In a nutshell
British architect Sophie Hick's minimalist take on Alaia's move from wholesale to D2C.
In their words
"A legendary Parisian fashion Maison with a Couture soul, Alaïa celebrates the power of femininity and the timelessness of beauty"
Visit Field notes
Part of the D2C push by the Richemont-owned brand, the store is a celebration of Soho with a minimal store behind fogged-out windows. Once inside the products are the heros, with an enviable array of ready to wear apparel and handbags. Decoration is from American luminaries like Robert Rauschenberge, Jonathan Horowitz, Donald Judd. This is a lesson in a compact brand showcase.
Other Reading
An alluring space that is obscured by the teasing frosted windows. Occasionally the roped queue will give away that something's happening. Inside the narrow, polished concrete front area gives way to a triple-height, bright area. The clothes are the focus against this stark, barely post-industrial background.
Others wrote:
Vogue - Alaia's return to New York - https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/alaia-store-opening-soho-2023
Conjuring the spirit of Alaia - https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/alaia-new-york-store-mercer-nyc-1235469477/Â
LAST VISITED
2024
Added
2023
COMPARE WITH
Louis Vuitton ramps up our understanding of "Landmark" with two buildings on 5th Ave (one, a gastro-theatrical brand experience, and the other a near-art homage to their luggage). "Bold" is one word!
Minimal, spacious, architectural embodiment of a tech-first high-performance athletic footwear brand.
Long-established store exemplifies the Patagonia mix of clothing, staff passion, activism and community activity, with sustainability credentials in a heritage, stripped-back store.
Old-Skool pro-tech emporium. Deep stock, deep knowledge, old-school service (knowledgable, grumpy, helpful if you're quick!), with multichannel prowess.
Similar shops
This store encapsulates the vision to be the future of the pet industry - services, expertise, learning and health. A real destination.
A reimagining of a toy store: child-centred, but adult-savvy. Combines the theatre of a 'secret behind the scenes' area and incredible staff, and a buzz like an affluent Soft Play afternoon.
Started as a vintage store, with sustainability at heart, now a manufacturer and modern brand that also weaves digital and data into the store/changing room experience.
New format flagship for this high-end outdoor tech brand, comprising full range, generous space, cafe, repair, recycling and resale in a two-floor Broadway base.
Confident, swish, if off-the-track setting for this luxury second-hand handbag operation - luxurious lounge meets science lab and robot warehouse. A must-see.
Stylish, recently-expanded store to highlight the On running range, with an extended selection of clothing. Hidden gait analysis and the 'magic wall' that reveals all sizes. Enormous window frontage.
