On September 8th some of fashion’s biggest (and coolest) namesóincluding Richard Chai, Anouk Lepere, Inez van Lamsweerde, and Vinoodh Matadinóturned up at Nicola Formichetti’s new pop-up shop Nicola’s. The party also served as a belated celebration of Formichetti being appointed creative director of Mugler and his inaugural season at the fashion house’s helm, fall 2011.
Nicola Formichetti’s concept store has transformed a space at 80 Walker Street in New York into a massive mirrored prism making it really more full-on Formichetti universe than conventional retail space. The gleaming 120-sq-m shop encompasses hundreds of machine-cut reflective surfaces, interconnected through a cryptic system of aluminum clips. Visitors are able to move through the gleaming interior ñ complete with mirrored floor ñ surrounded by constant reflections of Formichettiís most sought after designs. Garments are hung by raw metal chains as jewelry and other merchandise lay on built-in shiny prism shelving.
The space was created by NY architects Mark Foster Gage and Marc Clemenceau Bailly in collaboration with Focus Lighting for Boffo Building Fashion; the organization melds fashion designers with architects to create installations that push beyond typical retail and architectural design.
“I was looking for a medium to present all the different aspects of what I do,” Formichetti explained of the impetus behind the store. “But now, it’s becoming more than that, because I’ve been collaborating with the architects, and we’ve been merging different people['s ideas]. For me, it’s always about collaboration; it’s not just my vision, it’s the vision of all the people that I work with.”
Currently housed within the shop are: vintage Versace pieces, Haus of Gaga looks, Mugler shoes and clothing, and woven and repurposed Uniqlo garb, as well as “Nicopanda” rings, iPod, and iPhone cases ó which are all available for sale. New merchandise will be added and rotated frequently throughout the shop’s two-week existence, and Formichetti’s muse Rico the Zombie Boy as a store manager.
Perhaps most known for being Lady Gagaís fashion director and stylist, Formichetti produces one uncanny creation after another. Heís also creative director for French fashion house Mugler, and has been tempting his twitter followers all month with constant updates on his new pop-up.
The spacey showroom will be open until September 23rd at 57 Walker Street, between Church and Broadway. Opening hours: Monday through Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
