Printemps Loves New York (Paris, France)

A short while after NYFW, the Parisian department store Printemps launched a 'Printemps loves New York' special, which included store windows dedicated to NYC, in-store displays, a large assortment of items hailing from the U.S. and a few limited edition pieces. Curious to see what the French deemed typically American (or NYC), I was greeted by what I assume to be a paint-splattered King Kong sitting near the corner entrance. Other icons presented, included everything from giant doughnuts and cupcakes to SpongeBob and Superman - the latter could even be found in-store. Not to be ignored of course: the lovely clothes on display, ranging from the likes of Marc Jacobs to Proenza Schouler.

For some reason the above display was changed to this a few weeks later:

Shearling leather coat by Rick Owens, ltd. edition Vogue t-shirt.

Close-ups of some of the outfits:

From left: Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren.

From left: Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Rick Owens.

The fun continued inside, where I spotted foodie items, such as the fairly conventional Campbell Soup cans or the slightly more hard-to-find Dean & Deluca treats. Special edition t-shirts designed by brands such as Opening Ceremony were on sale, as were smaller gift items from MOMA. And if you really want to take it to the next level, I suggest you pick up an Obama brooch or a hot dog necklace. There was also a wonderful selection of cupcakes and cheesecakes on the lower level, though my drooling prevented me from taking any pictures there...

Giant spray cans in-store and special edition t-shirts.

Another superman (above). Neon lights and wall art adorned the stairwell area (below).

Some of the goodies included Jackie O and Obama pins, a hot dog necklace, MOMA souvenirs, Dean & Deluca coffee and an assortment of soups, salad dressing and Marshmallow Fluff.

For previous Printemps events and window displays (including the much-loved Alice in Wonderland feature or the Christmas special), please click here.

Luisa Via Roma (Florence, Italy)

Despite my current city of residence, there's one thing I can identify with more than anything else: living in an area that lacks a huge choice of brands or stores. Having previously lived in places that featured your typical high street stores, a small selection of vintage outlets and perhaps an even smaller percentage of interesting indie boutiques, shopping would tend to get boring... fast. Which is probably why websites like 'Net-a-Porter' have proven to be so successful. Procrastinating at work usually meant browsing such online-stores, because even if you're not looking to buy - it's quite nice to peruse items by designers your local department store doesn't stock. My biggest temptation came when a friend introduced me to Luisaviaroma.com, a website that unlike NAP at the time, stocked goodies by Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester or Nicholas Kirkwood, labels I had no way of accessing back then. And when the online sales started, I splurged on my very first pair of Lanvin flats (which to this day have gotten more wear than any other I shoes own). It's probably one of the reasons this boutique holds a special place in my heart and why having spent too much time drooling over their online stock, it's always nice to see the actual brick & mortar store that started it all.

The 'Balmain Bikers'.

Long before the Internet existed, in 1930 to be precise, Luisa Via Roma opened its doors in Florence. Initially a hat boutique founded by Luisa Jacuin, a Frenchwoman married to a Florentine, it was her son who started expanding the business by adding clothes and opening a factory for their production. It is currently still a family business run by Luisa's grandson Andrea Panconesi. Because of its name, most people tend to think the company is based in Rome, but the store name is a result of its location on 'Via Roma', a few steps away from the famous Duomo in the heart of the city. Long known as the Italian capital for ready-to-wear fashion, even Florence wasn't prepared for some of the avant-garde designers Panconesi discovered. One of his favorite stories was how he came across Kenzo in the 70s in Paris, but had trouble getting rid of the items he bought for the store, as his clients just weren't ready for the style yet. Of course these days the business is thriving, not just because of its great selection of local and select international labels (80% of the brands stocked are Italian), but creating an online store in 2000 proved to be a stroke of genius. The web-shop now receives over 40 000 visitors a day: 80 orders are processed daily with average sales of 500 EUR per order. The majority of the consumers are attracted by the more competitive pricing of Italian brands (10-20% lower than in most countries), free shipping and the fact that the boutique tends to offer new-season collections before anyone else.

The entrance area featuring a very snazzy bench and lots of cool jewelry, including pieces by Delfina Delettrez (top left), Jade Jagger (lower left), Iosselliani (top right) and Antonini (lower right).

As appealing as online-shopping is though, nothing quite compares to being in the actual store. For one, Luisa has a reputation of having the best shop windows in the city. And as I approached the large archway with two big LCD screens hovering above, I could see why: three very chic mannequins were completely clad in Balmain and hanging out near a motorcycle. The interior was just as luxurious - at least in terms of the pieces you could find. The decor was modern and white, not even remotely resembling a hat shop from the 30s, but because it was buzzing with people and the staff were incredibly friendly, the atmosphere was neither intimidating nor cold. And the first distraction was provided by the glass cases which housed a multitude of beautiful and edgy jewelry, including some amazing pieces by Delfina Delettrez.

The Rick Owens area.

Balmain (left) and a few overly trendy mannequins (right).

Checking out the merchandise was very pleasant: SAs would keep their distance while you browsed, but the minute you'd turn around seeking help, they'd be by your side. As a constant reminder of their online empire, computer screens embedded into the walls could be found throughout the store allowing you to peruse their website via a touchscreen. I never bothered going online though (I can do that at home), mainly because my attention was caught by the Rick Owens corner near the entrance, which showcased most of his leather jackets and a nice selection of his wedge boots. The adjoining shelf was every Balmain-lovers dream-come-true: more blingy boots than one could possibly take in, and a few of their bags which I found slightly underwhelming.

The airy main section of the ground floor with a few comfy sofas and lots of thigh-high boots.

Animated screens ran along all the walls (left) and one of the many shelves filled with shoes & bags (right).

The main section of the store featured a good mix of brands ranging from Giambattista Valli to Alexander Wang. The space felt quite open, probably because of the smoked glass skylight, which allowed a glimpse of the restaurant's garden patio situated a floor above (note to self: don't wear a short skirt when seated there... ). The items one should really be looking for, are the limited edition collaboration pieces designed specifically for the store. These included thigh-high embellished Zanotti boots, a wool & leather Rick Owens jacket, suede Haider Ackermann leggings or a turquoise snakeskin Pauric Sweeney bag. All of these are also available online of course.

Part of the shoe corner - this one focused mainly on Louboutin, incl. the lace-up red ones (top right) and jeweled-heel snakeskin boots from Diego Dolcini (lower right).

Shoes were displayed throughout the store - my significant other was quite taken with the black lace-up OTK Louboutins which have been everywhere lately... that is until he saw the price-tag. But if you thought this wasn't enough, there's even a separate shoe corner to satisfy any footwear cravings you may have. The opposite end had what looked like a jewelry department for some of the the pricier pieces. This is also where many of the more luxurious evening dresses were located.

The high-end jewelry counter (left) and a few beautiful evening gowns (right).

The first-floor patio/terrace belonging to the restaurant.

To avoid further distraction, the men's department is a good place to go (at least if you're a woman), which can be found a floor above. As previously mentioned Luisa also has a restaurant and coffee bar, which can be a nice place to relax if you've browsed too much. Menswear included more Rick Owens, a lot of Lanvin (including a gorgeous suede jacket) and some funky boots by Gianni Barbato.

The menswear area, which also featured an impressive selection of shoes.

Heading two floors down to the basement level, I can't say I found anything that tempted me too much, as this is where most of the sporty and streetwear gear was displayed. Anything from multi-colored Moncler puffa jackets to Juicy Couture tracksuits hung from the racks. An entire sneaker wall showcased a nice selection of Converse (including another limited edition model), Adidas and Asics footwear.

Street- and sportswear in the basement.

My shopping ban prevented me from getting anything and if you manage to leave the store without spending any money, kudos to you, because I can see how women might lose control of their credit cards in a place like this. Of course the one big problem is that even if you do restrain yourself while browsing the boutique, there's always the online-store waiting for you when you get home...

Some of the limited edition collaboration items available in-store and online (images: Luisaviaroma).

Address: Via Roma 19/21r, 50123 Florence
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-19:30, Sun: 11:00-19:00
Luisa Via Roma Homepage & Online-Shop

Rick Owens Boutique (Paris, France)

One of the most popular trends these days coming from fashion houses (and subsequently the high street) seems to be the attempt to make clothing and accessories look more 'rock'. For many, the use of studs, leather and distressed denim seems to suffice when it comes to achieving this look, though to be honest, this is more in line with 80s pop than any kind of rock music I've ever been confronted with (Balmain's blinged-up jackets and overly bleached jeans are more Michael Jackson than Mick Jagger). Given the choice of picking a designer, I'm pretty sure any rock musician would rather go with the likes of Ann Demeulemeester or Rick Owens. In fact, the latter even looks like a rock star (a cross between a younger Iggy Pop and a goth version of a long-haired Anthony Kiedis). Not only that, but the typical Rick Owens customer I’ve encountered so far in his boutiques, looks more like he/she belongs in a mosh pit, than in a high-end store.

FW09 runway looks (images: Rick Owens)

The store and clothing reflect this vibe. As you can tell from this blog, I do occasionally frequent designer boutiques – mainly because I like seeing clothes in person. But I tire of the glitz and glamour that goes along with them pretty fast. Rick Owens is probably as close as you’ll get to anti-glitz. Hailing from LA, the designer moved to Paris in 2003 and (supposedly) hasn’t been back to the States since. One of the main reasons was to work for the traditional fur-makers Revillon, the other was to start showing his collections at Paris Fashion Week. Anyone familiar with his looks, knows how beautifully crafted and luxurious his dark, romantic and avant-garde pieces are. They hug the body like a second skin, are intricately layered and perfectly tailored. All items are created in a little factory in Concordia (Italy) and usually sell out pretty fast once they hit the stores.

Left: Overview of the women's section. Right: A mannequin swathed in black.

The first ever flagship is everything you’d expect from the designer and slightly homier than the London and NYC sisters. Situated in the very bourgeois Palais Royal, the location might seem a bit odd, but Owens does like contrast, so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. The SA's tend to look a little alternative as well and the first person I spotted (a customer) looked like a spitting image of Owens himself, with long black hair, a black kilt and knee-high black boots. Apparently he was searching for a new coat. Heading towards the women’s section, I spied a mannequin wearing something from the FW09 collection and in fact, everything on this level was already from next season's range, though by no means complete.

A few pairs of shoes and a very interesting piece of decor - yes, that's a real human skull.

Shoes were laid out near a mirrored wall, accompanied by a very chic skull-bowl. Some of the decor is for sale, as Owens creates his own furniture which is made of plywood, resin and bones (most of them human, sourced via the Internet), then covered with supple cashmere, mink, and fox fur left over from his collections. He has admitted that this is an expensive hobby, but something he is completely committed to. Browsing the racks on this floor, I also found a nice selection of his Lilies range (jersey pieces) as well as the DRKSHDW denim line. Sleek cabinets along the front windows contained some interesting accessories such as belts, collars, keychains and wallets.

A selection of the women's range (left) and some accessories (right).

The store was relatively busy - one would think because sales were ongoing, but to be honest, it's always well frequented. I took a short walk up the stairs to see all the sale items laid out on the first floor. No doubt, this was the busiest area of the store, to the point where I ended up having trouble browsing comfortably. For those who need to rest their feet, a long gray couch could be found near one of the windows. The women's wear range still had a great selection of leather jackets, vests and asymmetrical dresses in various sizes, along with the discounted shoes, boots and sandals which were situated a few feet away.

The upper level with a lot of sale items and (right) a couch covered in clothes.

I was most enamored by the jewelry though, housed in a big glass case. The giant statement necklace, which looked like it was made from a piece of gold-plated bone would probably be a bit too much, but another necklace made of crystal was so stunning I couldn't take my eyes of it (pictures don't really do it justice).

Talk about statement jewelry. The necklace on the right was pretty amazing.

I took a quick look at the backroom, which held more items, mainly men's leather jackets and a few fur garments from Revillon which are partially stocked here as well, along with the exclusive 'Palais Royal' leather and fur pieces. Two guys were eagerly trying on leather jackets on the other side of the room, while the Rick Owens lookalike finally seemed to have found his coat which featured a giant Dracula-inspired collar. Two very pierced goth girls were there as well, seemingly shocked at the price of a crystal pendant (1500 EUR on sale) and finally a group of chic American fashionistas entered this area, so you can imagine how busy it got.

Discounted shoes towards the back (left) and the stock area with more fur and leather (right).

I escaped by going back down and making my way towards the menswear section. Probably the most eye-catching thing here is the life-sized Rick Owens wax figure. I was told it was sculpted in London by artisans who work for Madame Tussaud's, and made for an event in Florence three years ago. The lower half of the figure was cloaked in a black cloth, but it seems removing it would reveal Owens with his jeans lowered, holding his best bit, peeing at whatever was below. I was wondering if I should ask the SA to remove the cloak, but on second thought... I'm not that desperate and there are certain things better left unseen. Slightly less disturbing than what I saw in the London store though, which featured his decapitated wax head on a pedestal.

The life-sized Rick Owens. The black cloth covered the most provocative part (right image courtesy of the lovely Hanh of Life in Travel)

I continued to browse this section, which had a few FW items such as the denim kilts and leather vests. However there were still a lot of items missing from the new range (both men's and women's), as I was hoping to catch of glimpse of the ice-blue and silver pieces.

Menswear section.

If you're a fan of anything Rick Owens, this store or any other retailer that stocks his items is a must. Most images don't really portray the soft fabrics and beautiful craftsmanship of his range very well. The Paris store isn't exactly intimidating and the clientele is probably the most diverse one I've ever come across. And let's face it, you'll hardly find another flagship with so many interesting props - or a life-sized version of the designer himself.

Some of Rick Owen's furniture range. Top right: DRKSHDW looks. Lower left: 'Palais Royal' jacket. Lower right: From the Lilies collection.

Address: Jardins du Palais Royal,

130-133 Galerie de Valois, 75001 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon: 10:30-19:00, Tue-Sat: 11:00-19:00
Rick Owens Homepage