautiful covered passages on our way to the iconic Palais Royal. These passages are more than a handy shortcut; they are full of charming shops and restaurants and have been pleasant places to duck the winter rains while running errands since their construction in the early 1800s.
Once the home of future Kings, regents, and sundry royals, the Palais Royal was initially built for Cardinal Richelieu in the early 17th century. Through its shady period in the 1920s as a haven for gambling and prostitution, today it houses luxury shops, restaurants, and even two theatres in the arcades surrounding the sparkling fountain in the quiet central garden. Discover modern art juxtaposed with historic architecture and full of inspirational moments.
We will lunch today en terrace at the fabulous Café Nemours for light French food while enjoying some of the best people-watching in the beautiful Place Colette.
We’ll have an appointment for a private guided tour at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the most extensive decorative arts museum in the world housed in a small wing of the Louvre Palace. The next exhibition will be about Paul Poiret, one of the most influential designers from the first part of the 20th century. His corset-less and fluid designs still inspire designers today. We’ll also visit the stunning jewelry galleries to see the progression of jewelry design through the centuries and learn about the materials used by these artists of the past.
Royal palaces abound in our quest for fashion!
The MAD is a vast decorative arts museum, and you are welcome to continue your visit at your leisure. We are in the centre of Paris, near the Musée D’Orsay or the Louvre, with the incredible Tuileries garden. Let me know what you’d like to fit into your trip, and I’ll help you schedule them.
Sat. Oct 11 - Musée YSL, Palais Galliera, Eiffel Tower Picnic, Aft Off
We begin with a before hours, private, guided tour of the Musee Yves Saint Laurent for a glimpse into this prolific designer’s iconic contributions to fashion. With ever-changing exhibitions of haute couture-level YSL creations, the museum also features the original atelier, set up exactly as it was when he was alive. You even get to see his incredible book collection!
We will then visit the only dedicated fashion museum in Paris, the Palais Galliera, to see their latest exhibition in a beautiful building designed in the Italian Renaissance style for the Duchess of Galliera. Rick Owens invites us into his world in a dedicated expo this fall, and while he might not be a household name, there’s his incredible world-building has made him a darling of the fashion world.
Lunch will be à la carte today for everyone as we’ll be shopping for it (not included this day) at one of the longest food markets in Paris. We’ll take our lunch to the Jardin de Trocadero for a picturesque picnic on the grass with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.
Today, you’ll get the afternoon off as we start pretty early for our first tour. This means you have the whole afternoon to sit on a terrace, visit one of the amazing free museums, or shop at a historic department store like the Bon Marche.
A beautiful day filled with the best of Paris fashion history!
Once we are done here, take the time to explore the many museums nearby, like the Musée d’Art Moderne (modern art), the Musée de L’Architecture (architecture), or the Musee de l’Homme (the Museum of Man), all right there. You’re also very close to the Arch de Triomphe and, of course, the tower if you care to go up it. I will help sort you out!
Sun. Oct 12 - Flea market experience, Artisan Atelier
Experience a guided tour of the historic Clignancourt flea market, one of the most visited locations in Paris. Also known as the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, this is the world’s largest flea market and the original location where the term was coined.
Vintage clothes are just the beginning, with stalls specializing in jewelry, historic haute couture garments, antique textiles, collectables, furniture, architectural salvage, and so much more! With 7 hectares and over 2000 vendors, this is a must for anyone who loves to shop at a market, even if you’re just window shopping (or licking the windows, as we say in French!)
We’ll visit an artisan with her jewelry studio at the market to learn about her work and artistic processes.
We’ll have lunch at the market and a show and tell at the end of the day to see everyone’s treasures! It will be a fun and fulfilling day of shopping and inspiration!
We will spend most of the day here, and you are welcome to stay longer, leave early, or sit on a cafe terrace and people watch till we are all done.
Mon. Oct 13 - Feather artisan, Alaïa, Marais Shopping
Today, we’ll learn how feathers are crafted into dreamy haute couture confections during an exclusive visit to a unique couture atelier. This tiny 4th-generation Plumassière atelier is an eye-opening visit that will allow you to discover the many uses and treatments of feathers in haute couture all fait à la main (handmade).
Once sufficiently amazed by this ancient feather craft, we’ll head back to the Marais, a vibrant area where we'll visit some quintessentially Parisian concept shops in one of the only remaining medieval neighbourhoods. The Marais is a charming and picturesque area full of incredible restaurants, memorable art galleries, many museums, and some of the best shopping in the city. No wonder it is a favourite among visitors and Parisians alike.
After lunch at one of our favourite bistros, we’ll visit the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation to view the latest exhibition of the master couturier's work, including his atelier, which has not had so much as a pin moved since his tragic death in 2017. This exhibition also features the work of another stunning fashion talent and close friend of Alaïa, the iconic Thierry Mugler. They formed a close friendship in the 80s and 90s, and you can almost see their conversations through their signature fashion designs.
A day to discover the heart of Paris!
The Marais is an amazing place to leave off the day with the riverside not far away, incredible shopping of every type, cafés perfect for people watching, and incredible museums like the Musée Picasso or the Musée Carnavalet. Ask me!
Tues. Oct 14 - Couture Archive, Perfume Workshop
Today begins with the history of this incredible haute couture maison, which has been making hand fans, by hand, for generations. The family miraculously retained the most stunning archive of fans from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many were made using now-forbidden feathers; others are hand-embroidered and embellished, with my favourite being the ones that look like cats and dogs.
You’ll learn to speak using only your eyes and your fluttering “eventail” with a beautiful couture fan, your special gift, which can be monogrammed in gold.
This afternoon, we’ll enjoy a perfume-making workshop at the 200-year-old French Fragrance Maison, Fragonard. We’ll tour their educational and experiential museum before learning the secrets of composing a fragrance. To create your signature perfume, you’ll learn the differences and functions between a top, middle, or bottom note from a Nose that knows. You know?
A day of beauty in the language of the fan and the nose!
We end the day and our time together near the sumptuous Opera Garnier, incredible shopping at the Galleries Lafayette, and the iconic Place Vendome, where Chanel lived at the Ritz Hotel.
Merci for joining me and I wish you a bonne journée!
A note from your tour designer
Leah Van Loon
I’ve created this Paris retreat to inspire your creativity through the lens of fashion. For the past 10 years, I’ve shared my knowledge with people from all over, helping them bring their artistic visions to life. I’ve used my deep connections in the fashion industry to connect you with the best opportunities possible.
During our time in this beautiful city, we’ll explore the world of high fashion from the artist’s perspective and meet the skilled artisans who make designer’s dreams a reality. Visiting their workshops will give you a closer look at the craft behind each piece of clothing, helping you appreciate the artistry and innovation built over generations.
We’ll also check out famous fashion museums to discover the creative process of the world’s top designers. The Galerie Dior celebrates 70 years of artistry at the House of Dior, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum rotates exhibitions based on themes the designer explored in his work. Plus, we’ll visit the only fashion museum in the city, which features rotating exhibits showcasing the creative soul of Parisian fashion culture.
While we won’t have a typical shopping schedule, we’ll stroll through lively neighbourhoods that spark creativity, like the Marais and the Avenue Montaigne. One of the best parts will be a semi-independent day at the biggest flea market in Paris (and the world!), where I’ll help you discover unique finds that inspire you.
I ensure a relaxed schedule so you can enjoy your time, with morning appointments and afternoons for guided exploration. Travelling with like-minded people is not only fun but will also help you connect with others who share your passion for culture.
In short, Paris is full of creativity, and I’m excited to help you explore it. Thank you for your interest, and I can’t wait to welcome you on this inspiring journey!
