Pop-Ups Still on the Up?

Belts have been tightened, budgets cut, and as some city centres are already recording vacancy rates of almost 40%, temporary retail spaces still seem to be flourishing.

Joining the recent Comme Des Garcons & Uniqlo pop ups in Paris, Prada opens 570 square metres of fashion retailing on Place Beauvau at the top end of Rue St Honore  - rumoured to hold open only until November this year.

With its theatrical double height trompe l’oeil style wrap around façade and glimpses through to the 2 storey shop floor - this is definitely one worth visiting if you find yourself in Paris this side of Christmas.

The traditional ‘Prada Army’ style mannequins were replaced with clusters of avant garde, wigged mannequins creating strong in-store windows bringing the latest collections to life and creating dynamic invitations for customers to engage with.

The walls are lined with large format graphic backdrops continuing the shop front story inside – whilst the lighting scheme is blackened ‘exhibition style rigging’ delivering strong high & low punches  throughout the environment. The shop assistants were as excited as we were, letting us happily snap away whilst telling us about their bespoke uniforms, apparently hand picked by Muccia Prada herself.

We came across this store the day after opening. With its mix of soft luxury furniture, black & white checkerboard marbled floors, bronze metal exhibition cases & taupe silk fitting rooms, it’s hard to believe that this store is not here to stay...

The store was designed by Italian architect  Roberto Baciocci and opened on my birthday 20th July!

We like it very much

By Keith Fowler