Helen's Leather Shop

02/25/2026

Today we celebrate what would have been Helen Bourgeois's 104th birthday - the remarkable woman behind Helen's Leather Shop.

Helen’s journey began alongside her husband, Ed, a retired U.S. Navy chief, as they navigated life as a Navy family in places like Hawaii and Italy.

In 1969, their daughter Lise (then a 17-year-old art student at Massachusetts College of Art and Design) had the bold vision to buy a leather shop.

Helen and Ed invested their life savings in the original storefront at 110 Charles Street and bought the shop for their daughter.

The business flourished and eventually grew to include multiple locations across New England and beyond.

Though she's been gone since 2012, her legacy endures.

Happy heavenly birthday, Helen. We miss your light today and always. ✨

02/07/2026

These two brothers are rocking matching Schott Flight Leather Jackets from Helen's Leather Shop, carrying on Jack and Irving Schott's legacy of brotherly love.

01/27/2026

Cowboy boots and Patriots pride.

Thank you to cowgirl and WCVB anchorwoman Shayna Seymour Car for visiting us at Helen’s Leather Shop ahead of the Patriots-Broncos AFC Championship. Broncos most certainly were not ready for us.

WE ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! GO PATS!

01/25/2026

"The New England Patriots face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 25 — and one devoted Pats fan decided to prepare by stepping into enemy territory… fashion-wise.

They say to play the part, you have to look the part. So Shayna Seymour headed to Helen’s Leather Shop on Charles Street in Boston— a little piece of cowboy heaven tucked into the heart of Beacon Hill.

Inside?

Hundreds of boots.

A slew of Stetsons.

And what feels like a Dolly Parton dream world — complete with bold cowboy shirts and pink boots shining in the window."

Ahead of the Patriots–Broncos AFC Championship showdown, Shayna Seymour steps into “cowgirl mode” at Helen's Leather Shop, which has been bringing Western flair to Boston for more than 50 years.

12/30/2025

Today at Helen’s Leather Shop, we had the pleasure of meeting Helen Avery—the fourth Helen in her family line AND another fellow leather lover. She carries on the name from her mother, Helen Ashley; her grandmother, Helen Kay; and her great-grandmother, Helen.

After some thoughtful consideration over this super soft lambskin leather jacket, she finally decided to go for it! It looks absolutely fantastic on her! ❤️

12/21/2025

Cowboy Rob is a true Western style icon and a dear friend of Helen’s Leather Shop.

His Western Wear Outfit of the Day:

- Lucchese Custom Stingray Cowboy Boots with Ring Tail Lizard Regal Construction Shafts

- Scully Gunfighter Western Cowboy Shirt with Suspenders

- Scully Leather Blazer Jacket

- Stetson Hat 🎩

11/30/2025

For his wedding day, Rob purchased a striking pair of Dan Post python cowboy boots and a black Stetson cowboy hat at Helen’s Leather Shop! We are so glad we could be part of his special day ❤️🤠

10/14/2025

"In 2007 Greg Bournazos snapped this shot of me sporting the Corazon Tonys from the late Liberty Boot Co.

According to Greg, the wooden boot I'm sitting on was once bartered for a pair of Frye boots way back in the day.

Along with the smoking cowboy silhouette, the one-of-a-kind boot carving became part of the outdoor display set out every morning on the stoop at 110 Charles.

At the request of my mother, my sister Maura later painted the photo for my mother's 55th birthday.

Maura captured those turquoise boots pretty well, don't ya think?"

Our friend, Sean Dwyer, recently posted this memory in our Helen's Leather Lovers Facebook group and we thought we'd share with the rest of you.

What a cool memory!