PaperCity Magazine

October 2015 - Houston

Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/579640

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 19 of 145

Stocking: Fine jewelry, men's and women's watches, leather goods, sunglasses, fragrance. Luxe Factor: Houston royalty, rejoice. The purveyor of fine jewels to the world's reigning dynasties has reopened in a princely new space. On September 3, adhering to a longstanding tradition of being ahead of their time, Cartier was the first boutique to open at the still-under-construction River Oaks District, where, at 10 am, loyal clients and new patrons waited in line to see the new 6,000-plus- square-foot space designed by architect Bruno Moinard in the style of the French flagship. Louis-François Cartier, the maison's founder, would have relished seeing the emblematic Tank watch (1917), Trinity ring (1924) and Love bracelet (1969) — in such demand, their artistry a high compliment to the house's 168-year legacy. H aving been the subject of countless exhibitions at prominent museums the world over (including the 2002 display here at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), the company is renowned for being on the forefront of style, having mastered the neoclassical garland design of diamond jewelry first, then evolving to modern, Art Deco and ultimately experimenting with all forms of the craft — including the colorful and ornate Indian-influenced tutti-frutti style. Animal forms — predominantly panthers, serpents and crocodiles — have featured in many collections as symbols of the mysterious female psyche. The new boutique's double- height façade serves as an impressive front for the vault of treasures. All in all, it's a regal debut and noteworthy testament to Cartier's 36 years in Houston. OCTOBER | PAGE 20 | 2015 Stocking: The new boutique houses a complete selection of Diptyque bougies, as well as eau de toilette, eau de parfum, home fragrance, body care and seasonal and limited-edition launches, plus custom scents. Luxe Factor: The first boutique in Texas from this 50-year- old Parisian Left Bank candle maker, they will not sell out of Baies, Figuier, Thé or Feu de Bois just when you need the perfect gift. Speaking of which … The three-color silk papers for wrapping and same day-delivery service just took care of every thank you, happy birthday and please-forgive- me for the next year. THIS MONTH MARKS A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR HOUSTON RETAIL WITH THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF 25 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BRANDS SET TO OPEN THIS MONTH AT RIVER OAKS DISTRICT, WITH MORE TO COME THROUGH FALL AND SPRING. AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES. AT THIS OUTDOOR WALKING WONDERLAND, THE FINEST COUTURIERS, BIJOUTIERS AND PARFUMIERS WILL LIVE AT THE CORNER OF CHIC AND ELEGANT, TOGETHER UNDER ONE LUXURIOUS SKY. LEAVE YOUR MOTORCAR WITH THE FLASH VALET AND WALK THROUGH THE SPLENDOR WITH US. FRANCINE BALLARD RETAILESTABLISHMENT THE NEW CHRISTIAN DIOR OPENS: OCTOBER 2 BRUNELLO CUCINELLI OPENS: OCTOBER 1 Stocking: Opulent and sumptuous Italian knit and refined men's and women's outerwear in boiled wool, cashmere, shearling, mink and fur, as well as beautifully crafted leather goods, accessories and shoes for a globetrotting customer. Luxe Factor: Cucinelli's namesake brand is headquartered in Solomeo, a 14th-century castle and hamlet on a hill in Umbria, restored over a 30-year period by Brunello Cucinelli. Here, the company follows a philosophy of humanist enterprise, where offices are set up in this medieval fortress with its wooden beams, stone fireplaces and frescoed walls, where one ultra- luxe cashmere sweater can take up to a full day to stitch by hand. CARTIER OPENED: SEPTEMBER 3 Cartier ring from the Paris Nouvelle Vague collection, 18K rose gold with blue sapphires, chalcedonies, lapis-lazuli, tur- quoises, moonstones, aquamarines, diamonds, price upon request Platinum, diamond and pearl tiara or necklace, price upon request, through 800.227.8437 VINCENT WULVERYCK © CARTIER Stocking: Two stories of leather goods and accessories, fine jewelry and timepieces, women's ready-to-wear, luxury handbags and shoes. Luxe Factor: As one of the last remaining true couture fashion houses in France, Dior is considered the crown jewel of LVMH (the world's largest luxury fashion group) and is part-owned by its chairman, Bernard Arnault. Dior is one of the two original couture ateliers in the world (the other being Chanel). The brand is steeped in tradition — its namesake designer was hailed as the architect of the feminine silhouette with his New Look in 1947. Ava Gardner, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and the Duchess of Windsor all flocked to Dior's signature style: extravagant proportions and luxurious use of fabric in long, flowing skirts with fitted waists and softly rounded shoulders and hips. Raf Simons, Dior's newish design czar, has a reputation in the industry for being notoriously mysterious — a deep intellectual who's reserved, sensitive, private and romantic. As artistic director for the brand, he oversees haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories. Dior Houston at River Oaks District takes its inspiration from the original concept of the Paris avenue Montaigne flagship boutique designed by Peter Marino, with several commissioned pieces for the boutique from notable contemporary artists, including a Rob Wynne installation on mirrored walls, Philippe Montels chain curtains in the shoe salon, Laurent Chauvat tables and a Franck Evennou mirror installation positioned above the antique fireplace in the ready-to-wear salon. We now interrupt this discourse for three minutes with Dior president/CEO Pam Baxter, who talks exclusively with PaperCity about competition and the decision to bring Dior to Houston. WHY HOUSTON? WHY NOW? Houston is one of the most diverse and fastest-growing luxury destinations in North America, and River Oaks is the wealthiest neighborhood in all of Texas. With growing industries such as technology and energy, we are seeing a substantial increase in the demand for luxury. (Since 2012, the number of high-net-worth individuals increased by 18 percent in Houston.) Houston's retail growth is fueled by the city's rising economy, as well as it being a major international hub with over two million international tourists each year from Europe, Asia and Latin America. ARE HOUSTON SHOPPERS ALIGNED WITH THE DIOR BRAND? The Houston client is very sophisticated and appreciates brands with history and heritage — much like the house of Dior, where both Mr. Christian Dior and Raf Simons have drawn inspiration from various forms of art when designing their collections. There is a thriving culture and art scene in Houston with its opera, ballet, symphony and world- class museums linking the community to both fashion and art. The Houston client is also highly educated when it comes to luxury and demands excellence in the products they choose. Quality and craftsmanship are at the top of their expectations from brands. SO MANY BIG BRANDS WILL BE COMING HERE THIS FALL. DO YOU SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE IN TERMS OF COMPETITION? The commitment of many high-fashion brands, in addition to Dior, will solidify River Oaks as Houston's top luxury destination. We see this as a positive as it will attract both new and existing clients and further increase growth within the industry. Raf Simons, artistic director Dior organic dress Sophie Carre for Dior Dior Oui ring in yellow gold with diamond Dior wool crepe dress DIPTYQUE OPENS: OCTOBER 1 Dior Fusion sneaker

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of PaperCity Magazine - October 2015 - Houston