After 18 years in a comfortably posh home, J. Mendel is moving a couple of blocks uptown this Fall for a bigger space that shows just how the luxury label has evolved since the mid 90's. When it originally opened at 723 Madison Avenue in 1995, the label was mainly known as an exclusive, generations-old Paris based furrier with a small sideline in made-to-order couture apparel. A couple of years later, the label opened another boutique inside Bergdorf Goodman that replaced that store's legendary fur salon, that raised its profile. but by the 2000's, focus shifted to apparel. After the addition of a ready-to-wear collection, many red-carpet appearances and New York Fashion Week runway shows have re-made the label as a major name in luxe eveningwear, and the new 2,745 square foot store at 787 Madison will have three levels for the label to display its expanding collections including accessories, a bridal salon, V.I.P. fitting rooms and, of course, plenty of furs. While there is no such thing as a "bad" block of Madison Avenue between 57th and 72nd Streets, the new location, which was once home to designer Jackie Rogers and a hair salon, will put J. Mendel in the company of Fred Leighton, Michael Kors' Collection store, and an also expanding Oscar de la Renta boutique, which can't hurt. Look for the new flagship store to open this fall.
J. Mendel to Relocate Madison Avenue Store (WWD)
J. Mendel (Official Site)
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