Every month we take a look at the retail landscape and pick out the 'stores we love'. Here's our latest pick for August 2014. Read more.
We’ve rounded up several of our favourite store openings from around the world this August, including the likes of Bare Minerals’ ‘Shade Shop’ and the luxurious ‘Shoe Heaven’ in Harrods. Enjoy!
Luxury British accessories label Anya Hindmarch has opened a temporary minimart-themed pop-up among the fashion heavyweights of Céline, Lanvin and Christian Louboutin in London’s Mayfair area until September 2014. The colourful space was designed to match the latest range of quirky handbags and accessories inspired by household products such as cereal boxes and washing detergent. Our favourite feature of the store is the nostalgic ice cream counter, where shoppers can buy a traditional British 99 ice cream.
The Shade Shop is US make-up brand Bare Minerals’ exciting new concept store in New York’s SoHo district. The store is spread over two floors; the upper floor is a blank canvas for special events, workshops and ‘girlfriend parties’, whereas the ground floor challenges traditional make-up retail tactics by merchandising products by five skin shades – ‘light’ through to ‘deep’ – each with their own testing station and mirror.
Luxury department store Harrods unveiled its 42,000sqft art deco-style Shoe Heaven in London this month. The space, located on the top floor of the store, is Harrods’ largest renovation to date and contains 17 branded footwear boutiques including Christian Dior, Chanel and Manolo Blahnik. Shoe Heaven aims to be more like a five-star hotel than a shoe department, using materials such as marble, along with ambient lighting and elegant rotundas.
Fashion-forward I.T has recently opened a new flagship boutique department store spread over two floors in Hong Kong’s City Plaza. Spacious and modern, the store holds cutting-edge brands as well as branded store sections and shop-in-shops by streetwear staples such as Aape, a diffusion line of Bathing Ape.
Nike has launched its latest womenswear range via a neon pop-up installation in SoHo, New York. The symmetrical, hourglass-inspired space immerses the shopper in “a visual narrative of light”, taking them through the collection that has been divided into ‘stories’ – Pro Bra, Train, Run and Live. The pop-up interior evokes a sporty, urban yet feminine feel through the use of metal, gloss paint and mesh fencing materials. Our favourite features are the doorways edged in fluorescent blue, green, pink and orange lighting.
Spread across five tunnels and nestled beneath London’s Waterloo Underground station, Vans opened its 3,000sqft House of Vans. The space is less retail orientated, but we wanted to include it in this month’s Stores We Love due to the brand experience. House of Vans will be home to London’s first indoor skate park, artists’ studios, café, cinema, gallery and bar.
