10022-Shoe at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City
Saks Fifth Avenue is continuing its grand renovation and unveiled its new women shoe floor. Located on the eighth floor and now 2100 sqm, the women's shoe area at the New York flagship boasts 10 percent more selling space. While it might not be immediately apparent, the new shoe area is meant to evoke Central Park, with tree trunk tables — both abstract and representational — display fixtures that echo rock formations, and a series of poles that could be interpreted as trees with a little imagination, their leaf-shaped shelves holding shoes.
A restaurant at the front of the eighth floor was removed, and covered-up windows overlooking Fifth Avenue were opened, allowing sunlight to stream through. Hanging porcelain sculptures in floral shapes with gold metallic lusters glint in daylight.
Along the perimeter of the shoe floor, Saks' key partners — those with large established businesses — have been rewarded with shops-in-shop that break from the Central Park theme and feature each brand's aesthetic and house codes. The average price for the shoe floor is $500 to $700, and rises to several thousands of dollars for runway styles and highly embellished pairs decorated with Swarovski crystals, for example.
The center of the floor is devoted to a mix of designers that Saks hopes will provide a sense of discovery for consumers. Ten new collections, including Amina Muaddi, Alexandre Vauthier, By Far, Midnight 00, Staud and Cult Gaia have been added, and are interspersed with more established designers.
For instance, Christian Louboutin's shop features four wall panels made from the designer's signature red soles layered like the scales of a fish. Inspired by traditional French gardens, there's nothing classic about the shop. A teal custom ceramic fountain inspired by the Tethys cave buried in the Palace or Versailles, was created with the Atelier Jean Roger and assembled by an artisan from the atelier. Floral displays made from climbing aged brass vines and hand-painted decorations throughout the Louboutin shop-in-shop feature fantastical plants and exotic flowers. Other shops-in-shop include Bottega Veneta's first in the U.S. devoted to shoes; Celine, Dior; Fendi; Gianvito Rossi; Givenchy; Gucci; Louis Vuitton; Saint Laurent, and Valentino.
Saks is celebrating 10022-Shoe's renovation with a charitable campaign starting on 16 March, and benefiting New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital and Bring Change to Mind. The campaign will honor uncommon heroes at each institution, who work to make the city a better place. The retailer will donate 1,000 pairs of shoes, distributed between the three organizations, and will hold a charitable shopping weekend when 10 percent of women's shoe sales will be donated to the groups.
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
5th Ave, New York,
NY 10022, United States