Shopkeepers' Nation

Saltaire Enters Apparel Market

Luxury shoppers may already be familiar with Saltaire. Beginning as a wholesale label in 2004, the high-end casual apparel brand is branching out with stores of its own set to open in Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas and Dallas's NorthPark Center.

Aside from it's premium quality and classic fits for men and women, Saltaire sets itself apart from its competitors with a store approach meant to incorporate all five senses. Fabrics will feature rich and subtle embellishments with artisan nuances that invite consumers to touch them. The stores will provide a higher level of customer service than their peers, with generous fitting room lounges and expert staff. And to deliver on the brand's promise of a total sensory experience, Saltaire is partnering with Culti, an Italian line of fine home and spa products, to offer original applications such as cashmere scent spheres and rich Italian bath soaps.

Here's a preview of Saltaire's style. Look for the first Saltaire stores to open by the end of this year.

The Robertson Evolution

ApparelNews.net recently published an eye-opening article on the current evolution of Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, bolstered by its popular boutiques and mentions in celebrity gossip mags like Us and People.

Emerging retailers such as Reiss and 7 For All Mankind see the boulevard's boom as the perfect platform for their brand's expansion. Already boasting a good selection of hip retailers, Robertson will soon be home to Chanel Accessories and Intermix, with rumors of Ralph Lauren eyeing retail space there as well. With a good mix of independent shops and fashion's hottest branded stores on board, it's little wonder that forecasters see the potential for Robertson to become a shopping mecca akin to SoHo in New York.

 

Look for 7 For All Mankind to make its Robertson Boulevard debut on the corner of Alden Street this fall.

Agent Provocateur Coming to Bal Harbour Shops

We are pleased to announce that Agent Provocateur has just signed a lease at Florida's Bal Harbour Shops. Lovers of luxury lingerie can look for the 812 square-foot space to open there in late fall of 2007. The Bal Harbour location will carry the full range of original designs and popular beauty products that AP is known for.

Bal Harbour Shops is one of the premier shopping centers for luxury brands in the United States, including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Valentino. We are incredibly proud to represent Agent Provocateur as it joins these illustrious ranks at Bal Harbour.

Smythson's Samantha Cameron in Harper's Bazaar

Smythson's creative director Samantha Cameron gets a well-deserved write up in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar. Featured in the posh mag's A Fashionable Life section, Sam Cam, as she's known in the British press, is shown as the creative force behind keeping Smythson both modern and timeless.

Smythson Opens in Beverly Hills

Smythson of Bond Street opened their new flagship store on Rodeo Drive this week. Apart from the luxury line of stationery products that have made Smythson a favorite of the well-known and well-heeled, the store will also offer the brand's classic custom embossing service for most books and leather goods. Clients in need of wedding announcements or personal paper goods will find the store's bespoke stationery salon most useful. And Smythson's significant number of loyal customers in L.A. will be happy to note that four special California-themed notebooks will be sold exclusively in the Rodeo Drive store to mark its opening.

Here are a few shots of the new store's interior.

Reiss Opens 8th store in U.S.

There's just no stopping Reiss. Hot on the heels of the brand's May store opening on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, Reiss has just opened their 8th U.S. shop at Short Hills Mall in New Jersey. The store design by London Architect D-Raw is an evolution from their previous New York-area stores and inspired in part by the lighter feel of their Robertson store.

Up next for Reiss is a new store in Boca Raton's Town Centre, set to open in October. A sneak peek of the Boca store can be seen here.

Seven to Settle in Dallas

As a follow up to their upcoming Robertson Boulevard store opening, 7 For All Mankind will soon be setting up shop at the Northpark Center in Dallas. Here are the renderings for the new location.

Agent Provocateur Opens 2nd Bloomingdale's Shop

Agent Provocateur has once again secured a signature section in Bloomingdale's, this time at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. This is the second time the British brand has paired with Bloomie's for a U.S. shop-in-shop; the first AP/Bloomingdale's location opened in Manhattan last year. The 650-square-foot space in Costa Mesa features the familiar boudoir theme found in Agent Provocateur's full-sized stores, along with bestsellers such as silk bras and robes, corsets, and specialty hoisery.

Reiss to Open London Flagship

Reiss continues it's expansion momentum with plans to open a flagship location and international headquarters in London. In a glowing double-spread article with London's Evening Standard, brand founder and owner David Reiss says of the new space, "It is going to be incredible. It takes up half of the street!"

The new Reiss HQ is the next step toward bringing more recognition to the chain that's been giving England's beloved Topshop a run for its money. Meant for more aspirational shoppers, Reiss is quickly becoming a favorite brand of supermodels, celebrities, and fahionable shoppers everywhere. Recent customers have included Victoria Beckham, Nicolette Sheridan, and Gisele Bundchen.

Pucci Picks Seven for Denim Collaboration

Legendary luxury brand Emilio Pucci has paired up with 7 For All Mankind to create a colorful collection of limited-edition jeans. Featuring the famous Pucci initials embroidered on the back pockets and a straight-leg cut, the denim will come in a variety of colors to match the famous bold Pucci palette. Shoppers can find the signature Sevens is Pucci's namesake stores starting this month.