I Live in NYC, But Here's How I'm Shopping Like a French Girl This Summer

I have good news and bad news. The bad news first: I don't have a trip to France booked this summer. Tragique! The good news: I can still achieve my best French-girl style and cosplay someone strolling the streets of Paris or hanging seaside in Saint-Tropez because the doors to Longchamp's redesigned SoHo boutique just opened. The Spring Street flagship is exciting news for the NYC fashion crowd—the store is a treasure trove of the heritage brand's iconic accessories, including an abundant selection of my personal favorite, the Roseau bag. I stopped by the store for a sneak peek ahead of its grand opening, and let's just say the details did not disappoint. Here's how it went.

British designer Thomas Heatherwick brought the boutique's new look to life, infusing a playful, whimsical feel into the space. Upon entering, I was greeted by two key elements that immediately proved I was in for a fun shopping experience: a large neon Longchamp rider logo on the wall (pictured above) and an equally vibrant green staircase that leads to the retail floor. The staircase itself is a work of art—it appears to move as you do, creating an optical illusion, which I found very unique.

Once I arrived on the second floor, I was in handbag heaven. Everywhere I looked: Le Pliage! Le Roseau! Épure! I tried on at least a dozen styles.

The vast Roseau selection made me feel like a kid in a candy store. I walked in with this medium-sized hobo bag in a newer olive shade, but I most definitely wanted to walk out with the mini bag, Le Roseau XS.

Butter yellow is a top color trend, so I gravitated toward the Roseau bag in a shape I had only ever seen online. I love a shoulder bag, and the hardware on this one's strap is such a fun detail. This bag fits all the essentials: sunglasses, phone, wallet, keys, and lip gloss. (Yes, I tested it.)

The second floor's interior design is just as noteworthy as the products on display. The vast green rugs spread across the retail and lounge areas make the space inviting—it almost feels like you're in someone's very chic SoHo loft apartment. Speaking of which, I couldn't help but swoon over the views of SoHo through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I obviously had to test out the iconic vintage croissant-shaped couch, and—spoiler—it's just as comfy as it is cool. Everything about the boutique is so unique, offering both an oasis from the bustle of SoHo and a shopping destination for all things French-girl style.