Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/426035
Exotica from the 2014/2015 Cruise Dubai collection fills the reimagined Chanel boutique. A fter a Texas-centric past year for Chanel — with Karl Lagerfeld's appearance with his 2013/2014 Cruise Collection themed Paris/Dallas, culminating in an international runway show at Fair Park in Dallas — Karl visits another oil-rich, Wild West locale: Dubai. To showcase this kissing-cousin-to- Texas collection, Chanel throws open its new Galleria portals Wednesday, December 10, after a massive six-month, multi-million-dollar makeover — its first since the boutique opened in 1988. NY architect Peter Marino revised the sleek new interiors, plucking ideas from the gilded screens and rock-crystal objects of Coco Chanel's opulent Paris apartment, commingled with contemporary works by artists Marc Swanson, Peter Dayton and Patrick Hill, all set against Chanel's iconic black-and-white palette. In the reimagined 5,000-square-foot space, shoes, bags, jewelry and ready-to-wear fill rooms that flow like a residence, culminating in oversized and extraordinarily plush fitting areas. Chanel executive VP Barbara Cirkva says, "This evolution is what keeps the designs fresh and exciting, just as Karl [Lagerfeld] reinvents the codes of Chanel each collection." Take the exotic and daring 2014/2015 Cruise Dubai — a floaty, feminine, East-meets-West collection of tweed and colorful keffiyeh scarves, beaded tunics, pointed satin slippers and strappy "glass" sandals — a romantic modern Orient, Lagerfeld tells style.com, "a new One Thousand and One Nights," with the past (decaying tweeds and patchwork) ingeniously juxtaposed with three- dimensional geometrics. It's a perfect- pitch high note for the reopening of this stunning new Chanel salon. Chanel, Galleria Houston. A REIMAGINED CHANEL CLARE LEGG COVERS THE CATWALK. PHOTOGRAPHY ANTHONY HYNES AND EMILE BROWNE. DECEMBER | PAGE 14 | 2014 RUNWAY DEBUT ELIZABETH ANTHONY E lizabeth Anthony owner Julie Roberts celebrated her Uptown Park boutique's expansion and rebranding with a runway show of Escada Resort and Spring 2015 collections that drew more than 200 admirers. Light artist James Turrell inspired the runway aesthetic, which bore a stunning resemblance to his "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace installation at Rice University Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion. Guests admired the store's new jewelry selection, with designs by Kara Ross, Andrea Fohrman, Chris Davies, Jordan Alexander, Ila & I, Maiyet and Lana Jewelry. Roberts has also amped up the style destination's inventory with new designers Zac Posen, MaxMara, Roland Mouret, Alberta Ferretti, Costume National, Edie Parker, Ralph Lauren, Blumarine, Tony Ward and an expanded selection from Jenny Packham. Also new is the boutique's name: After 12 years as Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf, the fashion emporium is now known simply as Elizabeth Anthony. Fashion-forward friends: Roberts' children (and boutique namesakes) Jennifer Elizabeth Mohler and Justin Anthony Makris and husband Gary Roberts, Duyen Huynh, Karen Aspromonte, Becca Dunne, Divya Brown, Hallie Vanderhider, Dana Kantalis, Margo Kopman, the space's architects Rame and Russell Hruska, Jana Giammalva, Marit Babin Stout, Leisa Holland-Nelson, and Roz Pactor. Ursaline Hamilton Kris Hantak Victoria Johnson Hallie Vanderhider Johnny Cowart Rame Hruska Russell Hruska Dawn Cornell Julie Roberts Justin Makris Jennifer Mohler Kate Stukenberg Claire Cormier Thielke Seth Williams John Kidd Jana Giammalva David Lemer Bo Dunne Nancy Levicki Rachel Roberts Jacqueline Cole Lauren Levicki Courville Xavier Herrera Angelica Alcala- Herrera Julia Boren Ingrid Porisch Kendall Tillman Molly Ferguson Elin Jackson Marit Babin Stout Megan O'Donnell Duyen Huynh Escada on the runway