pssst…heard of ln-cc yet? short for late night chameleon café, this new and continuously evolving retail formula that’s to open in east london next month is currently strictly under wraps but here’s a few pointers. set up by two veterans of london’s directional retail and clubbing scene, it aims to present a next-generation shopping experience by blending sharply-curated music, art and books, presented in separate areas, into the fashion formula.
okay, okay…the brands? well, these include some hot and rare labels: nonnative, christian peau, new power studio for men, and preen, tze goh and mawi for women. how about that? interestingly, ln-cc is also to feature a vintage high-fidelity sound system and its book section will provide specialized publications hardly found elsewhere. although the store hasn’t opened yet, you can already check it out online.
after opening up shop in hometown san francisco and in new york, cult jeans store self edge returns to the golden state, launching a los angeles outlet today [official opening party next month]. this store offers the same brands, with new unreleased pieces and restocks of popular items available after the official opening. location: 144 north la brea avenue [west hollywood].
comme des garçons has landed in seoul…and how! hugely popular in korea for many years, the japanese brand opened a prestigious six-storey flagship in the korean capital last week. the new store features the brand’s complete fashion lines, and even boasts an in-store art space, the very first outside japan. location: 739-1 hannam-dong [yongsan-gu].
independent and savvy, the populo store has long time been a popular hang-out for jakarta hipsters. the shop relocated to homey new premises in the neighbourhood earlier this month, assuring its kebayoran baru area fanbase easy access in this traffic-clogged megalopolis. the new store measures 300 sqm. spread over two floors and features a contemporary mix of d.i.y.-chic furniture + displays, some balinese pieces and striking sculptures of local urban art hero darbotz. mind you, the store also has a sunny outdoor terrace and pool!
he’s been a star snapper ever since he arrived on the scene in the early 1960s, not only shooting high-fashion for british vogue but also capturing and help creating pretty much of the swinging london of those days. we’re talking the fab david bailey, who’s show david bailey sculpture+ opens at pangolin on wed - sep 8. interestingly, it’s not only a photo show but also the first ever showcase of his sculptures.
on display is a dark and rugged collection of cast silver and bronze sculptures alongside a range of new photographs, which underline the contrast between the two mediums, and emphasize bailey’s versatility as an artist. the show very much explores the idea that image-makers should not be confined to one discipline. location: 90 york way [king's cross].
china is the new frontier for luxury brands and bottega veneta is right on top of the game. it has just opened its third new store in the country this year after previous launches in nanjing and chengdu, and it’s also the brand’s third shanghai flagship. located at the rather swanky ifc mall, the retail space measures a spacious 345 sqm. and is designed according to creative director tomas maier’s sleek aesthetics.
a wide range of precious natural materials such as palm wood, mohair and suede have been incorporated into a lavish interior that’s both contemporary and timeless. the new bottega veneta store carries a variety of merchandise, including women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, bags, shoes and a selection of homewares. location: 8 century avenue [lujiazui].
celebrating its 50th anniversary, the 3m company [probably best known across the planet for its post-it adhesion memo], launches a pop-up concept store today [11am] at a top location on bustling omotesando dori. simply dubbed 3m store, it measures a sizeable 237 sqm. spread over two floors, and is set up to showcase both the company as a modern lifestyle brand and many of its innovative products.
on the ground floor shoppers can familiarize themselves with 3m products and materials, while they also have the opportunity to use it and customize anything imaginable. one floor up however, it’s pure business, where approximately 1,000 products are creatively put on display for immediate sale. mind you, artists will regularly be invited to exhibit their work and perform live art sessions in the store. the 3m store remains operational until dec 26. location: 5-1-3 jingumae [harajuku].
after rethinking their retail concept, entrepreneurs nicholas mesiano and alistair knight kicked it up a notch, going from trendy mondo trasho to quirky-chic nicholas & alistair. the rebranded store is still a haven for a wide range of international antiques, vintage furniture and decorative objects, but now features even more exceptional pieces, all personally sourced by the knowledgeable duo. location: 387 johnston street [fitzroy].
a true singapore scoop. fifth avenue shoe repair comes to town for by the no., an exhibition of its couture-flavoured collection that opens fri - aug 27 [8.30pm-11pm] at the asylum store’s former premises [1]. this experimental collection is completely hand-crafted and serves as an inspiration source for the brand’s ready-to-wear collections. mind you, all items are available but by order only.
the very next day, on sat - aug 28 [3pm-6pm], fifth avenue shoe repair’s very first flagship store outside the stylish homeland of sweden opens its doors at the hilton shopping gallery [2], in attendance of designers lee cotter and astrid olssen. it’s a minimalist all-white retail space with a cool mathematical vibe that allows the clothes to do all the talking. the huge sol lewitt-inspired display in the center is an amazing eye-catcher that draws you right in. location [1]: 22 ann siang road [chinatown]. location [2]: hilton shopping gallery, shop 02-13/14, 581 orchard road [orchard west].
launching on sat - aug 28 at le printemps is new york loves printemps, a collab pop-up store with new york-based cfda and entirely dedicated to the big apple. fifteen of the organization’s members have designed tees inspired by the new york-paris theme, and these are available in a limited-edition of only 80 each. additionally there’ll be a range of related paraphernalia on sale.
it looks like hong kong is becoming a second tokyo in terms of the availability of japanese brands. more and more hot labels from the land of the rising sun arrive in the city, even getting their branded retail space. the latest addition to the vast array of shops here is understated menswear brand soph.. with 446 sq.ft. the store is compact in size but that is fully compensated with a maximum of sleek aesthetics. white walls and ceiling, and a teak floor provide a minimalist visual frame.
two lines of subtle cove lighting enhance the retail environment. an L-shaped mirror pairs with wooden wall tiles in different shapes to match the tatamis customized from okinawa, to evoke an authentic japanese ambience. this is soph.’s first overseas store and design guru hiroshi fujiwara flew into town for the opening party where he took to the stage for a gig. location: 26 wyndham street [central].
serpentine gallery has pulled it off again, this year presenting a striking pavilion by french starchitect jean nouvel. interestingly, it’s his first completed building in britain. the structure consists of geometric forms made from both metal and light-weight materials and allows a highly versatile use of interior and exterior spaces. its most striking feature is a sloped freestanding wall that stands 12 meters above the lawn. the pavilion will be used a public space, a café and for the gallery’s park nights program, and will remain open until oct 17. location: kensington gardens, hyde park [kensington].
it may look rather inconspicuous on the outside, but behind the concrete façade there’s a cutting-edge boutique hotel that is the waterhouse at south bund. the newly opened property features only 19 rooms, impeccably designed by shanghai-based agency neri & hu. the non-descript utilitarian vibe of the original building has been transformed into a style statement that combines edgy with luxury. the hotel‟s playful design philosophy is based on the blurring of internal and external spaces. as a result public places allow glimpses into private rooms while the private spaces invite guests to peek into public areas.
the waterhouse at south bund features a restaurant, named table no. 1 and manned by an acclaimed chef. there’s a rooftop bar with absolutely stunning cross-river views of the booming pudong district, and as a special service guests can rent vintage scooters for easy urban explorations. a second building located adjacent to the hotel accommodates an events warehouse. measuring 743 sqm., the multi-functional space has a double-storey ceiling and is adaptable to almost any event. location: 1-3 maojiayuan lu [huangpu].
closed is going places, and not only creatively. the brand ventures north to copenhagen for fashion week, opening a showroom and pop-up store inside storm, one of the city’s leading fashion haunts. snap up some goodies from closed’s a/w 2010 collection until sep 4. location: store regnegade 1 [indre by].
as much as we love to travel, very few airports provide an environment that makes us actually enjoy them. many air terminals are either outdated, overcrowded or just plain hideous. behold denver international’s daring plan for a spectacular new south terminal, created by starchitect santiago calatrava. phase 1 of the usd 650 million project not only features a passenger terminal but also incorporates a commuter-rail station, a public plaza that links with the airport’s existing terminal, and a 500-room westin hotel. although no decision has yet been made to start construction, denver international is already our hot new fav.
hong kong’s ice house street has increasingly become the nucleus of directional fashion brands. the latest addition to arrive on the block is the ann demeulemeester store which relocated to a space twice the size of its previous shop. location: 10 ice house street [central].
the fashionmeister may have long departed but his name still has a magic twang in fashionland. but we’re now talking helmut lang, the fashion label [version 2.0, so to speak]. if you’re in town for copenhagen fashion week, the event may inspire you to burn some cash on a fab outfit for tonight’s party. if so, drop by luxury label emporium birger christensen to check out the helmut lang pop-up store. what to find there? a nice selection of the brand’s a/w 2010 women’s collection. location: østergade 38 [indre by].
the upper east gains more retail lustre with the much-anticipated opening of the reed krakoff flagship on thu - aug 19. yes, it’s the store of reed krakoff, creative director of the coach leather goods empire. in fact, his luxe womenswear label is a new division of the latter and only launched earlier this year, much to the liking of both the press and the fashion crowd. the reed krakoff store carries the full collection of apparel, bags, shoes and jewellery. it’s no surprise that the next roll-out is planned for japan where two shop-in-shops and a flagship store are to open. location: 831 madison avenue [upper east].
the gansevoort hotel helped to accelerate the meatpacking district’s transformation from fringe to happening hood when it opened six years ago. the arrival of the gansevoort park avenue may do the very same for the nomad area. the new 249-room property will soft open on mon - aug 16 with the official opening scheduled for next october. the hotel is a totally new structure and designed as an urban resort. rooms and suites are spacious, and many feature floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies that give guests unobstructed views of new york’s iconic empire state building.
the gansevoort park avenue’s striking features include a three-storey lobby and an amazing indoor-outdoor pool. additionally, there’s a spa, fitness room, ballroom and four events spaces plus italian restaurant asellina. the design of the hotel is contemporary with a 1940s glam twist, concocted by architect stephen b. jacobs and interior designer andi pepper. location: 420 park avenue south [nomad].
remember we announced the arrival of french designer vanessa bruno’s first u.s. flagship in a previous post? well, local fashionistas flocked in droves to west hollywood as soon as it opened. designed in collaboration with david exbrayat, the spacious store has an eclectic gallery-chic vibe. the minimalist frame formed by the expansive concrete floor, tiled walls and huge front windows is cleverly toned down by a playful configuration and juxtaposition of sleek displays and louis XIV-style chairs and sofas. the new vanessa bruno store carries the brand’s entire collection. the next flagship will open next month in london. location: 8448 melrose avenue [west hollywood].
we’ve got this thing for tropical seaside resorts and the new banyan tree samui, perched on top of a cliff overlooking a private bay on luscious samui island, truly is our dream escape. the resort features 78 spacious villas, built with an eye for architectural detail and using indigenous materials to evoke the sense of the coconut industry that once flourished on the island. needless to say that the villas come with all modern amenities imaginable, including that sizeable private pool.
food and dining is another matter taken very seriously at banyan tree samui as it features no less than three restaurants. right on the beach there’s the aptly named sands, while up on the cliffs you’ll find the edge which serves asian and international dishes. situated on the highest point is saffron, the resort’s most exclusive dining spot. it has three private dining rooms and features contemporary southeast asian cuisine. additional facilities that may lure you here are the exclusive banyan tree spa and hydrotherapy facility the rainforest. both offer a series of highly specialized wellness treatments.
mind you, the banyan tree samui currently offers a tempting introductory rate for two people in a garden pool villa with a minimum two-night booking [valid for reservation from now to sep 29, and stays from now to sep 30 of this year. location: 99/9 moo 4 [maret].
he may be paris-based but fashion darling gareth pugh’s very first store has opened halfway across the planet in the bustling shopping destination of hong kong. a collab venture with edgy retail giant i.t, the new store is located on ice street in central where it already operates a string of designer fashion depositories, including comme des garçons‘ much publicized subterranean flagship and martin margiela.
the retail space measures 685 sq.ft. and being the obvious brand statement, it reflects much of gareth pugh’s dark yet futuristic fashion sense. it’s a massive manifestation of black affair: walls are clad in black rubber paint while displays are matte black. the scarce contrast is striking and comes either in the form of glossy tiles that create a ‘grid-line’ effect, the glass-plated ceiling or the gigantic led wall showcasing graphics and images related to the brand. the designer flew into town for the opening and mingled with a crowd of overexcited fashionistas. location: 10 ice house street [central].
red wing shoes lands in amsterdam, setting up shop in a cutesy canal district abode. launched by the boys behind denim depository tenue de nîmes, the store is pretty much an extrapolation of their brand philosophy, if not a downright brand expansion of sorts. compatible with the legacy of red wing shoes, the store interior has a rugged ‘americana’ vintage look where a lot of effort has gone into detailing, and creating the right balance with the more contemporary design elements.
walls are adorned by early 20th-century tools and shoes are displayed on steel and antique glass cabinets filled with black coal. the shop features a selection of red wing shoes‘ collection for men and women, complemented by belts, gloves and other accessories. additionally, there’s a striking collection of sturdy canvas bags that’s hard to pass by without purchasing one. location: reestraat 15hs [centrum].
swedish denim supremo acne’s flagship london store is finally unzipped on mayfair’s hipster dover street. stretching over three floors with a gorgeous roof deck to boot, the store boasts art gallery proportions with chic industrial design and showcases exquisite furniture by luxury fashion house lanvin. gracing the walls are murals by legendary interiors illustrator jeremiah goodman, images by photographer katerina jebb, drawings by jean cocteau and a striking three part eagle sculpture by fashion designer-turned-sculptor helmut lang. the store reflects jonny johansson’s conceptual vision of blending art and fashion into a seamless, luxurious and inspiring environment. location: 13 dover street [mayfair].
the fashion esteem of lanvin has soared to new heights since alber elbaz took creative control back in 2001. the luxury brand was however the odd one out among peers, having no store in the big apple. but that was yesterday. today lanvin’s lavish united states flagship store opens its doors on the upper east side. the three-storey retail space has been designed as a true show stopper. sharply in check with the brand’s philosophy, the interior has an intimate vibe and alludes to the elegance of a women’s club. yet there’s a modern playfulness to be found in the use of both rough and refined materials. antique chandeliers are mixed with brushed steel panels, wrought-iron racks are placed with blackened steel bookshelves plus many more juxtapositions.
the first level, featuring a graphic floor pattern made of white and dark gray carrara marble, features a mix of accessories and jewellery. one floor up is the heart of the flagship where the ready-to-wear collection is featured in one chamber while the other accommodates the shoe library and a cozy salon with zebra print rug and antique sofa. the two spaces are connected by mirrored arch with glass shelves displaying jewelry. a mirror-lined stairway leads to the third floor mezzanine which houses the bridal collection while the top two floors of the building are used as office space for lanvin’s u.s. headquarters. location: 815 madison avenue [upper east].
tokyo interaction center has kicked off! an initiative of three touch-screen generation tokyo creatives, it’s a community that is exclusively dedicated to interaction and user experience while focusing on concrete applications of technology and the experience of the end-user. it has both a physical and virtual meeting place where members can collaborate, contribute, and exchange information. the virtual space launches on fri - jul 23 and is open to designers, architects, researchers, musicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs. physical location: c/o lm3labs, k’s place 202, 6-43 kagurazaka [shinjuku].
oh my…this has got to be the new pinnacle of beirutmania. behold the versace damac tower, a fiercely glammed-up real estate concoction by dubai-based damac properties. this is one of many new multimillion dollar structures that redefine the lebanese capital’s downtown skyline, and in some cases also destroy its historic architectural legacy. construction of the 28-storey residential tower, two blocks down from the west marina in central beirut, has just started after it was halted for a few years. the building features 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments and its main design feature is a rippling façade of glass that wraps around the exterior of each floor.
as the name implies, there’s a versace touch to this prestige project. its division versace home takes care of the interior design of all apartments. in fact, buyers can choose from two different design packages. each apartment is fitted out with a jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna. other facilities include multilevel parking and smart home technology. completion of the versace damac tower is scheduled for 2013. location: rue omar daouk [central beirut].
we’re almost losing count. hermès is the latest luxury brand to arrive in lebanon’s booming capital, opening up shop there on wed - jul 30. located on the ground floor of a listed historic building from the 1920s next to the new beirut souks mall, the new store measures 150 sqm. and is designed by paris-based architecture practice rdai, responsible for many of the brand’s flagships across the planet.
although retaining many of the building’s historic features, the store interior references to a great extent the grand hermès flagship on paris‘ rue faubourg st.-honoré. it will carry quite an extensive range of luxury goods, including the iconic bags and luggage plus small leather goods, ready-to-wear for men and women, silk scarves, jewellery and perfumes. location: rue allenby [central beirut].
amanresorts‘ first european seaside property is a rather spectacular one. the new aman sveti stefan not only occupies the entirety of the idyllic islet of sveti stefan, off the coast of the newly established republic of montenegro, but also three beaches and the villa miločer on the mainland.
its history dates back to the 1500s when it was a fortified fishing village, and has now been connected to 21st-century modernity through a phased and meticulous renovation program, as is evident in the six suites that are currently available at the lavish villa miločer and on its grounds. a total of 50 cottages and suites will be revealed on the islet in due time.
next to all the modern amenities and facilities you can expect, the aman sveti stefan currently includes three gourmet restaurants and a beach café, with more facilities to be opened in the near future. location: sveti stefan.
it’s official: luxe is back in beirut. we’re talking the opening today of louis vuitton’s flagship store in the rapidly changing downtown area. the influx of upmarket foreign brands started a little while ago but the arrival of louis vuitton is an unprecedented step for the city towards becoming the middle east’s leading luxury shopping destination, and rivalling dubai’s current top position.
the store measures 270 sqm. spread over two floors of a restored 1920s townhouse and is designed according to the signature aesthetics laid down by house architect peter marino. this includes the use of beige and brown marble stone, off-white bleached wooden panelling and circular metal netting posing as the monogram flower. a collection of vintage trunks and luggage pieces is put on decorative display on the ground floor while lebanese artist marwan rechmaoui was commissioned window installations specifically for the opening.
louis vuitton’s new store carries the brand’s women’s collections of bags, shoes, jewellery and accessories while it also caters to male customers with men’s city bags, shoes and sunglasses. prior to the store opening louis vuitton c.e.o. yves carcelle threw a little dinner party where he rubbed shoulders with catherine deneuve, christian louboutin [who was in town to launch his own new boutique] and a slew of local dignitaries and glitterati. location: 103 rue allenby [central beirut].
fashion designer clifford portier launches a second pop-up salon for his maison portier couture label [open until jul 24]. the designer once again showcases a high-end collection of ethereal silk gowns and dresses, and also some rather audaciously glamorous bodysuits. location: miauw project space, hartenstraat 34-36 [centrum].
swedish fashion chain weekday opened a new shop with a big bang last week, in a rather unexpected corner of berlin’s mitte district, away from its cool peers. we’re guessing that the sheer size of the modern retail space [mind you, it's 629 sqm.] must have been the decisive factor. besides, weekday’s opening at this spot may very well lure other brands here. the store interior is clean with decorative futuristic touches in metal and colour blended in. the new outlet features the brand’s entire collection, including the sought-after weekday collaboration designs. location: friedrichstrasse 140 [mitte].
as man bag protagonists, we’re always excited to find new stores that accommodate our growing needs…and rather picky taste. behold property of…, a singapore-based brand that just opened up shop in amsterdam’s canal district. the store very much blends in with the historic neighbourhood, quirkily providing an old-style bistro/café setting [mind you, one even serves espresso here...] for its extensive collection of bags, accessories and savvy collection of international magazines. this is the first overseas property of… store, with new openings to follow shortly in new york and tokyo. location: herenstraat 2 [centrum].
it’s your final chance to live out your ultimate bar fantasy in the premise contest! the peeps at drambuie ask you to come up with the most amazing bar concept that will be revealed in downtown sydney next october. one that’ll even amaze the most jaded and sets new standards for all others. enter the premise contest and share your savoir-faire before thu - jul 15!
the competition consists of two rounds of entries and finalists. each round will result in 10 finalists - the top seven highest ranked and three wild card entries selected by the judging panel. the twenty chosen finalists will then be introduced to their renowned mentors who’ll help them spin their ideas into gold. from those polished submissions, the judges then choose a shortlist of five ideas. what you waiting for?!
style-craving visitors to the big apple have a fav new pad. we’re talking the sleek andaz 5th avenue that opened earlier this week in the buzzing times square area. featuring 184 rooms and suites [six of which have terraces with fabulous views], the property is designed by new york-based architect tony chi, in a loft-like style. rooms are designed in timeless muted palette and open kitchens, and residential style furniture add a homey vibe. the use of natural materials provide a counterpoint to the sheen of white lacquer finishes and marquis lighting. needless to say, all rooms come with all the amenities you’d expect such as complimentary wifi and calls to local area codes, and free use of the well-stocked mini-bar.
facilities of the andaz 5th avenue include a 38-seat gourmet restaurant, a bar and shop that sells artisanal goodies. additionally, the hotel offers an innovative meeting and events with a new york apartment-feel with the aptly-named apartment 2e space. once guests exit the elevators to the second floor, an expansive open kitchen is the first thing that comes into sight. designed as the center of the 6,500 sq.ft., everyone is invited to be a part of the action. location: 485 fifth avenue [times square].
they say all good things come to those who wait and oh boy, i’m the happiest person on this planet at the moment! vivienne westwood’s first ever man store is now open. focusing entirely on male shoppers, man showcases the ever-expanding world of vivienne westwood with a store which measures at a generous 1,300 sq.ft. inspiration for the space is taken from the original man floor located on the lower ground of the 44 conduit street flagship. the result is an amalgamation of industrialist and earthy elements seen in the nickel-plated rails and cabinets, ’shuttered’ concrete, textured stone, rusted steel and wide oak boards as flooring.
for the man logo, vivienne westwood found a muse in the iconic monument stonehenge, using welsh blue pennant stone for the fireplace surround which creates a monumental focal point within the space. of course, it can only be expected that the store has a twist; in man shoppers will find a glass covered ‘crypt’, previously an underground vault. this barrel-shaped chamber has been transformed into a unique display space within the floor. the man store stays true to the well-loved vivienne westwood aesthetic while integrating a sense of ease and luxury into the mix. location: 18 conduit street [mayfair].
lanvin is the latest luxury brand to step up its presence in sunny st.-tropez this summer. its cozy boudoir-style pop-up store features distinctive drawings by fashion meister alber elbaz while, in the manner of cool urban art, stickers of his famous figures adorn the light grey walls and ceiling and flowers are scattered across the floor like oriental rugs. in the back exhausted shoppers can relax on a floral sofa in lanvin’s summer 2010 collection. this pop-up store will close its doors at the end of october. location: 30 rue françois sibilli [centre ville].
st.-tropez currently enjoys some kind of luxury retail boom. louis vuitton is the next high-profile brand to step up its presence in the ritzy beach resort with the recent opening of an expanded store. located in a downtown 18th-century mansion with luscious courtyard garden, the shop has doubled in size and now boasts an interior that reflects the town’s easy-breezy glam.
on the ground floor the louis vuitton store features women’s shoes, accessories [including a specific beach selection] and the brand’s iconic luggage pieces. one floor up you’ll find women’s ready-to-wear and the men’s department, in addition to a deluxe v.i.p. room. and to keep things edgy, paris-based urban artist andré spiced up the store with a series of illustrations. location: rue françois sibilli [centre ville].
shanghai gets in the mood for united nude, especially after the opening of a flagship store there. located amidst luxury brand peers in the booming huaihai lu area, the store is designed according to the brand’s minimalist dark shop concept and features a spectacular computer-controlled led shoe wall. an additional stand-out feature here is a small goods elevator that leads to a stock room above the main floor. location: 817 huaihai zhong lu [huaihai lu].
