Paris-based Canadian shoe designer, Tanya Heath has launched her interchangeable shoe line, Tanya Heath Paris, in Toronto’s Yorkville area. There are quite a few styles to choose from, ranging from pumps which can go from office-friendly to a fun dinner with friends to a gala with just a change of a heel to ankle boots/booties to knee-high boots and even sandals. Each shoe is named after a female, while the heel styles have male names.
Tanya Heath Paris boutique in Yorkville
A Tanya Heath Paris Helen pump with a pink Denis heel (on the shoe) and a punk quartz Francois heel
So far, I’ve only had the chance to try the Sabine pump, which is a simple, yet versatile shoe. In fact, a French hotel publication named it THE “wedding” shoe as it is extremely comfortable – in France, couples must marry in a civil ceremony before the religious one, should a couple choose to have one. Generally, this occurs on the same day, and couples walk from the place of the civil ceremony to the church, meaning that the bride must wear something that is pedestrian-friendly. The bride can, therefore, wear kitten heels or some sort of lower heel while she walks and then change into something higher for the ceremony. Or, she can wear the lower heel for both the civil and religious ceremony and change into something more party-appropriate at the reception!
How to take the heels on and off
Changing the heel is very easy. There’s a button one presses inside the shoe with one hand and using the other hand, can slide out the heel. To put a heel on, all you need to do is slide it on. Once you hear a click, it’s secure, just like the video abvoe shoes you!
The Anastasia boots with a selection of heels
Wearing wine Sabine pump and the navy blue Denis heel, taken right before the first day of World MasterCard Fashion Week. Wore the same shoes with the Stephane heel a couple of days later.
Currently, I have two pairs of heels to go with my Sabine pump. You may have seen pictures of them on Instagram during World MasterCard Fashion Week. Because of all the stairs I had to climb during Fashion Week thanks to the escalators being under service, I have to say that the lower kitten heel (Stephane) was more comfortable than the higher “Cuban” Denis. I still have to try Christophe (a lower, chunky “trotter” heel) and Francois, the stiletto, which not only comes in standard matte or shiny shades, but also embellished. Heels range between $50 and $100 or so while the shoes start at $578 for the Sabine and range up to $1,000. This may sound like a lot, but most women own three pairs of heels for one pair of shoes. If you only have a standard Sabine pump with three pairs of heels (say two in the $50 and one in the $100), we’re looking at about $260 per shoe. Not absurdly crazy, considering that the average Stuart Weitzman pump is in the $300 range.
The Tanya Heath Paris boutique is located on 138 Cumberland Street (on Old York Lane), unit 7. Hours are Monday to Wednesday from 11 AM to 6 PM, Thursday and Friday from 11 AM until 7 PM, Saturdays from 11 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon until 5 PM. Shoes and heels are also available online.
Image credits: Exterior of boutique courtesy of High View Communications. All other images by author
