Gucci Icon Temporary London Store Opening Party

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 – 37 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden

After making stops in New York and Miami, Frida Gianini launched her Gucci ‘Icon’ pop up shop in Covent Garden, London. The Gucci Icon London store is offering the limited edition Gucci x Ronson sneakers , created by award winning music producer and artist Mark Ronson. The store will exclusively carry the 17 limited edition Gucci Ronson sneaker styles – 15 for men and 2 for women.

Frida decided to push the unique”ness” enveloppe to the edge by offering customers the option to have their initials embossed onto leather tags and the sneakers’ laces, in-store.

For those who couldn’t make it to the London event but are still itching for a pair of Gucci kicks; fret not, Frida’s got you covered. Gianini added a technological twist to the event by offerring two of the newest Gucci Ronson sneakers for online order via Gucci iphone app.

The cocktail party for VIP guests featured music by The Misshapes Geordon Nicol & Leigh Lezark. The event saw a long list of fashionrati in attendance, including Simon and Yasmin Le Bon,John Taylor & Nick Rhodes, Dominic Cooper, Ben Hudson, Idris Elba, Bryan Ferry, Johnny Borrell, Jamie Campbell Bower, Bonnie Wright, Natalie Press, Julia Restoin, Poppy Delevigne, & Jefferson Hack.

Post-opening, Giannini kept the party going at Ronnie Scott’s Soho Club where she & close friend Jefferson Hack welcomed over 400 guests to the renowned jazz club.  Music was provided by DJs Seb Chew,Mathew Stone, Uffie and Pipa & Iwan with performances by Friendly Fires, Patrick Wolf & Chauffeur.

The Gucci Icon Temporary London store will be open for one month.

Next stop for the Gucci Icon Temporary Store is Tokyo in June 20, 2010.

See the pictures below:

Pictures via Gucci

Merci x Gap

Wednesday September 9th 2009 – Gap store at 54th street – New York City

Gap has a new trick up its sleeve this fall. The trusty purveyor of blue jeans and khaki pants has teamed up with Merci, a chic, Parisian lifestyle boutique, to open a pop-up shop in New York City, called Merci Gap. For one month only, Merci Gap will occupy the 500-square foot space next to Gap’s flagship store on 5th Avenue.

The original Merci is the brainchild of Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, the founders of Bonpoint (a children’s clothing company they sold in 2003, giving them seed money for Merci). Merci is a “concept shop” stocked with unusual housewares, fashions, perfumes and even fresh flowers. All the proceeds from the shop benefit Accueil des Sans-abri, a non-profit that helps Madagascar’s homeless. (All profits from Merci Gap will go to various children’s charities).

See our pictures below:

Hermès Pour Liberty Of London Celebrate their Collaboration

Hermès and Liberty Of London are collaborating on a scarf and tie shop, which will sit on the ground floor of London department store Liberty for six weeks. On Monday night Hermès and liberty celebrated the pop-up shop, Guests, included Shilpa Shetty, Roisin Murphy, Leah Wood, Jo Wood, Tom Dixon and Freida Pinto.

The scarves will come in two sizes, a 70 x 70 cm and a 45 x 45 cm, in six different micro floral prints, each one screen printed with a Hermès ex libris design. The line will start from 70 pounds, or $115, to 140 pounds, or $230.

More than a pop-up store, the temporary store comes complete with a series of stylists, photographers and interactive pieces, designed to encourage customers to experiment with different styles when sporting Hermes trademark scarves.

According to Geoffroy De la Bourdonnaye, CEO of Liberty, “Hermès is the ultimate house of real craftsmanship.” He added, “The common heritage of Liberty and Hermès makes it natural for both brands to tie the knot in a fashionable entente cordiale.”

Nowhere near London? don’t worry the line is available on liberty’s website: liberty.co.uk

The Hermès store at Liberty is on the ground floor at Liberty, Great Marlborough Street, London W1 from 7 September – 18 October 2009.

The Webster Opens in Miami

The Webster
919 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 674-7899

The store carries men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories from brands including Marc Jacobs, YSL, Lanvin and Maison Martin Margiela. Its dark walls are punctuated with panels of vintage wallpapers in floral patterns, whereas those in psychedelic geometrics decorate the first floor, which carries swimwear, sneakers and jeans from Acne, Neil Barrett and Bronzette, a French collection of Brigitte Bardot-inspired bikinis in ditsy florals. The third floor’s metallic panels set off fine jewelry and watches such as vintage Rolexes, Aurélie Bidermann’s custom looks and Azagury-Partridge’s rings of ruby lips or gold and emerald snakes whose mouths move to hiss.

Carrying brands that are exclusive to the U.S. — or at least Florida — as well as custom and runway pieces, such as Trussardi’s fringed bag in a special color or a minidress with draping in a black-and-blue print from Balenciaga’s fall collection, are ways the Webster aims to buck the recession, according to the three partners.

“We aren’t trying to please every market and age, but are concentrating on editing the most desirable items that are destined to be handed down to children,” said Heriard-Dubreuil.

But even they were surprised when Balmain’s women’s wear and shoes sold out within weeks — a studded, bustier minidress retailing for more than $19,000 awaited purchase on opening day — and the strength of demand meant the store expanded into men’s, a category led by Trussardi.

“Trussardi has really resonated across the board with all ages, and customers recognize its value and quality,” said Dechnik.

Pictures by Courtesy Photo

Deauville Villa Vuitton Store Opening

On Mai April 30 2009 Louis Vuitton re-opened its Louis Vuitton Deauville store in Normandie, France. The store has been reshaped and even received a new name: the Villa Vuitton.

Louis Vuitton celebrated the opening but also the 20th anniversary of Louis Vutton presence in Deauville. “Deauville is to Paris what the Hamptons are to New York” brags Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert, Directeur Général of Louis Vuitton France.

“Deauville is one of many france’s luxurious getaway such as St Tropez, St Morritz… The context, the atmosphere is ideal for our brand”, declared Antoine Arnault.

The 960-square-foot boutique is typical of Normandy architecture and carries accessories and leather goods over two floors. The store decoration reflect the spirit of travel, Louis Vuitton modernity and tradition.

Antoine Arnault has had the pleasure to cut the inauguration ribbon in company of french actor Antoine de Caunes and his wife Daphne Roulier.

To celebrate the opening Louis Vuitton launched a limited edition Neverfull bag with “Deauville” written in purple on the front with matching interior stripes. The Louis Vuitton “Deauville” Neverfull is only available at the Villa Vuitton in Deauville.

Adress:
Villa Vuitton
13, Rue Lucien Barrière
Deauville 14800
France
Tel: (33) 2 31 8865 88

Picture via Courtesy Photo & Lous Vuitton

Bergdorf Goodman Celebrates Bottega Veneta

Less than a block away from the Bottega Veneta 5th avenue Store, a party co-hosted by Julianne Moore & Jim Gold was going on the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman.

It’s the celebration of the first time introduction of Bottega Veneta ready to wear, home and accessories at BG.

Upper East Side socials & Italian press was there to congratulate Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier, who appeared to be honored by this party.

Martha Stewart was there with her camera snapping pictures at Chanel Iman for her next blog entry. The party was followed by an intimate dinner at La Grenouille including Mamie Gummer, Arlenis Sosa, Rosario Dawson, Serena Boardman, Todd Meister, Carey Lowell, Tina Barney and Stephen Shore.

See the pictures below:

Pictures via WWD

Diane Von Furstenberg Lands in The Hamptons

We have to be prepared to see even more wrape dresses than usual in the Hamptons starting May 1st! Diane Von Furstenberg is rumored to open her first store in the Hamptons. It will only be seasonal with a possibility to extend.

Does that sound familiar? Hermes is opening a beach store as well from May 20 to Sept. 20, 2009.

So if you’re going to the Hamptons this summer, keep in mind that you will be able to get your Rock Goddess fix or/and  Get Shaded on location!

See our pictures / favorite looks from the DVF Spring Summer 2009 Show Below:

Topshop Parties Never Stop

We thought the ultimate evening party was at the Balthazar restaurant followed by the Bungalow, well the hottest party happened yesterday night at The Box,

Topshop opened thursday morning. school girls and fashionistas have been waiting for the store opening since 8 am. Topshop treated their first client like vip’s giving away cheese and bottles of water

“This is it” said Topshop owner Sir Philip Green, upon which he and Kate Moss came out at the top of a box as a gift for photographers.

Were mostly here to see Kate and her new collection confessed a group of girls.

According to Kelly Klein. “These are the clothes we all want to buy right now. It’s cool and young, and cheap.”

“Cheap” for Miss Klein but the school girl’s faces became less joyful as soon as they discovered the price tags.

“is there any special for the opening, discounts?” asked a girl o a sale assistant, the sales person said “no and we won’t be doing the every 3 weeks price reductions that you see often in other similar retail stores“. Ouch!

The store hosted a succession of celebs one after another: Jennifer Lopez, Steve Wynn, Rosario Dawson, Ron Perelman, Poppy Delevigne, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Olivia Palermo, Lily Donaldson, June Sarpong, Jason Wu, Jane Wogan, Genevieve Garner, Chloe Green, Debbie Harry carrying a Stephen Sprouse Roses Monogram Louis Vuitton Clutch, Daria Werbowy, Daria, Daphne Guiness, Beth Ostrosky, Bee Shaffer, Alexander Wang, Zoe Kravitz, Veronica Webb, Lorenzo Martone with Marc Jacobs freshly back from their brazilian honeymoon, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Hudson, James Blunt. They were all AMAZED by the store…

After the dinner Jennifer Hudson took the mic for her paid appearance (a rumored $130,000), at the end of the performance she said: “I wish they made bigger shopping bags at Topshop because I want everything!”

See the Store & Dinner Pictures below:

pictures from wwd

Hermès Beach Store to Open in the Hamptons

Hermes Beach Store
63 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937
from May 20 to Sept. 20

The French luxury brand is about to open up a temporary residence in a 2,000-square-foot space at 63 Main Street. The store will only be open for the four peak summer months, from May 20 to Sept. 20. It will be Hermès’ first seasonal store.

The store’s design will be different from the existing design’s stores, primarily white with sisal flooring to reflect the relax vibe of the Hamptons.

The store will features the beachwear line, towel, bathing suit, summer oriented ready-to-wear, cashmere shawl, less formal jewelry, porcelain, items that can be used as hostess gifts and a selection of  bright colorful scarves.

“We send a tremendous amount of merchandise out to the Hamptons pre-summer season and during the summer season,” said Robert Chavez, chief executive officer of Hermès USA.

Inside Topshop New York

Topshop / Topman
478 Broadway
New York, NY 10013
www.topshop.com

We are two days away from Topshop’s New York opening! its over-the-top rock ’n’ roll merchandising have arrived in SoHo.

We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. The store has been already  filled up with sexy sequined dresses, feathered trophy jackets, cheeky studded platforms, skinny fits, geeky eyeglasses and barely legal studded denim short shorts.

It’s the chain’s first store in the U.S., and among the most anticipated retail openings in years.

“This is genuinely the best store we have ever built,” said Sir Philip Green, the flamboyant owner of Arcadia Group, parent company of Topshop and its men’s sibling Topman, during a preview of the site Monday morning. “We see this as a launchpad for a business in America.”

Topshop is milking the opening, staging a barrage of parties and dinners for media and socialites this week in advance of the debut, and then a high-octane ribbon cutting with Kate Moss on Thursday. Moss has been doing an exclusive collection for Topshop since 2006 and launches her spring line in tandem with the SoHo opening.

The store will also be releasing its latest collections by Kate Moss and two British design houses; Jonathan Saunders and Preen.

In addition, a Topshop van has been driving around New York handing out goody bags and gift cards worth $5 to $500.

Mirroring the Oxford Circus flagship in London, the four-level, 40,000-square-foot space, with 28,000 square feet for selling, is an eyeful of energetic, packed merchandising with about 2,000 stock keeping units, a broad price range from moderate to bridge, and dozens of mannequins and forms, either dangling from the high, 30-foot ceilings or sitting atop the alcoves. It’s a wide store with columns and escalators, huge colorful illustrations of London icons, and theatrically lit Topshop marquees. Above all, it’s the product, and not so much the architecture or decor, that does the talking.

For a business that’s built on a strategy of selling irreverent, youthful clothes, and long inspired by the hip music scene ,there’s even a DJ booth that will be playing music on busy shopping days and special events.

In another break from retail tradition, Topshop will have none of the ubiquitous markdowns seen everywhere in retailing. The company stages only four sales a year and otherwise won’t price promote, though the store will be offering students a 10 percent discount.

See all the in store pictures below:

pictures from wwd.com

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