Thurs. 06/03/2010 - Shop

One of reasons I went to Chelsea, particularly 22nd Street was to visit Comme Des Garcons and Balenciaga Store. I almost wanted to include these two stores under Architecture and Design or Galleries, because both stores were worth to be labeled under design category and the pieces in the stores could be Art.

{The Entrance of Comme Des Garcons}

Rei Kawakubo never misses humor in her pieces and the same applied on this entrance with the billboards, the left over signage, the character from a game (not shown here) painted on the wall. Also, these elements juxtapose with almost too sleek treatment of the entrance hallway. When you just look at the outside of building which was almost untouched from the original state, you can never imagine what you gonna see inside. Everything about this store is so much like her clothes which always have unexpected elements and juxtaposition. But at the end, when you actually wear her pieces, even the one with the most fun elements, they are pretty and somehow very feminine...

CREDIT: NYMAG.COM

Inside of the store, each section is divided by the laminated white and black walls, and it's almost like walking through those massive sculptures of Richard Serra. 

I was so wowed by every single piece by Nicolas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga. Fabrics so sumptuous and sometimes so delicate, and those sculpted patterns were just beyond imagination. And they are on SALE now! 

{The Side Entrance (or Exit) of Balenciaga Store}

The building used to be a warehouse the same as many others in this area, and it still kept the docking platform from freight entrance.

 {The Front/Main Entrance}

CREDIT:NYMAG.COM

The geometric shapes are Balenciaga's trademark from the Original House by Chistobal Balenciaga. Nicolas Ghesquiere successfully transformed it today's version in his pieces. And the store design also reflects it as well.

CREDIT: NYMAG.COM

Now the floor is carpeted with several different patterned textiles geometrically cut and put together. The center area became the lounge where customers can try shoes and bags are displayed in the back side. The store design mixes up the past, the current and the future. Carpets and rusted walls and columns are from past, and the clothes tells today's Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere, and blue wall installed with multi-media screen is for the future shopping experience. I think Nicolas Ghesquiere is doing a genius job of transforming past to present to future. Some of his clothes look almost futuristic, but when you wear them, they go so well with current, and every piece never forgets the origin of Balenciga House.