Video Interview with Armand Hadida

Video: My interview with Armand Hadida in the bar of his newest L’Eclaireur at 8-10 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008 Paris.

Why it is so HolyChic: This is a place where I definitely didn’t feel that hollow, lifeless energy I feel in most upscale fashion and design stores. Places, books, art, people (and above all people from the fashion business) who take themself too seriously and see fashion as a religion, bore me silly.  Here, you will never be bored (if you don’t forget to take your black Amex card, of course).

This 5th Parisian L’Eclaireur is not only a multi-label luxury store but also a vast bar and restaurant which makes its immediate neighbor, the prestigious Buddha Bar look like an outdated, provincial dive in comparison.

This is sort of Fornasetti’s (1913-1988) temple, wisely conceived to let Fornasetti’s playful and witty designed objects and drawings  come to life.

The retro touch is terribly modern, the lighting is refined and carefully elaborated, every detail telling a different story – and yet whole space is consistent and has a timeless air.

If you buy an object here, you feel as though you’ve bought a piece of immortality.

No wonder that New York Magazine claims: “Colette gets all the hype, but L’Eclaireur owners Martine and Armand Hadida have been bringing new names into Paris’s fashion universe for 25 years, and their five boutiques are still the cutting edge.”

Surface: 600 m2 (5 rooms)

Opening date: January, 2007.

What they sell: Sharp couturiers, casual ultra chic womenswear and menswear, everything from dresses and shoes to accessories… from Dries van Noten, Oscar de la Renta, Versace, Thomas Wylde, Anne Valérie Hash, Dior Homme, Biba, Gustavo Lins.

L’Eclaireur has exclusives on women’s lines like Basso & Brooke, Guaglianone, Ken Scott, Haute by Vincenzo de Cotiis, Gianni Barbato shoes and Sissi Rossi bags.

Upstairs, the men’s area has Marni, Haute, Dior Homme, and Bruno Bordese.

Black pearls by Robert Wan, golden and silver jewelry by Ugo Cacciatori and Rosa Maria. And of course Fornasetti homeware and furniture.

Interior Design: With the help of Piero Fornassetti’s son, Barnaba Fornassetti, Martine and Armand Hadida have created this bar-restaurant inspired by the famous Dulciora pastry shop in Milan (designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 50s). Fornasetti’s firm created the exclussive decoration of the bar-restaurant space. Pay attention on the drawings in the restaurant, you’ll be surprised.

Clientele: Black titanium card holders, fashion addicts of all ages, dressy casual urbanites, cashed up dandies and tourists, Crillon and Bouddha Bar regular customers.

Ambiance: “Fly me to the moon atmosphere in the Rome of the 24th century”,  tongue-in-cheek to deadly serious minimalism and fashion fetishism, retro-chic, lofty, timeless, Italian, sharp-chic, snazzy, inventive, witty, surprising, amusing, with a touch of mild retro porn. Good that playfulness and humor are not interpreted here in a childish, infantile manner as in others Parisian hype stores.

Service: Impeccable. Top professionalism and a great hospitality from Marie (the PR) and the owner, Mr. Hadida.

Interior: Sophisticated, amusing, vast, high ceilings, breathtaking, warm colors, Fornasetti is all around. Enticing shopping spree or even better – having a glass of red wine and dining with someone who is terribly willing to fly you to the moon after the digestif.

Upside:  Lively, playful, humorous and opened spirit of Martine and Armand Hadida keeps l’Eclaireur now, 27 years after, more than ever on the top of the ultra-tough Parisian fashion playground. Maybe it’s also because they’re always on the hunt for personalities rather than simple fashion trends.

Downside: The problem is that I didn’t find anything here which was not breathtaking. I’m simply thrilled. Go over there and see why.

Tags: Sharp and chic, urban, retro, Italian style, hip, boutique, arty, store, womenswear, homeware, shop, Fornasetti.

Category: Surface

L’Eclaireur – womenswear/mensweare, homeweare, furniture, bar, restaurant
Address: 8-10 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008 Paris
Metro: Concorde
Telephone: +33 1 53 43 09 99
Bar & Restaurant Opening Hours: 11 am – 7 am on Monday
11 am – 2 pm from Tuesday to Saturday
Email: bar@leclaireur.com

by Vesna Gerintes

September 2007

Agnès B. 16th Parisian store

Opens July 12, 2007 in the Canal Saint Martin District

Video: Interview with Agnes B. on the opening of her new Parisian store

What: Opening of Agnès B. womenswear/kidswear store

Why it is so HolyChic: Agnès B. , a guru of Parisian easy to wear and relaxed, clothing has opened her 16th Parisian store in the former 90-year-old sponge factory Prosper Badault (which even had Yves Klein as a client).

And no, it’s not the eye of omnipresent Vincent Bastie who watch over the interior design, but Aurore, daughter of Agnès B.  who was in charge to transform this ancient sponge factory into hot Parisian fashion spot.

Her aim was also to respect and preserve the spirit of the place. One of the results of this intent is not “no-logo”, but rather “others-prehistoric-logo” advertising strategy : instead of Agnès B. , there’s a old Prosper Badault signboard on the front of the shop.

The space is huge and located in the very hip, bobo Saint Martin Canal district. The atmosphere is warm and  the clothes are easy to wear, relaxed and casual with a consistent quality. This store is close to Agnes B. menswear store  at 1, rue Dieu, 75010 and fits perfectly in the lively bobo district.

Surface: 250 m2 (4 rooms)

Opening date: July 12, 2007

What they sell: Agnès B labeled clothing: everything from baby sneaks to streetwear. Dresses, suits, customized graffiti t-shirt, accessories….

Ambiance:  Parisian, Frenchy, familiar, bland, urban slick, warm, francofile.

Clientele: Japanese tourists, dressy causal übernites, bobos and fashion addicts of all ages desperately searching for comfortable garments which are not wearable just for only one season.

Agnes B. obviously aims to design the clothing for all urban people who want, even in their seventies, to maintain their rock’n'roll spirit without risking looking like Elton John. They prefer to look like ageless Agnes B. herself: fresh, trendy, youthful, smart, calm, open, curious, sharp and lively.

Service: Ultra-cool and invisible.

Interior: Huge, homelike. Living room in the country with urban French-chic  clothing. Bland with a windows on the countrylike courtyard, with posters, paintings, houseware accessories.

Upside:  Good blend of ancient and hip. You feel like at French chic, country, but at the same time, urban artsy home.

Downside: While Agnès B is very kind and friendly person, her arrogant PR is certainly not a person who will put you at ease and make you want come back to one of her stores. Mademoiselle Agnès, you deserve people who are more like you around.

Tags: Agnès B., Paris, French chic, francofile, urban, hip, friendly, boutique, bobo, arty, Canal Saint Martin, blend, store, womenswear, kidswear, shop, sponge factory, Yves Klein,

Category: Surface

Agnès B. womenswear/kidswear store
Address: 13 rue de Marseille 75010 Paris
Metro: Republique

by Vesna Gerintes

July 2007