So, New York reckons it's the most stylish city on the planet?
Sure, the Big Apple was crowned the winner in the latest ranking of the world's fashion capitals, bumping Paris down to second place and London to third.
But can you throw a party in an abandoned Rothschild mansion in New York? Can you watch indie films in an antique Japanese pagoda? Can you kick back on a beach in the middle of the city? No? Well, my friends, in Paris you can.
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Whatever the world's fashion authorities might say, the City of Light is so much more than striped shirts and the Eiffel Tower.
In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a single Parisian jostling for space with tourists at the top of that architectural landmark, says culture blogger Vanessa Grall.
"Paris doesn't have to be the crowded tourist city everyone assumes it is," said the 29-year-old editor of messynessy.com, a site that digs up the city's hidden artisan gems.
"The wonderful thing about Paris is that you can wander through quiet, deeply traditional neighborhoods that look like film sets, and stumble on these secret little corners, like a hillside vineyard overlooking the city."
And once the sun goes down, you can keep exploring the city's lavish club scene, if you know where to look.
"The people who complain about Paris nightlife are the people who rarely leave the house," said 28-year-old Arthur Mestro, who, along with 26-year-old Ruben Nataf, founded the online city guide "Ten Days in Paris."
"I feel there's a real connection between the nightclubs and art here; the buildings are some of the most beautiful in the world. We have a completely different club culture from other European cities like London and Berlin: it's smaller, more intimate."
Grall's top tip for uncovering some of these tourist-free treasures? "Rent an old 1960s scooter, you don't need a license, and it's the best way to zip down the side streets and get lost."
And once you've worked out how to find your way back, here are a few more reasons why Paris is cooler, if not always more fashionable, than you think:
You can throw a party in an abandoned Rothschild mansion
Or in a World War II bunker. Or on a disused inner-city railway. In fact, if it's grand, vintage and off-limits, the event organizers behind "We are the Oracle" (WATO) are probably about to host an extravagant evening there.
Expect "Eyes Wide Shut" style secrecy, decadent dinners and thumping tunes, all inside the city's most magnificent abandoned buildings.
Thousands of cyclists in berets, baguettes in hand, take over the city
As any hipster will tell you, retro is cool. Bikes are cool too. Artisan delicacies are undeniably on trend.
So a "Beret and Baguette" bike ride through the city, joined by 1,000 people dressed in 1930s outfits and wrapping up with a picnic in the park, ticks every box.
Watch indie films in an antique Japanese pagoda
People in the know don't watch films at the multiplex. They watch them in a lavish, 118-year-old Japanese pagoda.
The extravagant La Pagode was built as a gift from Monsieur Morin, owner of the Le Bon Marché department store, to his wife. Today, film lovers can sip tea in the surrounding bamboo gardens before marveling at the elegant theater, decked out with gilded frescoes and chandeliers.
The French Riviera? Paris brings the beach to you
Let's be honest, not everyone's pockets run deep enough for a holiday in the south of France. Never fear, Paris has it all figured out, trucking in 5,000 tons of sand and nearly 100 palm trees to the banks of the Seine every summer.
Okay, so it's not quite the Mediterranean. But there's still volleyball, giant sprinklers and live jazz, all in the heart of one of Europe's biggest cities.
Go hunting for a secret underground river
But the Seine isn't Paris's only river. There's another secret stream flowing deep beneath the streets, if you know where to look.
Many centuries ago the Bièvre river wound through the city, becoming a polluted dumping ground for local industry before it was finally sealed off in 1912. Today, walking tours follow the plaques that mark the river's hidden route.
You don't need to go to the Louvre to see stunning art
You could queue for three hours to get into the world's most visited museum. Or you could take a leisurely wander through the city, soaking up some of the finest street art in Europe.
And if you want to see more than the usual Banksy pieces or pixelated "space invader" mosaics, there are plenty of walking or cycling tours ready to give you a detailed look at Paris's lesser-known murals.
