Shop Design and Displays

[Marvystone]

Comme des Garcons guerilla store in L.A

Continuing in its mission to revitalize deserted spaces in rundown areas, Comme des Garçons has just opened a guerrilla store in downtown Los Angeles, its first in the U.S. The year-long shop, located at the end of an alley in a former bank (125 West 4th St., #106, 213-626-6606), is the latest shot in the arm for a neighborhood recently revived by indie boutiques Welcome Hunters and New High (M)art. Yet, shockingly, except for wallets and fragrances, Comme's newest outpost will remain mostly empty, as the photo here shows, not in some new revolutionary retail concept from the high-minded label (although we wouldn't have been surprised), but because, for reasons unknown, U.S. customs won't unhand the merch. Brett Westfall—L.A. designer, Hint Shop contributor and co-owner of the store—says they expect the clothing in a matter of days, when everyone will be notified. Nothing, however, could stop the launch party, where throngs of happy rioters set off a scramble to temporarily close the gates. After all, in the spirit of guerrilla-ness, everyone was welcome.

Balenciaga in London

Londoners, stay calm. They come in peace with hyper-futuristic, uncompromising visions of dress. Balenciaga has landed at 12 Mount Street, joining Marc Jacobs and a soon-to-open Christian Louboutin on the row with a store that pushes sci-fi to its limits. Designed by Nicolas Ghesquière with artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and lighting guru Benoit Lalloz, the interior is more than just an interior. It's a labyrinthine, high-tech, spacecraft-like environment with illuminated metal racks to showcase the women's spring collection and red volcanic rocks for accessory display. There's also a sound-emitting, motion-sensing pylon forest, a tangerine-fog ceiling, padded changing pods and optically jarring carpets—all in reference to Mission From Mars and other space-age films, according to Ghesquière, whose Balenciaga invasion continues with a store in Los Angeles next month. —Dean Mayo Davies

Acne store in Soho

Heads up. Following stores in Stockholm, Berlin and Paris, Acne's first spot in the U.S. (seen here in a rendering) will open next month at 110 Greene St, Soho. Outfitted with classic Gustavian furnishings—Scandinavia-style—the flagship will house the Swedish label's trademark jeans, accessories and men's and women's collections… Seoul, South Korea, said to be the most wired city on earth, will get even more plugged in when Milan's 10 Corso Como launches there next month with acres of fashion, a book shop, an art gallery and a restaurant... Russia has a lot going on these days, what with its struggling democracy under siege, but fashion marches on. Both Jil Sander and Stella McCartney have opened in Moscow, with plans for further expansion in New York and Paris, respectively… Designer Tess Giberson may have left her post as creative director, sadly, but TSE is moving ahead with its new New York store at 120 Wooster St. (212-925-2520), making its superfine, asymmetrical cashmere available to Soho's huddled and shivering masses… Are you a Londoner with a hankering for a charm bracelet or a painted plastic skull in the price range of a small flat or a year's rent? No, Moss isn't sprouting a store in London. That would be Damien Hirst, who's signed a lease on a shop on Marylebone, opening this spring.

Credit:hintmag

[kezme44]

wow...marni in tokyo....amazing
like a modern cave

[leyla m.]

i went into Balenciaga in London and was pleasantly suprised. still the same idea but much warmer with carpets and rich warm neutral colours!!
really liked it!

[taz]

after Tom Ford's black era, YSL boutiques are brighting up with Pilati :

Pilati Strives for Timeless YSL Experience



Published: Monday, February 25, 2008
By Miles Socha

PARIS — "I call it the opium experience," Stefano Pilati said of Yves Saint Laurent's striking new-look boutique here at St. Sulpice, with ceilings and wall panels in glossy lacquer the color of the French brand's legendary perfume bottle and packaging.

A custom scent wafting from candles aside, Pilati's hope is that the store design — to be unveiled to the industry tonight at the start of Paris Fashion Week — is iconic enough to be recognizable without any logo.

"I wanted to do something that was timeless," Pilati said during an exclusive walk-through of the 3,200-square-foot, two-level boutique on Friday. "It has to go beyond my era at Saint Laurent: contemporary, but effective, and with a strong identity."

Airy and bright because of pale stone walls, the liquid-look lacquer and accents of polished brass, the boutique is worlds apart from the mostly black, rough-hewn interiors that were in place in 2004 when Pilati took over the design helm from Tom Ford.

"[This] fits more with my designing," said Pilati, dressed in shades of cream and light gray. "In general, I'm more bright and open in terms of mood." He described the environment as luxurious and modern, but also "familiar, warm and personal."

The dramatic concept will eventually arrive at the other 61 stores in YSL's global network as the brand capitalizes on strong sales momentum. Fourth-quarter revenues gained 20 percent at constant exchange rates. (YSL parent PPR reports 2007 earnings on Wednesday.)

In separate interviews, Pilati and YSL chief executive officer Valérie Hermann allowed that the dark stores have shortcomings. For example, in some locations, it is difficult to distinguish a garment that is dark brown, say, from one that is black.

They said the new design should bring fresh energy to the brand, and fuel double-digit sales at St. Sulpice thanks to more legible merchandising and a more suitable backdrop for Pilati's ready-to-wear and accessories.

Hermann said a larger store in Cannes, and a shop-in-shop in Printemps in Paris, would be among the first this year to reflect the new design concept. But the plan is to "have it quite visible quickly," she said. "The majority of [the stores] should be done over four to five years."

St. Sulpice has been home to a YSL boutique since 1979, and Pilati stripped out the warren of rooms and internal walls to expose stone arches and give the store an open feel. Customers alight upon a large selling area showcasing rtw, handbags and accessories, with a shoe salon and cash wrap in a second room off to the left. A glass and stone staircase leads to the second level, a larger showcase for rtw. Upstairs, Pilati had interior walls removed to give views of the square.

"I love to see the clothes against the city," he said. "I don't want the store to be the star. I want the clothing to be the star, but I want [the store] to be identifiable."

And adaptable, given that no other YSL locations are housed in a landmark 17th-century building in one of the most picturesque squares in Paris.

"Every shop is going to have its own identity, but quite linked to what we have done here," he said.

Pilati said he would likely keep the stone walls — "it's a very French identity," he noted — but the scale of lacquer panels, for example, would be adapted to each unit. The material, he said, "gives a liquid effect to the store." And, placed behind racks, they resemble minimalist canvases.

Working with architectural firm Moatti & Rivière, Pilati opted for a mix of industrial and luxurious materials, from Baccarat crystal light fixtures to synthetic concrete floors in a typical French parquet pattern. The store also has an environmentally friendly bent in the use of ductal concrete (which uses less water and energy to produce) and efficient lighting.

The store also comes with new staff uniforms, opium-colored shopping bags and boxes and spacious, spa-like fitting rooms. It will be used for special events as well, including re-see appointments for the press right after Pilati's fall show on Thursday.

WWD

[kezme44]

amazing

[style_expert]

I have to agree..very impressive

[gius]

the colours are really wonderful
especially warm
i think maybe not all high end stores have this kind of warm colour... it's very inviting here

[travis_nw8]

so glad the ysl interiors are being revamped- one was never quite sure the colour of the item you were buying in the sofield designed stores

[taz]

I agree , the Muse & Downtown are not matching anymore with the black background at YSL stores.

[vogue28]

I love the dior store in Paris. No.30

[empaulio]

I love the style of Dior boutiques also. The Sloane St boutique in London has the most beautiful fragrance! Just walking by it hits you.

[Marvystone]

I find the displays in these Japanese stores interesting:











blogformengirl

[izzie stevens]

^ wow. i love the setting of that store, and the merchandising is very good, too!

[Marnii]

Japanese stores are always the best!!!

[izzie stevens]

^ it's lovely. the only negative call out that i have is the dominant table in the 5th picture. they placed colored tees surrounded by white blouses, which is a merchandising no-no! they should have spread out the colored tees amongst the blouses so that there are random pops of color, or simply set up the table with white pieces only. and that argyle sweater at the far right is way out of place! but aside from that, it's lovely, most especially the setting. the chandeliers really add to the store, too.