Paris
The best new Paris store openings June 2019
We’re once again in Paris to bring you the latest retail openings in the French capital. It’s an eclectic mix from independents to household names, and concept stores to luxury pop-ups. Take a look at the best Paris has to offer this month.
Saint Laurent Rive Droite
Luxury fashion house Saint Laurent has launched a new creative and cultural destination in a move to break away from the minimal stores of old and to attract a new type of customer – a popular move with luxury stores at the moment. The ‘immersive’ store has been curated by Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello and has been designed as a space to test out different concepts and ideas.
Along with the brand’s ready-to-wear collections and accessories you will also be able to find limited edition hand-picked collectibles including furniture, books, vinyl and art. Clearly the space has been inspired by the traditional concept store approach. There will be collaborations with brands and cultural events like film screenings – all in a bid to attract new customers. There’s also a coffee counter to encourage people to spend more time in store.
Image credit: Fenty
Fenty pop-up
Popstar Rihanna unveiled her debut collection with LVMH at an exclusive pop-up on Rue de Turenne. The high-end Marais district location is home to the full Fenty fashion collection. The ready-to-wear pieces are not following the rules of other luxury fashion houses. Every look that is on display in the pop-up is available to buy immediately – there is no six month wait like with other luxury labels. The physical merges seamlessly with the digital world as everything is also available to purchase online too.
Boys Don’t Cry
Concept store BDC has opened in the heart of Saint Germain. Designed to be an artistic space that is constantly changing with new collections each season, the store has been built to accommodate adaptable displays that can be adjusted for different collections.
The space is home to men’s fashion, design, books and art. The carefully curated selection of designers include Yeezy, Church’s and Bode to name a few. You can also find eye-catching neon art by Claude Lévêque and iconic furniture from The Haas Brothers. The trend here is discovery – giving customers a constantly changing range of products, displays and artwork, and therefore reasons to return.
Image credit: IKEA
IKEA
The world’s biggest furniture retailer IKEA has opened its first store in central Paris, continuing its drive to open city-centre locations around the world. It’s a direct response to changing customer habits and a preference for buying furniture online. The store in the Madeleine district is being used as a test lab for the retailer and it hopes to open similar stores should this be a success.
There is a restaurant and salad bar as well as in-store workshops on repairing furniture, Feng Shui and home renovation. The space will also hold cooking classes and host art exhibitions so it really is a multi-purpose place to promote all the best things about IKEA. Items that cannot be taken home can be ordered online and delivered to your home or various pick-up points.
Celine
Luxury fashion label Celine has opened its revamped store in Paris with a spotlight on female artists. The new sculptural interior is the work of the brand’s Artistic and Creative Director Hedi Slimane. There is a ceramic sculpture by German artist Katinka Bock, a sculpture by Chinese artist Hu Xiaoyuan, a wall-mounted piece by Canadian artist Georgia Dicki and another by fellow Canadian Rochelle Goldberg.
It’s another excellent example of the trend for discovery retail. The artwork is adapted to the location, and the store’s aesthetic is very striking with a beautiful spiral staircase, framed with slats of glass and wood. The rest of the store is minimal which contrasts well with the art installations. As is the current trend in luxury fashion at the moment, the brand has also revamped its stores in New York, Milan, Tokyo and LA to better represent the label.
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The Socialite Family
The Socialite Family has opened its first boutique in the 2nd arrondissement in Paris. The brand first started out selling online after previously being a decor blog. As you would expect from an interiors brand, the store itself is beautifully designed with terrazzo flooring, mahogany wood and touches of brass. Everything that is displayed in store is for sale including unique vintage items and works of art that have been selected in partnership with Wilo & Grove gallery. Smartly, these items are not available online so offer a good reason to venture to the store.
