San Francisco, May 13th, 2014 This spring marks the opening of Christian Louboutin’s first free standing boutique in the Bay Area, adding to the designer’s growing retail presence on the West Coast.
Nestled among the historic buildings and cobble stone streets of Maiden Lane, the 1650 square foot retail space brings the designer’s men’s and women’s collections under one roof. Working closely with New York based architecture firm 212Box, Louboutin introduces a new design concept for the brand, drawing inspiration from the thriving art culture of San Francisco and translating these influences into an innovative interior.
Beyond the double doors of the glass facade, natural light fills the store, giving it an air of openness, which is further complemented by the high ceilings, simple textures and a neutral color palette. Louboutin’s red sole creations will be displayed in this artistic space as if curated for an art exhibition, the simplicity of the interior underscoring the complexity of Louboutin’s designs.
While the men’s and women’s shop floors are aesthetically unique, a visual flow between the two was maintained by using a system of blackened steel gates, which fold to define, rather than enclose rooms within the larger space.
Access to the men’s shop is through the steel gates which lead to a shopping lounge. A one-way mirror allows the female shoppers glimpses into the men’s lounge, emphasizing the intention in the design to synthesize the shopping experience for male and female customers.
The designer’s leather goods and handbags find their spotlight in the women’s lounge, on rhythmically placed truss shelves against custom pleated wall panels. The workmanship and detail of the interior elements, such as the reclaimed tin mosaic wall, seen throughout the boutique, resonate in the brand’s deep rooted tradition of craftsmanship which is celebrated through its designs season after season.
The San Francisco boutique will open with the Spring Summer 2014 shoe and handbag collection, rich with textures, shine and color. Christian Louboutin first premiered his men’s collection in the spring of 2010. The men’s offerings have grown to include a wide range of styles, including classic dress options, such as the sophisticated Bruno dress flat in rich black leather, which pairs beautifully with suiting, or the exquisite gold embroideries of the Academicus flat. The boutique’s selection offers the discerning male client a range of styles to complete their day and evening looks. For a touch of sport, the Golfito Flat and Yacht Spikes both offer a Lou.boutin twist on these traditional recreational styles.
For women, the spirit of Spring is beautifully captured in the colorful satin print of the Youpi peep toe pump and a matching Loubibow clutch. The minimalist, color block design of the Khepira handbag offers a muted elegance, and its roomy interior makes this the ideal day bag. For evening, the Impera stiletto is a strong statement shoe with a laser cut design and long wrap around laces. Its pointy toe and slender heel create an elegant silhouette. In addition to seasonal fashion accessories, customers will also find a selection of Christian Louboutin’s classic shoes and handbags for men and women.
About Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin was created in 1992 when Louboutin opened his first store at 19 jean-Jacques Rousseau in Paris. The brand currently has 90 stores worldwide including a number of dedicated Men’s boutiques. A seminal volume entitled ‘Christian Louboutin’ charts the success of the company over the last two decades and is available now, published by Rizzoli. Recent collaborations with legendary Parisian Cabaret ‘Crazy Horse’ and the Walt Disney Company, along with special projects with those from the worlds of music, art and film typify the creative dexterity of the designer. A retrospective exhibition of his inventive designs was held in 2012 at London’s prestigious Design Museum and more recently at the Design Exchange in Toronto, Canada.
As a woman’s beauty has always been the centrepiece of Louboutin’s inspiration, the Summer of 2014 will see the designer lending his creative prowess to the cornpany’s first beauty line, Christian Louboutin Beaute.
Website: https://www.christianlouboutin.com
Twitter: @Louboutin World
Youtube: @LouboutinWorld
Facebook: @ChristianLouboutin
Instagram: @Louboutin World
You Tube: ChristianLouboutin
Weibo: @ChristianLouboutinfrf
Tudou: @Louboutin World
Youku: @LouboutinWorld
Details of all boutique locations can be found at www.christianlouboutin.com.
