The transformation of Celine is gaining full steam. Following creative director Hedi Slimane’s first collection shown late last year in Paris – mind you, it wasn’t an event hailed by all critics and fans – it’s now the retail spaces of the revered fashion house that see a brand new look, and the first one up is the flagship store on swanky Madison Avenue in New York City. It’s quite surprising to see that just as the catwalk looks, the chosen retail design to a certain extent resembles the aesthetic that Slimane picked for the Saint Laurent boutiques, featuring a minimalist environment captured by slabs of marble and shiny metal detailing. However, the generous dimensions of the 465 sqm. (5,000 sq.ft.) space and its soaring height put unique spin on the design, creating a slight cathedral effect.

What sets the premises apart are Brutalism-inspired touches, captured by huge blocks of granite and basalt, in addition to wooden furnishings that resemble Gerrit Rietveld‘s earliest designs. Heightening the sense of sophistication, if not to further anchor Celine‘s image as a highly cultured fashion house, works by artists Jose Dávila and James Balmforth adorn the premises. The store opening marks the global kick-off for renewal of all existing Celine boutiques, and obviously serve as blueprint for future stores. The renewed flagship store carries the brand’s full range of women’s and the newly launched men’s collections.