Celine's New Flagship Is Here

It looks like Celine couldn't wait for Paris Fashion Week to come back into the spotlight. Following Hedi Slimane's first collections for womenswear and menswear over the past few months, the brand is finally unveiling a new store concept to go with its new creative director's definitive aesthetic. Opening today, the Madison Avenue Flagship features a contemporary architectural concept carefully developed over the past nine months.

Those who have been following how Slimane's influence hits retail will find familiarity in the new look. The store bears a lot of resemblance to Saint Laurent's 2015 redesign, featuring plenty of marble, hanging metal installations, and minimalist shelving. But of course, a new brand means some new details, and the space satisfies this need with allusions to the organic, including wooden furniture and heavy use of stones like basaltina and granite—one even sits as a natural rock in a seating area. It's far from a return to the warmer shades and literal plants of old Céline, but it does highlight Slimane's use of the brand identity in creating a new vision.

The 5,000-square-foot ground floor space features site-specific artwork by James Balmforth and Jose Dávila, leaving the world wondering what minimalist creativity will emerge when similar redesigns open in Paris, London, Milan, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo. Additionally, thanks to the recent debut of the brand's first men's collection, a menswear flagship will open on Rue François Premier, followed by similar boutiques across other major fashion cities. 

If you still haven't fully adjusted to Slimane's complete reinvention of Celine, let the new flagship be your guide. The brand may not have yet had its promised couture debut, but it sure is taking over the world.