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The Latest Boutiques, Tom Ford, Agent Provocateur & Roland Mouret
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An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including Tom Ford, Alexander Wang and Roland Mouret in Los Angeles, New York and London. It was all about…
Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including Tom Ford, Alexander Wang and Roland Mouret in Los Angeles, New York and London.
It was all about New York, New York in February, with Alexander Wang, Hublot, A.P.C, Etro and Agent Provocateur all opening spaces in Soho, Madison Avenue the West Village. Chanel and Colette announced a pop-up space on the famed Rue Saint-Honoré, incorporating a veritable roster of artists and designers to customise Chanel handbags in-store, and DJ’s to entertain the early evening crowds. Tom Ford inaugurated his first womenswear retail space, opening in Los Angeles with a host of Hollywood’s finest, whilst Roland Mouret celebrated his first flagship boutique in London’s Mayfair.
Chanel x Colette, Paris
Set in the industrial surroundings of a former garage, turned into a giant living display space, Chanel and Colette have collaborated to bring Paris a temporary space from March 1st – 10th, in celebration of Paris Fashion Week, on rue Saint-Honoré. Stretching over 200sqm, the installation combines fashion, visual arts and musical performances, highlighting creations from the Chanel 2011 Spring-Summer collection alongside a selection of pieces from young designers chosen by Colette. Chanel bags will be originally customised in-store by various artists such as Kevin Lyons, Soledad, André, Fafi and SO-ME.
There are a range of other activities and products, including books published by Éditions 7L, back issues of Visionaire magazine, Yazbukey bag charms, Ruby helmets, and cameras by Leica, as well as a Chanel nail bar and cupcakes by Chez Bogato.
Alexander Wang, New York
Despite the overwhelming popularity and success of the four-year old label, it was only February 2011 that Alexander Wang launched his first stand-alone store in New York City. Wang has strived to create a lounge like space, where customers can come to hang just as much as they can to shop. A huge fox fur hammock makes for a centrepiece, whilst lawn chairs have been re-interpreted in leather to accompany an overstuffed leather couch and luxurious plants to complete the homely feel.
Of the space, Wang remarked: “I wanted to create a pristine store, but I wanted to take the sterile aspect and kind of formality out of it, I want it to be like I’m entertaining in my house.” The 325sqm boutique will house women’s clothing, accessories, T by Alexander Wang and his men’s line, but the store will also be used to yardstick for other projects or product lines they may be working on in the future.
Website: Alexander Wang
Source: Wall Street Journal
Tom Ford, Los Angeles
The first of 28 locations worldwide to offer womenswear, Tom Ford’s new Rodeo Drive destination introduces a new retail design concept for the brand. Ford and long-time collaborator William Sofield re-interpreted the two-story, 850sqm location to appeal to the female consumer, resulting in light-filled spaces, pale grey, high-gloss silver and blue-grey marble floors.
The Rodeo Drive boutique houses a perfumery, where Tom Ford Beauty and Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances line polished chrome shelves. Up a mirrored staircase one will find the full collection of the recently launched womenswear, divided into three salons: handbag and shoes, eveningwear and daywear. The men’s collection is housed on the ground floor.
Prada, Berlin
Opening at 186 Kurfustendamm, in the heart of the city’s luxury shopping area, Prada recently launched its seventh German location, housing collections of ready-to-wear, bags, accessories, and footwear for both women and men. In keeping with the current retail concept, the store was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi to embrace and enhance the historic elements of the building it occupies.
Over two floors, the 500sqm space incorporates an elegant lounge with velvet sofas, a black marble staircase, ivory saffiano leather, pastel green walls, rosewood and wheat-coloured velvet, with a ceiling decorated with sumptuous plasterwork evoking an old–styled elegant home.
Website & Source: Prada
Trussardi 1911, Rome
Celebrating its 100th year, quintessentially Italian label Trussardi 1911 has opened its first flagship on Rome’s famed Via dei Condotti. The concept, developed by creative director Milan Vukmirovic, strives to mix classic and contemporary, incorporating velvet green sofas, colourful throw pillows, leather, marble, polar wood and linen-lined leather curtains, a reference to Trussardi’s heritage as a master of leatherwork.
The 400sqm boutique is spread across two floors, that will carry both the men’s and women’s clothing lines, alongside leather goods, luggage and fine jewellery.
Website: Trussardi 1911
Source: Elite Traveler
A.P.C., New York
French label A.P.C. recently opened A.P.C. Specials in New York’s West Village, with plans for an A.P.C. store just around the corner, opening in summer. A.P.C. Specials is a twist on the standard store concept, housing novelty items like quilts made from archived fabrics and overstock from seasons past, to be priced at a discount. The second West Village location, a standard A.P.C. concept, will house the full men and women’s collections, joining the original Mercer Street location opened in 1993.
Commenting on the recent Asian retail boom, founder and owner Jean Touitou remarked: "I do not believe in Asia anymore, I know people are crazy for China, but I’m not at all. And Japan, for fashion — it’s a dead, dead country.”
TAG Heuer, Las Vegas
Nestled between Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Tiffany & Gucci, TAG Heuer have launched in Crystals at CityCenter, Las Vegas, its first flagship North American location. The official opening is scheduled for April, to be hosted by brand ambassador Maria Sharapova, however the boutique is now open to the public. A grand combination of glass and dark woods have been used, to compliment raised transparent stands for the signature watches and stylised images of TAG Heuer brand ambassadors.
Website & Source: TAG Heuer
Agent Provocateur, New York
Luxe lingerie brand, Agent Provocateur, have opened its second New York location on Madison Avenue, with black interiors, dressing rooms with billowing silk curtains and cherry blossoms crawling up the walls. Less risqué than its Soho sister, the Madison store stocks marabou peep-toe slippers, lace merry widows in ivory and red and stops short of stocking anything leather or latex. In keeping with the less explicit themes, a sitting room is furnished with Victorian club chairs, murals sweep up the staircase and the store invokes a gentleman’s den atmosphere.
Website: Agent Provocateur
Source: NY Times
Roland Mouret, London
Opening within his townhouse headquarters on Carlos Place in Mayfair, Roland Mouret recently inaugurated his first flagship boutique in London. In addition to men’s and womenswear collections, Mouret will also retail a limited-edition collection ‘Roland Mouret at 8 Carlos Place’. In keeping with the trend of ‘social spaces’ rather than ‘stores’ Mouret plans to use the boutique for much more than just retail: “I plan to use the store space to think outside the box. I want to host private dinners for clients and use the space for collaborations and events, I want this to be a living place.”
The ground floor incorporates elaborate moulded ceilings and marble fireplaces, Jacques Charpentier velvet sofas, a brass palm tree, a light in the shape of a Victorian dollhouse, a wooden bar, dark brown walls, vintage horn handles for doors, original stained glass windows, and a ceramic and glass sculpture commissioned from Bouke de Vries.
Website: Roland Mouret
Source: Fashion United
CH Carolina Herrera, Paris
Joining 2010 locations London and New York, Paris is the latest city to host a CH Carolina Herrera boutique, the lifestyle brand of Carolina Herrera. The store has been designed to feel like an apartment, featuring a marble fireplace, arched windows, gilded mouldings and parquet flooring, alongside elements from the global store concept, such as diverse grained woods and colours alabaster, brown, black and gray, with red accents.
The store will offer the label’s women’s, men’s, children’s and accessories lines, as well as bespoke pieces for the Parisian market. Of the opening, the renowned designer remarked “we waited years for the right location and opportunity .… when our spot on Rue Castiglione became available, I took it right away as it captures all the magic of the city and reminds me of the many trips in Paris as a child for shopping and exploring”.
Website: Carolina Herrera
Source: WWD
The Shoe Salon at Harrods, London
Carrying 80 brands and a total of around 3500 shoes over 1400sqm, the recently re-launched Shoe Salon at Harrods looks to become London’s premiere shoe shopping destination. Designed interior architects Shed, whose previous work includes Vertu, Prada, Spencer Hart and Hunter, the space draws inspiration from Art Deco and combines classicism with the spirit and true glamour of the Golden Era, utilising sorbet coloured marbles, solid brass fixtures and lacewood veneers. The floor is a sleek, sparkling ice blue, glass composite, punctuated by Guggenheim inspired brass trims that make sweeping curves and statement lines.
Furnished areas include soft carpeting, hand made Chinoise embroidery and feminine ice-cream colours, alongside one-off pieces of furniture in bold prints, specially produced by George Smith.
Hublot, New York
After a string of openings in Asia, Hublot has opened at 692 Madison Avenue, New York. The almost 300sqm has been developed in keeping with Paris’ Place Vendôme concept, designed by star architect Peter Marino, who has reinterpreted the concept of fusion, using materials such as bronze, natural buckskin and ebony. The boutique also includes a mezzanine for a confidential salon lounge and skylights to illuminate the walls, clad with buckskin and a fabric made-to-measure by the Swiss materials artist John M. Armleder.
This is the third location for Hublot in the United States, joining Bal Harbour and Boca Raton, Miami, with openings scheduled for 2011 in Beverly Hills and Las Vegas.
Website: Hublot
Source: Trusted Watch
Etro, New York
Opening its fifth American boutique and second location in Manhattan, Etro chose Greene Street, in the heart of Soho for its newest location. “We are thrilled to be opening a new boutique in Soho, a location we have been eyeing for several years. Whether you live in New York City or are a visiting tourist, Soho is a huge shopping destination known worldwide” remarked Ippolito Etro, CEO.
The design and creation of this loft-like boutique is a unique and new concept for Etro. Over two-floors, the 410sqm space features high tin ceilings, industrial overhead lighting, exposed brick walls and oversized double-hung windows. The store will house the Etro men’s, women’s and accessories collections, all connected by an industrial painted steel staircase.
If you are interested in being featured in our next edition of The Latest Boutiques, kindly send details of your opening to [email protected]
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.
