Heaven Shop

One of my favorite things to do on my Paris shopping tours is to take people to out of the way shops that have things that are only sold in Paris or France. I used to seek out these shops when I visited before I moved here and was always thrilled when I would find that special something that I knew could only get here. My friends would always compliment me and say where did you get that fabulous shirt, pair of shoes, belt, etc. and I would glowingly say Paris. I remember buying a handsome pair of Goyard tanned leather shoes in the early 90s, way before Goyard became so popular and was sold only in France.

Heaven is a delightful clothing and accessory shop in the Marais and the owner, the lovely and beautiful Lea-Anne Wallis designs and hand makes all the garments. Twice a year Lea-Anne creates a collection using small remnants of fabric leftover from the prestigious designers like Agnes B., and Hermés, cleverly using the fabric to make some very original and chic pieces. She can usually only get a few yards of the fabric, so she will only make a few garments with the same fabric, therefore many of the pieces are limited editions. Her collections are inspired by films, music, and pop culture and she describes fall/winter 2011 as warm and wooly mixed with metallic and shimmery.

On any given day Lea-Anne, originally from England and living in Paris for over 20 years, is happily sewing away in her atelier in the back of the shop, always with a smile on her face. The atelier has shelves lined with oodles of fab fabrics, dozens of bright colored spools of thread, and an ironing board. Jean Christophe Peyrieux, her talented French husband is an interior designer and designs festive modern lamps and a line of subtle, fine jewelry using semi-precious stones, silver, and gold plate, both sold in the shop. The price for this handmade, original luxury? Surprisingly affordable, with dresses priced from 129 euros to 189 euros, skirts 89 to 109 euros, shirts and blouses 109 to 129 euros, coats 239 to 289 euros, and 159 euros for trousers. The jewelry ranges from 30 to 150 euros.

In addition to the clothing collection, Lea-Anne hand makes the fun pony and suede pillows adorned with big metallic stars. She will start giving sewing classes one night a week in the near future. Heaven also carries handbags, scarves, wallets, shoes, and gloves, and this season the palate is rich, jewel tones.

One of the problems I have when taking female clients shopping for clothes is the lack of larger sizes in most Parisian shops and Lea-Anne said she would happily make her garments in a more ample size if you ask her.

If you want a Heaven-ly garment from Paris to flaunt back home, give Heaven and Lea-Anne a visit and please tell her I sent you.

Heaven
16 rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004
Metro: St. Paul or Hotel de Ville
Tel. 01 42 77 38 89
Open Tuesday to Saturday 11AM to 7:30PM, Sunday 2PM to 7:30PM
www.heaven-paris.com

Lee-Anne showing off her pillows

The atelier

Frisbee, the store mascot

 

In addition to my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, we now offer Eye Prefer New York Tours, 3-hour walking tours of New Yorkís best neighborhoods including Soho, Meatpacking/West Village & Tribeca. Tours cost $195 for up to 3 people and $65 for each additional person.Come take a bit of the Big Apple on an Eye Prefer New York Tour!

Come experience my blog ìliveî with my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I lead. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris. www.eyepreferparistours.com
 

 

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Comments

[Polly]

Can't wait to visit Heaven next time in Paris. Although Paris is already heaven

[Kiki]

This MUST BE HEAVEN....; wonderful, quirky, warm, a shop owner with a SMILE ON HER FACE, a lovely dog and handbags to kill for (well, not really kill but let's settle for 'should have!'...)
Richard, reading along I just moaned....'yeah, yeah, beautiful glorious stuff and nothing in large sizes....' until I came to that all important sentence!
THANKS HEAVEN.... I have noted lovely Lee-Anne's shop and should I ever be in a position to get anything from her, I shall send you a heavenly thank you note!
Merci

[Joan]

Thanks, Richard; this looks like great fun!