The best things in menswear tend to come with exotic origin stories.
Denim spawned from 16th-century weavers in Nîmes, France (de Nîmes = denim). Loafers were once the go-to kicks of Norwegian farmers who wore them in cattle “loafing areas.”
And concept shops like STORY and Dover Street Market hail from one legendary Milan locale: 10 Corso Como.
Today, the powerhouse retailer cuts the ribbon on its newest iteration in the Seaport. To help kick off New York Fashion Week, the self-identified “virtual 3D magazine” wants you to celebrate the art of “slow shopping” — online shopping be damned.
Presiding: former journalist and Corso founder Carla Sozzani, who has created a 28,000-square-foot empire dedicated to taking one’s time and enjoying the finer things … which sometimes means dropping a couple grand on a padded nylon pullover jacket by Prada.
Scattered about the floor, you’ll find everything from home decor to Italian designer threads to a bar and restaurant. You’ll also find seating in every direction: Sozzani wants her customers to stay awhile.
And while she claims to not curate different items for each of her locations — which also include Seoul and Beijing — there will be a handful of exclusives to mark the inaugural NYC affair. Among them, can expect to see a collaboration with Birkenstock for $240 a pop, a proprietary scent for $120 and $85 printed canvas totes for the fanboys.
But our favorite section is the sneaker department, which delivers in droves with selects from the likes of Superga and Balenciaga, as well as an out-of-this-world Paulin sofa for taking a load off while you try them on.
That said, it’s truly the kind of place you need to check out yourself to get properly acquainted.
Head to 1 Fulton Street this weekend to see it up close and personal.
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