What: Places to go and Insidertips Where: Vienna, Austria I…
Ralph Lauren’s flagship store in New York
What: Ralph Lauren Flagshipstore
Where: Manhattan, New York
An absolute highlight of shopping are the Ralph Lauren flagship stores on Madison Avenue in New York. At number 888 the ladies get their money’s worth, vis-a-vis the gentlemen in the legendary “Rhinelander Mansion” – one of the few surviving Beaux Arts buildings in Manhattan. A compelling case that I decide immediately to enter the 888, because in this turn-of-the-century- villa not only the women’s collection is shown, but also the home collection that touches the heart of every interior fan.
Quite deliberately, the designer has opted a historic house, extensively renovated by the New York architect Weddle Gilmore in collaboration with Thomas Hat by HS2 Architecture, instead of putting on cool “It-Design”.
The property on the Upper East Side was once issued by the rich New Yorker Ruth Brown to the architects McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1893. Mrs. Brown – then widowed – however never moved in. Instead, the millionairess Alva Vanderbilt bought the residence with the white limestone facade in 1895.
And although the building presents the world of Ralph Lauren, it reminds me more of Coco Chanel, as I walked through the impressive, black and white decorated staircase. Elegance and luxury on each of the four floors on approximately 22,000 square feet. I think this villa would be loved by Mademoiselle Chanel. BvH
Contact:
888 Madison Avenue
New York888 Madison Avenue
at 72nd Street
New York, NY 10021