Photo Credit: Fendi
Grant Street in the heart of downtown is quickly turning into San Francisco’s answer to Rodeo Drive and Madison Avenue. It is the street for international luxury fashion brands to open a boutique. Case in point: the new Fendi store has joined the likes of Dior and Hermes in a space on the corner of Maiden Lane and Grant Street. The flagship Fendi, that opened its doors earlier this month, is a stunning two-story shop that reflects the Italian maison’s Roman roots.
Photo Credit: Fendi
It is the first San Francisco location for the 92-year old family-run brand whose collections are designed by Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi. Upon arrival at Fendi, one immediately notices the wall of chic handbags, small accessories, and rich textiles. An oversized pink velvet carpet compliments the warm cream-colored walls of handmade tridimensional plasters and Italian stones of navona travertine and Portor marble. The ground floor has bright open windows that provide ample light for the women’s ready-to-wear pieces, direct from the most recent Fendi runway. The brand is known for its furs and the store is stocked with pretty pink stoles, sleek black minks, and colorful fur poufs to hang on purses.
Photo Credit: Fendi
The refined decor is sumptuous and grandiose and features a mixture of vintage and bespoke furnishings. There is a velvet sofa by Jasper Morrison and supplied by Capellini, 1920s-style armchairs, and a console table by Thierry Lemaire. Custom tables, commissioned by Italian designer Cristina Celestino for a Fendi VIP room concept at Design Miami 2016, are conversation starters–fantastic brass, marble, and geometric shapes that resemble giant cuff links or earrings.
Photo Credit: Fendi
Colorful fur tapestries adorn the walls along the stairwell that leads to the downstairs men’s area. It has deep blue velvet rugs, brown lacquer finishes, and dark grey metal mesh accents. There is a masculine mood that is jovial thanks to the monster faces that are embroidered on leather goods, beanies, and primary-color backpacks. There are two dressing rooms and one very important client room—all of which are decorated with Karl Lagerfeld’s fashion sketches. If you haven’t checked out the new boutique yet, be sure to pop in the next time you’re near Union Square.
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer
Fendi celebrated the store’s opening with a invitation-only luncheon. SF’s most stylish swans—Alison Pincus, Dr. Carolyn Chang, and Farah Markas—attended the exclusive event.
