What are your favourite / least favourite physical stores and why?

[Thefrenchy]

Cool idea for a thread !

Best -
For staff:
- Margaret Howell pl de la Madeleine in Paris they're always so friendly and it's just so relaxing behind there
- she is gone but I had the best SA at Prada Le Bon Marché
- Loewe av Montaigne, always very sweet, actually follows up on things
- Bottega Veneta in Los Angeles
- The Row in NYC I've been going since they opened almost 10 years ago and they've always been so nice
- Dries van Noten in Paris
- Jil Sander in Milan. I don't go there very often but each time I go there's always the loveliest lady that somehow manages to remember what I bought (without checking my customer profile) even if it's been a year since I step foot there

For atmosphere:
- The Row in London, I think I could stay all day
- Bottega Veneta av Montaigne in Paris, just gorgeous
- I have been only once years ago right when it opened but Victoria Beckham in London, I remember loving the architecture clashing with the craziest store playlist I think they were playing some sort of US rap somehow when I was there and found it hilarious

Worst -
For staff:
- Dover Street Market, anywhere worldwide. The worst, I don't know if it's in the guidelines to act like that but you're not cool, please come help me get that coat instead of checking you're instagram.
- Saint Laurent, in Milan and Paris. Terrible at talking you through the collection, slow as hell, busier chatting between themselves than helping out
- Prada in Milan, just incompetent.

For atmosphere:
- Saint Laurent / Celine, both feel like walking in to a fridge
- All the Dior / Vuitton / Chanel, feels like time travelling, SAs are (understandably so, but still) in a "next customer" vibe no matter how much you're spending, no experience whatsoever, too packed, and interiors are fairly ugly even when new.
- The Row in Los Angeles. The store is beautiful but every time I go there is a security guy chasing the kids trying to take a photo of the interior. To be honest, no one would bat an eye if their security didn't bring attention to it...

 

[kasper!]

My fav store:

Dries Van Noten homme in Paris, I love the red interior.
Those menswear stores in Via Gesu in Milan. I am always delightful when I am here.
Boucheron flagship in Place Vendome. Wish one day I could buy a HJ brooch and try the secret room upstairs haha.
Ginori in Florence. I want to buy everything.

Worst sroe:
Hermes in Florence. A place of deception.

 

[Monsieur Cristobal]

My absolute favorite store is Hermès at the 17 rue de Sèvres (the former swimmingpool of the Hôtel Lutetia)

Other faves:
In Paris, Dries van Noten Homme

In Milano, Balenciaga via Santo Spirito by Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster under Nicolas Ghesquière

In Barcelona, the now defunct Casa Loewe, where currently is Celine

 

[Olaffo]

Guys, Bottega Veneta in Zurich - they’re infusing you with champagne, giving SPA like treatment, sprinkling some magic dust and puff - money gone !

Love Antwerp: Ann Demeulemeester and Dries van Noten. Haider used to have teeny boutique there which was cute.

Love Comme Des Garçons in Osaka and also they’ve got amazing Hermes that looks like teakwood / glass doll house with lots of trees around. Rick Owens is also near by so pretty cool place to visit !

 

[Monsieur Cristobal]

Guys, Bottega Veneta in Zurich - they’re infusing you with champagne, giving SPA like treatment, sprinkling some magic dust and puff - money gone !

I have to agree with you on this one, Bottega in Zürich is exquisite.

 

[oioioi]

Cool hearing people's favourite and least places and their reasons for it!

Favourites:
Maison Martin Margiela (now closed Bruton Place, London before moving to Bruton Street) - a little nothing of a store that was on an alleyway round the corner from all the generic luxury stores on Bond Street. A communal space of original ideas, openness, intrigue and surprises.
Prada (Aoyama, Tokyo) - I always visit when in Tokyo, just a modern, beautfiul building. I always see a couple Japanese shoppers who are wearing show looks or pieces that put a smile on my face.
Lemaire Flagship (Marais, Paris) - A space with service perfect for their loyal customers.
Celine (Phoebe era stores) - Beautiful spaces to step into it, mix of playfulness and restraint.
Balenciaga - (Chelsea, NY Ghesquiere/Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster period) just summed up Ghesquiere's clothing in a space - super contemporary, clashing of textures that was feeling very fresh.

Worst:
Louis Vuitton (Women's floor Place Vendome, Paris) - absolutely terrible generic as hell SA's, on their phones whilst not noticing the RTW coats are not sitting on their hangars correctly, not zipped up properly etc. Meanwhile you go to the Men's floor and its more laid back, friendly SA's who feel more relatable.
Miu Miu, Prada stores (Milan) - terrible lacklustre every time, Miu Miu ones are only interested in Chinese customers paying in cash, the Prada stores SA's just seem completely uninterested in fashion.

I second Loewe store service is usually always fantastic, in line with their branding.