First Look: Saks Fifth Avenue debuts relocated, reimagined West Coast flagship
Saks Fifth Avenue’s new West Coast flagship in Beverly Hills is designed as the ultimate luxury shopping experience.
Located on Wilshire Boulevard in a space that was formerly home to Barneys New York, the 136,000-sq.-ft. women’s store replaces the retailer’s decades-old store, which was less than 200 feet down the road. The new six-level space offers a curated assortment of women's designer ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, jewelry, beauty and accessories from both iconic luxury brands and emerging designer labels.
The reimagined location also features unique luxury services and highly personalized shopping experiences, including an expanded Fifth Avenue Club for personal shopping and styling, complete with an exclusive outdoor terrace.
"With this new location, we are transforming our West Coast flagship into a lifestyle-centric shopping destination with the highest possible focus on personalized service and first-class experiences," said Larry Bruce, president, Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
STORE DESIGN
The Saks Fifth Avenue store planning and design team collaborated with the team of retail architects and advisors at Arcadis (formerly CallisonRTKL) to transform the former Barneys space and bring Saks Fifth Avenue's distinct brand identity to life while paying tribute to the building's history.
The store boasts a grand Regency-style marble staircase and central skylight, accentuated by airy, pearlescent white atrium spaces and reflective columns on each floor to carry natural light throughout the space and create a brighter shopping experience.
Metallic accents and playful pops of color including richly hued rugs, statement furniture pieces and vibrant wall coverings add visual excitement to the store's neutral color palette. Artful fixtures such as chandeliers double as unexpected art pieces and appear throughout the space to create a fun and visually stimulating shopping environment.
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Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue -
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli for Saks Fifth Avenue
SERVICE & EXPERIENCES
The “crown jewel” of the new destination is an expanded Fifth Avenue Club personal shopping and styling experience located on the fifth floor. It has 15 private styling suites and a team of Saks stylists equipped to provide customers with best-in-class personal shopping and styling services in a highly personalized setting.
The Fifth Avenue Club also features an exclusive outdoor terrace space with views of the Hollywood Hills where customers can relax and unwind while they shop.
Additional luxury services and experiences are available throughout the store, including by-appointment beauty treatments on the lower-level beauty floor. The lower level also features services that tap into the full Saks Fifth Avenue ecosystem, including Saks.com returns and buy online, pick up in store.
On the second floor, a private jewelry viewing room with a hidden bar offers an exclusive jewelry shopping experience. Additionally, customers can enjoy beverage service in special areas throughout the store, including a curated selection of California-inspired cocktails and wines that can be purchased through QR codes located on each floor.
LUXURY ASSORTMENT
The merchandise assortment includes a strong focus on designer ready-to-wear, shoes and jewelry. The main floor boasts an expansive, 5,000-sq.-ft. shoe experience alongside handbags and leather goods. The second floor is home to fine and high jewelry in Beverly Hills, with limited edition and one-of-a-kind pieces from world-renowned jewelry brands
The third and fourth floors feature designer collections from premier luxury brands. Saks Fifth Avenue partnered with leading luxury fashion houses to create significant boutique spaces dedicated to each house throughout the store, including Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton on the second floor, and Chanel on the fifth floor.
“We have created the ultimate luxury shopping destination in Beverly Hills," said Tracy Margolies, chief merchandising officer, Saks. "Our reimagined women's store offers an expertly curated assortment of luxury women's fashion and beauty alongside world-class services. With a preeminent selection of women's ready-to-wear, jewelry and accessories from the most sought-after names in luxury, we have created an elite experience that uniquely caters to the Beverly Hills customer and reinforces Saks Fifth Avenue's position as a fashion authority."