I go to the flea market in St Ouen to look for old cameras and expired film. But it’s also a great place to see all the different walks of life from Paris’ extreme social scene. At the top of the ladder you’ve got the aristo-bourgeois crowd acquiring Louis XV furniture at the indoor antiques markets; the thirty-something bobo set paying way over the odds for mid-century designer chairs and formica tables; the banlieusards from the Neuf Trois getting kitted out with the latest sneakers and hoodies along the rue des Rosières; then at the very bottom you’ve got people trying to scratch a living selling second hand food at the Carré des biffes at Porte Montmartre. It’s an eye opener for sure.
If you're looking for somewhere that has an an excellent selection of artist books then Yvon Lambert is the place to go. Not only that but they sell incredible tote bags, with great straps and nice minimal design that will last you a life time. Out the back is a small gallery space, often showcasing the work of featured artist who's book is for sale in the shop. One of my favourite things about this shop is how friendly and welcomign they are! Not only that but they do cool collaborations, such as the one with David Horvitz, where he emails them a new photograph of the sky every day, the bookshop prints it out and you can only buy that one image on the day.