Dolce and Gabbana Opens a Sprawling New N.Y.C. Flagship on Madison Ave.

It’s proving to be quite the week for Manhattan’s retail scene with two major debuts: Parisian department store Printemps on Wall Street and Dolce and Gabbana‘s sprawling, five-story space at 695 Madison Avenue, the site of the old Hermès flagship. For anyone still buzzing about the brand’s stellar, tailoring-heavy fall collection, this is particularly exciting news as an entire floor will be dedicated to made-to-measure services. For those that may have missed the show, guests were treated to what was essentially a two-part runway spectacular, the second half of which was a glittering ode to Old Hollywood that featured sharp tuxedos, dazzling jewels, models with pomade-lacquered hair, and a backdrop of “paparazzi” snapping away. The aura of glamour continues with the new store, which opens today.

You’d be hard pressed to find a space with better architectural provenance: McKim, Mead, and White designed the building in the late 1920s for chocolate empresario Louis Sherry and American architect Eric Carlson and his Paris-based firm, Carbondale, have given its interiors a thoughtful update. The brand is also working closely with the Landmark Preservation Commission of NYC to restore the edifice’s iconic facade.

Inside, a black granite staircase winds its way through all five floors, creating a striking contrast against the lightness of white acid-etched sapphire glass (the better to take in the avenue below), eucalyptus wood display cases, and steel furnishings. Its crowning glory: a mammoth skylight that illuminates the entire structure for ultimate chiaroscuro effect.

The size of the store alone is a rarity on the famous shopping stretch, which has had its share of ups and downs post-pandemic, but Dolce and Gabbana’s expanded footprint is yet another marker of what seems to be a positive shift in the Upper East Side retail landscape, one which has been bolstered by the opening of several high-end residential buildings, namely the Armani residences.

In addition to the second-floor Sartoria space, the nearly 64,000-square-foot (5,905-square-meter) boutique also houses men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, childrenswear, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, as well as select pieces from Dolce and Gabbana’s Casa collection. And should you find yourself peckish after taking in all the fabulous wares, just visit the fourth floor bar and lounge—what more could you possibly need?

Credit: robbreport.com