Fall 2004 Preview

Shopping Preview

Published May 21, 2005

Store Openings

Pucci
Pucci is giving its burnished brand an image boost, with new products and a glowing new store.

Alessandro Dell’Acqua
Alessandro Dell’Acqua is one of those names that New York women seek out on small racks at Barneys and Bergdorf’s

Peter Elliot Blue
Peter Elliot opens a whole shop built around the navy blazer.

Four Jewelers with Expansionist Tendencies
Shiny new homes for Ten Thousand Things, Links of London, Marisa Perry, Jacob & Co.

Best of the Rest
By Asheley Victoria

September
Esprit
The signature eighties brand is in for a U.S. revival, with both collection and casual sportswear lines for men and women (no more juniors departments!). Collection jackets range from $149 to $249; the sportswear line has blouses starting at $39 and jackets from $99.
110 Fifth Avenue, at 16th Street; 212-651-2121
www.esprit.com
Opens September 2.

Zara
The European chain, a reliable source for affordable versions of trend items, will open a 10,000-plus-square-foot flagship to plant the flag on Fifth Avenue (and, perhaps, pick up some of the H&M crowd). We’re counting on a big selection of the on-trend shoes that range from $79 to $99.
689 Fifth Avenue, at 54th Street, no phone yet
September.

October
Lacoste
The crocodile is riding a very big wave, as the early-eighties preppy revival has in turn been revived—this time, tweaked to more body-conscious shapes. To feed the beast, Lacoste’s Madison Avenue store is upgrading to a bigger, more modern space two blocks north. These days, the classic women’s polo runs about $72.
575 Madison Avenue, near 56th Street, 212-750-8115
www.lacoste.com
October.

West Elm
The city-block-wide Manhattan outpost of the catalogue retailer known for its mod furnishings—nicer than Ikea, cheaper than Design Within Reach—will have a part divided into a pair of model loft apartments, each furnished only with West Elm product. Wall shelving starts at $39, bed frames go for $150 to $250.
112 West 18th Street, 866-westelm
October.

Judith Leiber
The elegant handbags collected by the Hollywood set have a new 3,800-square-foot home. Look for an expanded selection of the bags, plus shoes, eyewear, gloves, and similar gift goods. The new Astor collection will be the main event this year; it’s named for John Jacob Astor (Brooke’s father-in-law), who perished on the Titanic, and features three exotic-skin bags that can be monogrammed on the closure ($1,595–$7,595).
680 Madison Avenue, at 61st Street; no phone yet
October 15.

Christopher Fischer
The flagship of the beloved cashmere house will house men’s, women’s, accessories, and home collections, as well as a line for babies whose parents do not fear dry-cleaning. Look for a well-edited selection of one-of-a-kind bags from designers like Henry Beguelin and Jennifer Scott. Pillows range from $125 to $900.
80 Wooster Street; no phone yet
October.