MEATPACKING SWITCHEROOS: Moschino Is Out & The Kooples Are In

Have you grown fond of the witty window displays at the Moschino boutique between the Apple Store and Hugo Boss in the Meatpacking District? Well, don't get too used to them. The New York Post is reporting that French sportswear brand (yes, another French sportswear brand) The Kooples is negotiating to take over Moschino's lease at 401 West 14th Street. Though the charismatic Italian label celebrated its 30th anniversary collection for Spring 2014 with an extravaganza retrospective runway show, look for the store to close before the Fall 2014 season as the label relaunches and redefines itself with new creative director Jeremy Scott. Though this would seem to be more the time for a store renovation, the Post says that the brand is going to be exploring other retail options, suggesting that an extensive revamp is underway for Moschino and all of its various product lines.

As for The Kooples, New York shoppers should be familiar with the label's leased shop-in-shops at both Manhattan Bloomingdale's locations. This will be the brand's first freestanding brick-and-mortar store in New York. Started by three French brothers whose parents started the mother-daughter label Comptoir des Cotonniers, The Kooples was created as a store for couples to shop in together. Presumably, solo shoppers will be welcome as well. The label is expected to maintain the store until 2018 at which point they will either renew the lease or face an exorbitant rent hike that will force them out in favor of some other chain with bottomless pockets —but lets not get ahead of ourselves. We should just be getting ready for the city's first new The Kooples store sometime this Fall, perhaps, and thinking about what kind of insane retail concepts Jeremy Scott has in mind for Moschino. He will show his first full collection for the label next month in Milan, and something outlandish is to be expected.

French flair for 14th Street By Lois Weiss (Between the Bricks/NYPost)