Anyone familiar with Moscow’s Tsum department store knows all about its stellar range of luxury labels. Very much the Russian equivalent of Barney’s in New York, it’s been the preferred shopping address of the city’s fashionista community. Last month a similar shopping destination has opened in the country’s cultural capital of St. Petersburg, and not surprisingly, it’s a sister establishment of the first.

DLT department store – short for Dom Leningradskaya Torgovli or House of Leningrad Trade – was initially founded in 1909, and back then it was one of the first of such establishments in all of Russia. It’s housed in a beautiful art déco-style building with a voluminous atrium and expansive curved glass roof, designed by russian architect Ernest Frantsevich Virrikh.

The structure has withstood a turbulent history, and was heavily damaged in world war II. It has taken six years to renovate the building and to fully revive its former splendour. The renewed department store now boasts no less than 32,000 sqm. [344,445 sq.ft.] of retail and office space, spread over six floors.

Aiming high to regain a leading position in St. Petersburg’s retail landscape, today’s DLT carries an equally broad range of luxury offerings as its sister store in Moscow. Each floor is designated for a particular category of goods. The ground floor features the extensive collections of accessories, jewellery, cosmetics and perfumes, and the first and second floors are home to the men’s and women’s apparel collections.

It’s on these floors that vip shopping services by professional stylists are available to those in need of extra attention. Young fashion labels and streetwear can be found on the fourth floor. DLT’s final configuration will be completed next year when a kids department and restaurant will open on the upper floors of this grand building. DLT’s brand list is impressive and includes relevant top brands from the fashion galaxy, from Lanvin, Alexander Wang and Y-3, to Céline, James Perse and Moncler Gamme Bleu, it’s all there.

http://superfuture.com/supernews/st-petersburg-dlt-department-store-opening