November 07, 2018
After reading about Dolce & Gabbana’s new shop at 155 Mercer Street in Manhattan’s SoHo, I decided to pay a visit to see these digs for myself. On Friday, August 17th when it was close to 90 degrees F. I took the Downtown #6 subway and got off at Spring Street (a 10-minute trip). This left me at Spring/Lafayette and from there I walked west to Mercer where I crossed the street and took a short walk to 155 – all told a fairly easy jaunt.
A recent ad for Dolce & Gabbana
ONCE INSIDE, IT’S BOOM, BOOM
This place can only be described as: very theatrical – one is greeted by an explosion of sound and visual splendor in this totally “done over” historic 1854 firehouse (that has a plaque outside honoring firefighters). The first item that caught my eye when I stepped through the open doorway was an over-the-top, velvet-covered chair done up in Dolce & Gabbana style.
The shop is a total of three floors – the first is named “Millennials” while the second is for females and the third for males. “We originally had both sexes on the second floor,” explained one staffer, “but we found it didn’t work.” I didn’t ask why.
The millennials – photo courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana
The rear of the first floor has a selection of D&G sneakers (or whatever fancy name one wants to use) in every color and style on the planet. But, it’s the second floor that’s really the eye-opener. Leopard is everywhere: up on the walls, down on the floor and on handbags, shoes, dresses and blouses – you name it. It’s a wild scene BUT it all works beautifully because there’s a strong vision behind the whole thing.
THE BOYS FIRST TRIP TO NYC
Designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce are stars in the Big Apple now – but it wasn’t always like that – not by a long shot. In a fun article by Véronique Hyland that appeared in Elle, July 2018 they recount the gritty details of their first Manhattan visit.
“We were staying at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. This was in 1987 at the height of the break-dancing craze. We had kids outside our window with boom boxes – music blared all night long.” Can you imagine?
CONTRAST THIS WITH THEIR 2018 SHOW
In April 2018 their Alta Moda Show in Manhattan (featuring 2019 fashions) was a three-day affair at the New York Public Library, the Rainbow Room, the Boom Boom Room (an exclusive club at the top of the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District) and the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. The designers explain that their Alta Moda events started in 2012 and, as Gabbana says, “It’s a style of life, not just a fashion show.” These two ultra-creative Italians really rock!
AND, SPEAKING OF ROCKERS
Or, as The New York Post of 7/9/18 reported in a piece headlined: $tones Still Rollin’ and a sub-head that read, “The Band inks a long-term Universal extension.”
Long-term? Mick Jagger turned 75 this year, Keith Richards is 74 (soon to be 75), Charlie Watts is 73 and Ronnie Wood is 71. “Long-term” apparently means ten years. Does this mean that Jagger will still be singing, I Can’t Get No Satisfaction when he’s 85? Yep, you got that right.
It’s all about money. Or, as Alexandra Steigrad writes, “The Stones have long proven themselves to be expert money makers. The band’s Bigger Bang tour in 2005-07 grossed $558 million, according to Billboard magazine, making it the second-highest grossing tour in history. There you have it. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 of The Stones and their glam life. THEN CLICK HERE FOR PART 2.
Shaun Nelson-HenrickComments will be approved before showing up.
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