Boutique Critique: Alexander McQeen Los Angeles

Alexander McQueen knows how to make/stage an entrance. Meet ‘Angel of the Americas’, an anatomically correct Silver Surfer, sculpted by Robert Bryce Muir, that greets guest from above the floor of McQueen’s new LA haunt.

“L.A., like London, has so many art collectors and I wanted to give a focal point to the store,” McQueen told WWD. “I was also inspired by the Jesus Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro. Los Angeles is the City of Angels and I wanted something to reflect that.”

The 3,100-square-foot space is sleek and futuristic — architect William Russell’s signature — with a curved exterior facade and few straight lines inside. Hand-smoothed white plaster walls arch into cathedral-like vaulted ceilings, and clothing racks and display cases hanging from the ceiling give an ethereal floating effect to the fixtures.

Huge curved glass doors and curved windows bring a soft natural light into the space, which features muted tones and floors of gray terrazzo marble inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Two bonsai trees that partly shield the windows are among the landscaping touches inspired by McQueen’s Buddhist beliefs. The store’s cash registers, speakers and ventilation are hidden.

The store is a real gem and will undoubtingly shine as long as certain celebutards stay out.  McQueen has already made it clear that there are certain folks he’d prefer to not enter his store like Paris Hilton. “If she comes past the shop, hopefully she’ll just keep walking…I don’t really covet that sort of thing.” – Alexander McQueen in the LA Times.

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