Chanel Surfing
French fashion house plans major coast-to-coast additions
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
(NEW YORK) This May, Chanel is opening its second Los Angeles outpost on trendy North Robertson Boulevard. Located adjacent to the famed Ivy restaurant, the new 5,395-square-foot, Peter Marino-designed store marks the birth of the company's new design concept.
While the flagship on North Rodeo Drive carries the full range of Chanel ready-to-wear, fine jewelry, shoes, and fragrance and beauty, this new boutique will stock targeted, constantly updated merchandise that reflects the gallery-like space. The store includes a 1,000-square-foot courtyard and 625-square-foot terrace. The façade boasts a retractable 20 ft. wide glass door that raises to reveal a dramatic space with 15-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows (think Prada's nearby Epicenter store). Continuing the brand's longstanding support of the arts, artist Robert Greene created two works in oil on vellum collaged on aluminum panel.
Peter Philips, Chanel Makeup's new global creative director, marked the grand opening by designing four limited-edition nail colors. Priced at $25 each, the collection of graphic, pop-art shades was inspired by the hipster-cool spirit of Robertson Boulevard and boast such whimsical names as Melrose, Rodeo Drive, LA Sunrise, and LA Sunset. While the product will initially be available only in-store, Chanel.com will stock the polishes starting in June.
Also in May, Chanel will unveil a redesigned fine jewelry flagship at Madison Avenue and 64th Street. After an extensive interior and exterior renovation, the 1,838-square-foot boutique will feature exclusively twelve new all-diamond rings that revive Coco Chanel's love of fine jewelry.
Marino, the mastermind behind this store as well, paid tribute to the company's iconic founder by incorporating design elements similar to those in Chanel's legendary Paris apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, including the library, salon, gallery, and VIP room. "Rather than a fine jewelry boutique, we wanted to create a living space where our clients can feel comfortable and enjoy a special experience," said Philippe Mougenot, global president of Chanel fine jewelry & watches.
The store features a paneled library that houses the J12 watch collection, as well as a gallery bordered by Coromandel screens that leads to a plush VIP room. A salon sits to the right of the boutique, which features a rock crystal chandelier and mirror created by the renowned Goosens atelier in Paris. Chanel's long-standing commitment to the arts is also evident throughout, as evidenced by a life-sized bronze stag, the "Wapiti," created by French sculptor Francois-Xavier Lalanne, as well as a piece by Yto Barrada and a photograph of a hand-drawn camellia by American artist Joseph Stashkevetch.
JIM SHI
French fashion house plans major coast-to-coast additions
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
(NEW YORK) This May, Chanel is opening its second Los Angeles outpost on trendy North Robertson Boulevard. Located adjacent to the famed Ivy restaurant, the new 5,395-square-foot, Peter Marino-designed store marks the birth of the company's new design concept.
While the flagship on North Rodeo Drive carries the full range of Chanel ready-to-wear, fine jewelry, shoes, and fragrance and beauty, this new boutique will stock targeted, constantly updated merchandise that reflects the gallery-like space. The store includes a 1,000-square-foot courtyard and 625-square-foot terrace. The façade boasts a retractable 20 ft. wide glass door that raises to reveal a dramatic space with 15-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows (think Prada's nearby Epicenter store). Continuing the brand's longstanding support of the arts, artist Robert Greene created two works in oil on vellum collaged on aluminum panel.
Peter Philips, Chanel Makeup's new global creative director, marked the grand opening by designing four limited-edition nail colors. Priced at $25 each, the collection of graphic, pop-art shades was inspired by the hipster-cool spirit of Robertson Boulevard and boast such whimsical names as Melrose, Rodeo Drive, LA Sunrise, and LA Sunset. While the product will initially be available only in-store, Chanel.com will stock the polishes starting in June.
Also in May, Chanel will unveil a redesigned fine jewelry flagship at Madison Avenue and 64th Street. After an extensive interior and exterior renovation, the 1,838-square-foot boutique will feature exclusively twelve new all-diamond rings that revive Coco Chanel's love of fine jewelry.
Marino, the mastermind behind this store as well, paid tribute to the company's iconic founder by incorporating design elements similar to those in Chanel's legendary Paris apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, including the library, salon, gallery, and VIP room. "Rather than a fine jewelry boutique, we wanted to create a living space where our clients can feel comfortable and enjoy a special experience," said Philippe Mougenot, global president of Chanel fine jewelry & watches.
The store features a paneled library that houses the J12 watch collection, as well as a gallery bordered by Coromandel screens that leads to a plush VIP room. A salon sits to the right of the boutique, which features a rock crystal chandelier and mirror created by the renowned Goosens atelier in Paris. Chanel's long-standing commitment to the arts is also evident throughout, as evidenced by a life-sized bronze stag, the "Wapiti," created by French sculptor Francois-Xavier Lalanne, as well as a piece by Yto Barrada and a photograph of a hand-drawn camellia by American artist Joseph Stashkevetch.
JIM SHI
Thanks for sharing!
