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trend journal
paige cheshier professor green fasm 440
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table of contents hermes in miami etq
- 1.11.16
- 1.19.16
charming charlie givenchy
- 1.24.16
- 2.3.16
fendi flagship in rome
- 2.11.16
barneys back to chelsea weitzman on madison
- 2.17.16
- 2.26.16
davidson boutique london
- 3.1.16
hermes in miami this newly opened hermes flagship store located in the heart of miami’s design district is one of several luxury stores flanking the
streets of this neighborhood, attracting locals and tourists alike. however, what sets this store apart from the competition is its beautifully designed, green house like structure that allows miami’s
natural sunlight to flood in and illuminate the space, bringing the
product to life. structurally, the location is encompassed by glass panels held up by a plethora of white beams, all in various sizes, in
which create strong contrasting shadows on the store’s interior. this unique visual interest is something that was through out long in advance by the store’s designer whom was looking to the roots of the banyan trees as his key inspiration.
the three story building, in which is adorned with a rooftop garden, shines on the inside and out. the transparent walls give way for customers to view the constant beautiful blue sky of the city while
they browse the selections of the brand’s 179 year old heritage. the
store’s interior incorporates modern architecture juxtaposed with traditional leather furniture for guests to relax on while they are making their selections. i particularly love the white floors of the
store against the white walls. i feel as though this is the ultimate chic backdrop to showcase hermes’ bright and colorful products against. one of my favorite elements within the location is a curved
wall composed of thin wooden boards in which lends it self to forming somewhat of a screen acting as a space definer for the
otherwise open concept location. overall i feel as though this one of a kind boutique is very successful and its one that will be appreciated by its loyal customers and art lovers alike. it’s unique architecture mixed with the attention to detail all play a role in making this store fit into the unparalleled city that is miami and it truly feels like a visual part of the city!
etq in this entry i have explored the company etq which is based out of amsterdam and its newly opened flagship location. an article in which i found on
the ssense website through further research and exploration of the brand explains etq to be a company that
“grew
out of the belief that one should
pay for the quality of a sneaker, rather than its name”. the read goes on to
“with the aim of combining a modern, minimalist and sophisticated design aesthetic with traditions of quality shoemaking, all explain that etq was founded
designs are handmade by skilled craftsmen in small portuguese factories out of premium leathers and suedes”. the key words in the summary of the brand could also be used to define the store’s interior and exterior aesthetic. this
two story 3,450 square feet retail location encompasses a very modern,
urban, and heavy look with a heavy use of concrete in which comes into play on the floors, walls, and ceiling.
the fixtures within this space also speak to the minimalist design yet they act as makeshift art and they add an extra layer of interest and appeal to the
otherwise bare space. fluorescent tube lighting flanks the top of the store,
activating the current street style. one of my favorite elements of the location
is the clean and streamlined design in which is carried throughout. i feel that this company has done a wonderful job in matching the look and feel of
the store to that of its brand and products, therefore serving the customer in an extremely effective way. i particularly enjoyed the fixtures serving as installation pieces in this space, with white cages filled with a piece or two os
key product decorated the store. i found it striking that with such a large
store, there was a vast amount of open space for customers to roam and
enjoy which speaks to the company’s desire to remain minimalist. the contrast between the light, bright first floor with the white walls and windows is
striking against the lower level which is accessed through concrete stairs into a concrete cellar of sorts. i really enjoyed reading and learning about this unique brand and seeing their flagship store in their native land in which so whole heartedly encompassed everything that the brand was trying to get across to the consumer in a visual and conceptual way!
charming charlie known for its large variety of colorful costume jewelry and accessories, charming charlie is a 10 year old brand in which
caters to the suburban lady. however, the company has just made the jump to new york’s fifth avenue where they have opened their first location, serving as a flagship store for the retailer. this 16,000
square foot space located near bryant park is set to serve tourists and locals alike. an article posted by vmsd states that the store designers of charming charlie
“were challenged to reimagine who
a new york charming charlie customer could be, as compared to the brand’s traditional clientele”. at first glance, the interior of this space reminded me of that of a kate spade store or c.wonder loction.
this space is very inviting and colorful with eclectic furniture, fixtures, textiles, and artwork adorning every space around the merchandise. i feel as though this speaks to the overall feel of the brand however this location has definitely stepped it up a bit with a chic and girly sophistocation that you would expect from a new york flagship location. this multi level location looks similar to the design of a teen retailer, with a very fun atmosphere however
the product they provide serves to reach women of all ages. this
location is full of light, both from the windows as well as unique accent lighting that showcases the products. overall, i feel as
though the brand was looking to create a happy, shoppable, and welcoming environment for their customers to be immersed. this
store would seemingly be a nice change of pace for a tourist to
pop into, and a nice place to purchase a piece of jewelry if you just wanted to get away with a little souvenir from fifth avenue!
givenchy when givenchy made the decision to open a location in seoul, south korea, the designers knew it needed to be just as stunning on the outside as the product that was to be sold on the inside. the building located on the
corner of the gangnam-gu shopping district is faceted in steel plates in which exude texture giving the visual appearance of a ripple effect. the three
story building is adorned with a cut out of the corner exterior wall in which is to resemble a
“t”,
a commonly used design mark by the company.
an article titled portfolio: givenchy, seoul, south korea speaks of the initial thought behind the buildings aesthetics in expressing that when the company
“decided to open a new flagship on a corner of the fashion avenue, its first design decision was to create a dramatic, brand-appropriate exterior that could be readily seen and identified”. the store is lined with marble floors and stone walls in what the article
“hyper-minimalist interior”. the design of the store is something that is rich and elevated, very much speaking to the brand as well as the location of the store. shiny display cases juxtapose the blonde wood floor in which was laid in a herringbone pattern. the garments hang from marble lined incasing closets flanked with a deep espresso wood shell. can lighting floods the room and fills it with light, making the space feel light and bright, portraying importance to the product. a mirrored wall of accessories lines one side of the store, showing off the handbags of the season and the small leather goods to match. each level can be accessed by a sleek and modern floating staircase, in the same deep wood color as the panels that surround the clothes. the store has a lot of open space, leaving room for guests to wander at their pleasure, accentuating the true definition of luxury retailing. i believe that this space is very successful in representing the brand and the products to the customers. i definitely feel as though the design was refers to as a
executed in the way that it was originally intended as the elements all come
across in the details of the location, both big and small. i really enjoyed being able to see how they focused just as much attention to the outside as on the inside and it provided a good example of how architecture can play such a part in a customer’s overall experience with a retailer.
fendi flagship in rome fendi has just opened a new flagship location in their hometown of rome, italy. this 18th century building featured in the heart of the city boasts the company’s
headquarters facility within its seven floors. an article posted by wallpaper
“previously a ho-hum fendi shop and an average office space, the palazzo has just been ambitiously re-conceived and refurbished as a six floor cultural, retail, and entertaining centre for the brand and its lucky clients.” magazine is quoted to say that the location was
the space features two floors dedicated to selling space, a boutique hotel
with a private vip apartment suite, in addition to a rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the slick city streets. when speaking to the level of detail within the
interior of the space, the article explained that the original five arched window
façade has been carefully preserved, while floors are intarsiad with precious
calacatta or marquina marble. a unique feature of their store in which plays a connection to the artistic history of rome is that the walls are adorned with art and design pieces in which make the space come to life including sculptures and paintings alike. along with featured art work from
“an improved selection of furniture the fendi casa line fills in the rest along with fendi’s very cool fur tablets and fur artwork that line the shop’s classic travertine stone walls.”
the interior of the store has walls lined with geometric shaped cut outs in which
showcase product with soft lighting from the back. mannequins dressed in fendi’s finest are placed strategically along the path of the store, leading the customer to a grand staircase that heads to the second floor filled with even
more product. the store is spacious and open with minimal center tables that display merchandise, as the majority of the goods are placed in the built in shelves
along the perimeter walls. one thing i appreciated about this space is how they took extra note and made the store’s ceiling a work of art in and of its self, something that expressed design and that was pleasing to the eye. it is typical of
stores to place track or can lights into the ceiling to light the room, however, this store made sure to think about how the ceiling would play into the overall aesthetic of the store and they made it visually flow with all of the other aspects of the store.
barneys back to chelsea it appears as though barneys the famous new york luxury retailer proves that you really can go home again. the company has just opened a new (and spectacular,
might i add) flagship location in the heart of chelsea, right where their story began some 93 years ago. when speaking to the exterior of the retail space, an article posted by wallpaper magazine says that on the
“outside
the store, a
170-ft stainless steel marquee runs along the 7th avenue façade and around the corner onto the
16th
street side, with two feature windows that will serve as
prime staging opportunities for barneys’ renowned window displays.”
the incredibly luxe interior of the space contains retro furniture pieces surrounded by large gold display tables that lend themselves to be works of art within the
space. it is clear that every detail of the location’s interior was meticulously mulled over leaving no idea unexplored. this beautiful sleek showroom is filled
in such a way that very little product is featured on the selling floor, the exact opposite of what you would picture a real department store to be, which is a true defining characteristic of its luxury retailing notion. each floor lends itself to
feature a different classification of product category and, arguably the most
unique element within the space is a robust white spiral staircase. this staircase lures fashionistas up each flight of stairs, giving them clear sight lines across
each floor all the while encouraging them to climb higher higher within the many levels.
the aesthetic of the space is the epitome of class, luxury, and elegance yet while
maintaining each floor’s unique design. there is a very minimal approach taken with the design of the space yet the elements that have been incorporated, including mirrors, glass panels, polished neutral color flooring, and gold accents all make a big impact without appearing glitzy or over the top, just lush enough to
draw customers in and provide them with a unique barneys experience. architect steven harris speaks to the location in saying
“the
store is completely unique
compared to any other store downtown. it is subtle but inordinately luxurious”. he goes on to mention that the designers of the space and tranquil environment with a neutral, but richly
“wanted to create a calm varied, color palette that
truly highlights the merchandise”. i feel as though those goals were most definitely achieved throughout the overall aesthetic. this beautiful space serves as a bridge
between two eras in barneys history and is the perfect blend of past, present, and all that the brand is to become.
weitzman on madison in a new showroom location incorporating both form and function into the mix, the space created for stuart weitzman is sure to please any diehard shoe lover who trails up and down madison avenue. this location doubles as a 15,000 square-foot show room in addition to the company’s global headquarters.
this beautiful interior boasts a copious amount of windows allowing natural light to flood in and surround the shoes. one unique element within this space is
“ribbon-like
corian display shelf that moves fluidly through the store” in which
showcases product all along the walls of the store. the glass shelf, which is
situated along the windows, gives the illusion that it is suspended in air thanks to
careful craftsmanship and seamless design. an article posted by vmsd explains that the shelving unit is
“made
of white solid surfacing, the ribbons run along
long walls with glass shelves floating between them”. it goes on to say that
“the
materials palette further unifies the space and taps into the brand’s colors,
including columns and walls finished in venetian plaster, porcelain tile flooring
and signature purple accent color.” additionally, the space also houses a private vip presentation room, a multi-purpose cafe, and conference area for both business and customer use.
the room’s interior is filled with sleek and modern furniture including couches,
tables, and chairs all of which help to foster a more encouraging environment to try on shoes. other key elements within the design of the space include the various use of silver metals, glass, and mirrors, all working together to give
this space a light and airy feel for the customer. these three elements come into play simultaneously through the floating shelves which are placed in various locations around the store staging shoes as the unit itself is flanked by two vertical poles, making for a very bold use of line within the space.
my favorite element within the store is most definitely the shelving unit in which
takes fluid form across the perimeter of the store. to me, it almost mimics that of the curve of a high heeled shoe in appearance, fitting true to the brand and product category in which it serves to promote. the stuart weitzman brand has
been a long time favorite of mine and i feel as though this space is an absolutely striking addition to their arsenal of brick and mortar locations.
davidson boutique london this new boutique space opened in the heart of london’s mount street by brand j&m davidson brings together a minimalistic yet rich interior for its guests to wander and enjoy. as the company’s third storefront location, they get to experiment with
the overall aesthetic of each individual location, making sure that it is in fact true to its location and its customer. this space was designed in collaboration with
universal design studio which allowed the retailer to really push the boundaries and explore new possibilities for the design of this space.
when speaking to the origin of the company, this article explains that it was
“launched
in
1984
by anglo-french partners john and monique davidson, the
british label initially focused on handcrafted leathers, before branching out to handbags, leather accessories, clothing and knitwear”. the building’s sleek interior is a primarily blank slate, predominately featuring a limited selection of key merchandise such as bags, shoes, and small leather goods. mirrors and gold
metal accents fill the space, giving it somewhat of a more home-like look and feel. the interior of the space does lend itself to look like that of a townhouse space, with a staircase that leads the customer to a second floor with narrow hallways lined with product on shelfs lit with soft lighting as well as featured merchandise displayed in individual glass cases. the article explains the interior design as being
“decked
out in a muted palette of dusty taupe, earthy grey and blushing pink, the
interiors are anchored by clean, minimalist lines, and brushed brass fixtures”.
the space does possess the use of both straight and curved lines, making it a key detail in the architecture. floor design, sight line path, and product display shelves
as well as being integrated into the walls through panels which are under the stairs creating visual interest without distracting from the product. these vertical lines are carried throughout and into the dressing room which is flanked with a generous size mirror that is lit by the same soft light bulbs as the shelves in which display product on the selling floor. this unique lighting is also carried into the ceiling as it illuminates from a drop tray design adding visual depth as well as interest to the space. overall, i found this space to be extremely minimal yet not sterile due to the
incorporation of the mauve pink tone and gold fixtures, giving the environment an element of unique richness without being drab and uninviting. i feel as though in viewing the aesthetic of the store and the products that are being offered from the
brand, that the two go very well together creating a space that feels sophisticated and elite yet still approachable at the same time.
resources 1. http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/hermes-new-boutique-in-miami-is-an-odeto-its-sunlit-and-organic-environment#136560
2. http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/etq-opens-new-multi-brand-store-in-amsterdam#139140
3. https://www.ssense.com/en-us/men/designers/etq-amsterdam 4. http://vmsd.com/content/southern-style 5. http://vmsd.com/content/portfolio-givenchy-seoul-south-korea 6. http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/fendi-opens-its-largest-flagship-store-onhome-ground-in-rome
7. http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/barneys-open-new-flagship-store-in-newyork#
8.
http://vmsd.com/content/stuart-weitzman-new-york
9. http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/jm-davidson-boutique-by-universal-design-studio