On November 19, 2009 shoppers will gather at the Chanel Boutique located at 155 Maiden Lane to buy and spy the new Chanel.  With an all-embracing transformation of the interior and exterior, John Galantic, President and CEO of Chanel Inc. said, “The redesigned Maiden Lane Boutique in now one of the most beautiful Chanel Boutiques in the world.”  Having been in San Francisco since Chanel first opened in 1988, Galantic commented that, “This market continues to be highly influential and important to Chanel… and we are proud to reopen here in San Francisco.”

The three-story building has two entrances—one on Maiden Lane, and the other on Geary Street.  The narrow space is distinctive yet feminine and displays 7,900-square-feet of Chanel ready-to-wear, handbags, costume jewelry, shoes, watches, fragrance, and beauty items.   Chosen to re-design the boutique was New York architect and long-time collaborator of Chanel, Peter Marino.  Known for his ability to “reinterpret a storied heritage with perpetual and evolving virtuosity” his talent shines through in the San Francisco store with elaborate detail and craftsmanship.

From the exterior view on Geary Street, a two-story window is adorned with translucent silk panels that run the height of the Boutique.  These panels are backlit to highlight the gentle pleating of the silk fabric.  Once inside, the centerpiece of the Boutique can be seen from either entrance—a 25-foot tall glass wall that lines the stairs to the second floor.  This feature wall is lined in sheer gold fabric and displays handbags, shoes, and jewelry that are visible on both the first and second floors.  On the Geary entrance side of the Boutique, one will find Chanel handbags, whilst on the Maiden Lane side, shoppers will admire the new Costume Jewelry display concept—the first of its kind in San Francisco.  This display was inspired by Coco Chanel’s Coromandel Screens and provides floor to ceiling displays of Chanel signature pearls and chains on black and white panels.  Ready-to-Wear and Shoes will be displayed on the second floor.

Debuting in the new boutique will be the stunning Cruise 2009-2010 Collection.  This collection was first seen at the Lido Beach Club in Venice in May 2009, and for it, designer Karl Lagerfeld has, “broadened the inspiration Venice once offered Mademoiselle Chanel and conveyed the mythical place it has become,” said Barbara Cirkva, Chanel’s Fashion Division President.  Lagerfield also found muse in Francesca Bertini, Lyda Borelli, and work of Carpaccio, D’Annunzio, and Henri de Regnier for the 2010 Chanel Cruise collection.

In honor of the San Francisco Boutique’s grand reopening, two looks from the Cruise Runway will be available exclusively in the boutique, as well as a special handbag and shoe.

Via: SFLuxe