Far & Wide

French Dressing – A Shopper’s Guide to Paris

The dynamic mother-daughter duo of insider-shopping destination 119 Corbò take their sojourns in the city of light and fashion, Paris. They fuel their trips by immersing themselves in the city’s culture, restaurant and, yes, retail scene

By Antonia Whyatt|February 6, 2026

TWO FOR THE ROAD (clockwise from top) Linda Perisa in Place Vendôme; the mother-daughter are a fashion force; Gianna Ritacca leaving the Balenciaga showroom. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò; Lawrence Cortez for 119 Corbò

“It’s great to land in Paris during Fashion Week when it is filled with international people looking their best on the streets, in showrooms and restaurants,” says Linda Perisa, the legendary retailer behind Toronto’s insider luxury womenswear boutique 119 Corbò. “They are exciting and fabulous and it makes for excellent people watching,” she adds. Perisa could just as easily be speaking of herself and her daughter, Gianna Ritacca. The dynamic duo work together at the store and cut quite the swath through the City of Light and style where they travel four to five times a year for their seasonal buying trips. Too booked and busy to attend the fashion shows, they stick to where the real action is, behind the scenes in the showrooms of the most coveted designers – think The Row, Rick Owens, Sacai, Ann Demeulemeester, et al – where they curate the store’s collections with an individualistic yet timeless approach to fashion that keeps the best-dressed set coming back for more. Here, they share why they will always have Paris.

SOMEONE’S GOTTA DO IT The pair travels to France to shop the Paris showrooms. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

My Passion

Linda Perisa: My work, which really is about collecting beautiful things. My biggest high is seeing a new collection and knowing it’s a perfect fit. We are very excited about our most recent addition, Phoebe Philo – it will be in great company.

Gianna Ritacca: Work feels like play. I think I get to have the most fun because I get to be the first to try on things so my wardrobe is already set for the season ahead. We’re doing what everyone wants to do in Paris – shop!

Corbo — BLACK ON BLACK Ritacca outside the Ritz Paris in her Balenciaga Tip Cat sunglasses and the brand’s Monaco bag; the Carla Boot by The Row. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

Our Favourite Place

GR: Soho House Paris feels like our home away from home. The front desk knows you by your first name, the cookie jar in your room is always full. And their courtyard restaurant is great for any time of day. The rooftop tiki bar is perfect for a nightcap or your morning matcha.

Seeing is Believing

LP: When we have time between appointments, we’ll try and catch some culture and see some of our designers’ exhibitions. One that’s still being featured is Rick Owens’ Temple of Love, at Palais Galliera. On my last trip, I visited the Bourse de Commerce where I saw the Minimal exhibition of minimalist art from the 1960s onward, which I found incredibly inspiring.

Bourse De Commerce — Art meets fashion at the Bourse de Commerce collection. | Bourse de Commerce / Pinault Collection / Images

Screen time is spent curating looks during a showroom appointment; the humble paper cup gets a label at Rick Owens. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

Tasting Notes

GR: I love people watching at Caviar Kaspia (quite the scene at Fashion Week) and Grand Café Capucines (spectacular patio). Being a creature of habit, my mother only goes to two places, L’Avenue and La Société. I often end up doing two dinners, one at 6 p.m. and then another on French time with my friends. I recently got her to add a third favourite: Localino on Rue de l’Odéon – it’s the best hole in the wall for a plate of pasta.

Paris — BON APPETIT (clockwise from top left): Perisa peruses the menu at La Societé; the moody interior of Le Voltaire; Brasserie Lipp in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò; FRANÇOIS/Courtesy of Château Voltaire; Getty Images (Lipp)

Some of my other favourites are Vecchio (they do great pop-ups around the city), and Le Voltaire (authentic French menu and filled with charm on the Left Bank of the Seine). Or, Brasserie Lipp – it’s a fun scene and feels very nostalgic. The owner of the Hotel Costes, Thierry Costes, has opened a new restaurant, Cassaro’s, a 1960s Italian-inspired space with a fantastic ambiance (think Venetian chandeliers, lacquered wood and velvet). And if you haven’t been, Crazy Horse is always a great idea for caviar, champagne and entertainment.

A fit check as Perisa gets down to business at the Rick Owens showroom; a go-to bag, the Balenciaga Bel Air Tote. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

If You Buy One Thing

LP: In Paris it’s hard to buy one thing when you’re looking at all the best fashion has to offer.

GR: We discover beauty on every corner. We’re always asking our driver to stop at, say, an antique shop when my mother spots the perfect piece for a friend’s decor. She’s always finding something special, whether for the home or the closet. For instance, at Galerie Captier in the Seventh district, we spotted orchid baskets that were very similar to those in The Row’s Spring/Summer 2026 lookbook.

Ritacca (left) and Perisia (right) are caffeinated and on fashion en route to appointments; Ritacca’s Balenciaga Bel Air arm piece (centre left) and Perisa’s Marlo bag from The Row (centre right) take a breather at the La Collection showroom. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

Savvy Traveller Tip

GR: Make friends with your concierge. You never know when you’ll need that last-minute reservation.

IF THE SHOE FITS Perisa (second from left) talks shop while Ritacca (seated) tests the merch; the Jil Sander bubble sole ankle boot. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

Our Takeaway

LP: We always leave Paris inspired. Stay open, curious and ready to stop for something beautiful – the best finds aren’t planned, they’re spotted.

DRESSED TO IMPRESS A sculptural floral arrangement at Sacai reflects the designer’s disruptive silhouettes. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

Extra: Packing Intel

LP: Here’s how I pack to always look the part and make sure I have room for the way-more-than-one thing that I end up buying!

Start with outer layers: coat, wrap, jacket (The Row). Two pairs of dress pants, one wide, one narrow. Two pairs of jeans, one black, one blue, either R13 or The Row. I love my ballet shoes, I’m almost always in flats and a kitten heel is my go-to dress-up. If I’m there in fall or winter, definitely a good combat boot by Balenciaga, and a dress-up boot – right now I’m packing the Carla Boot by The Row. I take one travel bag, which is a workhorse The Marlo by The Row. My evening bag for dinner would be the Peggy Clutch by The Row. And I love cashmere sweaters for everything.

Ritacca joins the culturati at the Bourse de Commerce in La Collection’s Tuba coat and Julie scarf, The Row’s Zip Boots and Nu Mini Twin bag, and Balenciaga Tip Cat 2.0 sunglasses. | Courtesy of 119 Corbò

GR: We share a similar style and pack almost the same – very mother/daughter of us. I definitely have a lot more evening options though, and heels – cutting through the night in my Knife Pumps or Ankle Booties by Balenciaga. I have wrap coats worn layered and loosely during the day and wrapped up tight for the night. Right now I’m loving the Tuba coat by La Collection, adding drama with a matching Julie scarf. I always include a short leather jacket – my latest find is by Sacai with a removable fur collar – it’s very versatile. A variety of sunglasses is also non-negotiable during the week. My travel/work bag is The Balenciaga Bel Air in large and mini for evening. Santé!

Far & Wide — Lawrence Cortez for 119 Corbò; Courtesy of 119 Corbò