Dec
A Little French Christmas in the Arcades of Paris tells the story of how Little French Heart was inspired in 2012.
If you’ve ever wandered through the magical Belle Époque passages of Paris — where fairy lights shimmer above tiled floors and fashion glows against centuries-old, story-filled walls — then you already have a sense of how Little French Heart was born.
Beneath glass ceilings that once glowed with gaslight, fashion, fairy lights, and quiet elegance still shimmer. While strolling through Paris with my young daughter, I was enchanted by the poetic charm and intimacy of boutiques. By chance, while searching for a small music shop called À Boîte de la Musique (now long gone), I discovered the arcades — Galeries Vivienne and Passage Jouffroy — and felt as though I had stepped into another time.
The boutiques were warm and inviting, dreamy and whimsical, yet also with a touch of authentic vaudeville history. Designed as places to wander, to browse, and to be seen, they brought together artisans, books, fashion, and cafés in one beautiful embrace — those covered arcades created centuries ago to shelter strollers from muddy, manured streets and coiffed wig-ruinous weather while inviting them to linger. The atmosphere of bygone eras felt rich and almost tangible around us. Beneath our feet, the decorated tiled floors — worn by more than 150 years of footsteps — seemed to whisper stories with every step.
It was there that the notion of tradition, the celebration of exquisite craftsmanship, and the imaginative spirit of the Belle Époque took hold. What were once modern spaces of innovation — with iron frameworks, glass roofs, and glowing light — became, for me, a reminder of the importance of beauty, care, and imagination. I felt inspired to create a little store back home that would carry the essence of Paris — its warmth, artistry, and sense of wonder.
Fifteen years on, my dear friend and Little French Heart illustrator, Janina Bourosu, returned to these arcades with her daughter, dressed in one of our favourite brands that we have been selling for almost 10 years, Bonjour Diary. Through her photographs, she has captured the very inspiration that began my journey — the golden light and the timeless charm of the arcades and their boutiques.
At Christmas, Paris is bathed in warmth and light, wrapped in the rich traditions of a European winter — a season made for gathering, strolling, and celebrating together.
At Little French Heart, we wish you a truly beautiful Parisian–Australian Christmas — one filled with warmth, family, and tradition.
Joyeux Noël & Belle Année
Thank you to Janina Bourosu for the beautiful images xox
Visiting Little French Studio Woolloomooloo
