The original Chanel boutique at 31 rue Cambon is where Gabrielle Coco Chanel opened her first shop in 1910 and where she lived above the store until her death in 1971. The flagship on Place Vendôme handles the full range — haute couture, ready-to-wear, perfume, jewellery, and watches. No. 5 perfume launched in 1921 and remains one of the best-selling fragrances in the world.
Prices are as you'd expect, and the experience of the flagship is as much about the setting as the merchandise. The Place Vendôme location sits across the street from Cartier, making this stretch of the 1st arrondissement the most concentrated luxury shopping in the city.