New Launch

In an exclusive with Vogue Arabia coveted Belgian designer Dries Van Noten announces the launch of a new store in the heart of Paris’ Rive Gauche.
Photo: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten
Housed within a historic Parisian landmark, first built in 1625, the retail space will be devoted entirely to fragrance, beauty, and accessories and sits alongside the men’s and women’s stores on Quai Malaquais. The setting is imbued with the je ne sais quoi of Dries Van Noten, as it draws upon its distinctive artistic legacy and the curatorial prowess of Van Noten himself.
While the pilastered-columned facade is enough to weave a surreal experience it is the rich and fascinating history within that sets this space apart. The Prince of Transylvania was a former resident, inviting figures who would later be immortalized in Prevost’s novels, in turn inspiring Puccini’s operas. Later, the site became a hub of artistic innovation as the Breheret Gallery, founded by Monsieurs Breheret and Prat, where some of Picasso and Chagall’s early works were exhibited. Dries Van Noten Galerie is so termed because of this cultural legacy.
Photo: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten

While this storied past certainly adds to the allure of this new store, it is of course the contemporary genius of Van Noten that draws visitors in and convinces them to stay. Taking inspiration from the fragrances and their ‘impossible combinations’, the space has been restored to reflect the renowned aesthete himself. Furniture from different periods evokes the eclectic range of references and inspiration within Dries Van Noten’s collections as historic accents are juxtaposed with modern design.
When customers finally step inside this new location on July 4, they will be delighted to stumble upon curiosities such as the centerpiece within the store which is a 17th-century Flemish tapestry depicting a baroque scene of a pergola amidst a garden oasis, a nod to Dries Van Noten’s passion for floriculture. There is also a chandelier composed of different kinds of 1970s Venini glass or the 19th-century bureau from the Swedish Gustavian era sitting alongside vivid shades of citrine across textiles and fabrics.
Photo: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten
Most interesting, however, is a Cabinet de Curiosité room entirely in black housing archive pieces available for purchase alongside accessories and jewels. The store then emerges as a true celebration of Dries Van Noten and all that has inspired the house through the years, a true reflection of a space and a brand that is rich in history.
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