Heimstone

Don’t expect a warm welcome from the aloof staff at this boutique – but perhaps it’s all a sign of success, as the pieces from Alix Petit’s proudly cosmopolitan label are worth the visit all by themselves. Created in 2007 with Delphine Delafon (who left the brand in 2009), Heimstone offers a colourful, feminine wardrobe, rich in lace, silk and knitted raffia. The collections are inspired by everything from Austrian painters (Egon Schiele, in 2012) to American Indians (‘Thunderbird’, Spring/Summer 2013), and stretch from head (crowned with feathers) to toe (shod in lambskin sandals). Petit, who studied at Atelier Chardon Savard and worked as a stylist for Michel Klein for almost a year, has been making prêt-à-porter for the last six years – it’s far from cheap (dresses around €400) but ultra-refined, with clever mixtures of materials, textures and sparkling prints. It’s the ideal place to invest in that perfect summer dress, both light, beautiful and unusual at the same time.