4 minute read
New York City and Its Unique Decadence
New York City and its Unique Decadence
By Faith Hope Consolo
K-Beauty Kicking it Mainstream
Innisfree, the South Korean skincare and cosmetics brand, opened its first storefront in the United States last fall—right in the heart of New York City’s Union Square, 862 Broadway. The Amorepacificowned cult-fave focuses on naturally derived ingredients, specifically sourced from the volcanic, mineral-rich ecosystem of Jeju Island. The store not only boasts hundreds of products, but it also features a creative and immersive make-up experience. The space is packed with Instagrammable moments; the temperature is cool to mimic an ocean breeze, and it is scented with the brand’s signature green tea scent; and shoppers can marvel at a 21-foot-tall living green wall to illustrate the brand’s Jeju Island heritage. Growing its presence, Innisfree will open its second U.S. location at 750 Lexington Avenue, one of the premier retail corridors in the country. This urban oasis offers a sensorial escape into beauty land!
Dine and Shop à la Paris
Located inside the exclusive Roman and Williams Guild store in Soho, retail restaurant La Mercerie by Chef Marie-Aude Rose celebrates the thoughtful delight of everyday French cooking. The café serves breakfast, an all-day menu, craft cocktails and an all-French wine list. Mercerie is the French word for haberdashery, and everything in the restaurant is for sale, from the artisanal dinnerware to the flatware and tables. At the end of the meal, guests are presented with a custom card featuring a selection of items available for purchase with same-day delivery available. This one-of-a-kind food destination offers a slice of Paris in Soho... and not just croissants!
Diamonds, Sapphires and Emeralds, Oh My!
Earlier this summer, Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship at 611 Fifth Avenue unveiled a fully renovated jewelry department that spotlights a mix of modern innovators and established brands. Called “Jewelry on 2,” the 7,000-square-foot extravagant enclave houses creations from more than forty jewelry designers in counters and shop-in-shops and has a pair of private VIP rooms where clients can sit down to discuss repairs and develop custom designs. The jewelry lineup features a mix of the established and new: Amali, Anita Ko, Aurélie Bidermann, David Webb, David Yurman, Gurhan, ILA Jewelry, Ippolita, Jacquie Aiche, John Hardy, Marco Bicego, MeiraT, Mikimoto, Mizuki, Pomellato, Roberto Coin, Temple St. Clair and Zoë Chicco. Additional renovations are under way for the lower level space to be transformed into a destination for top-tier jewelry called “The Vault,” set to open next year. It will be a shopping experience that is not duplicated anywhere else in the country. This majestic home for bodacious baubles will not disappoint!
Futuristic Fashion
In the Seaport District, Milanese luxury concept fashion boutique 10 Corso Como recently opened their doors on the first floor of the Fulton Market Building at 1 Fulton Street. This marks an important milestone for the neighborhood’s transformation into a fashion, cultural, culinary and entertainment hub. The boutique features an Italian café/ restaurant, fashion, design objects and books, a garden and an art gallery with shop-in-shop boutique brands such as Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela, exclusive Gucci, Balenciaga and Prada. The high concept store offers a curated selection of fashion, furniture, homeware and other accessories, displayed among a mix of artwork and installations sure to revitalize this historic neighborhood.
Home Furnishings Extraordinaire
In the Meatpacking District, Restoration Hardware (RH) debuted their new flagship RH New York, The Gallery at the intersection of Little West 12th Street, Ninth Avenue and Gansevoort Street. The store has six floors with curated room spaces or vignettes dedicated to the entire RH aesthetic, including RH Interiors, Modern, Outdoor, Baby & Child and Teen. There is also a demarcated interior design atelier with five glass-enclosed private workspaces, a roof-top restaurant with outdoor terrace seating, as well as a separate barista haven. The next-generation design blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, physical and digital, making for an innovative, immersive masterpiece that exudes a gallery feel more than a store, pushing the boundaries of what furniture shopping can and should be.
