Designers and architects are both in the business of constructing beautiful things, simply at different scales. For Givenchy, the first West Coast flagship had to embody beauty at all scales—making a Frank Lloyd Wright building on Rodeo Drive the perfect place to set up shop.
Honoring founder Hubert de Givenchy’s love of architecture, the 4,500-square-foot retail space inhabits the Wright building, first conceived in 1952—the same year House of Givenchy was born. The Los Angeles storefront, opening this month, will be the brand’s ninth American outpost, with the forthcoming opening of a Dallas location in September bringing the total to 10.
History is an essential character of any Givenchy location, particularly for a brand that prizes timelessness above all. After acquiring space in the Wright building, Givenchy turned to design notables Victor Fuentes, principal architect at Lochte Architecture Group, and Flora Chou, associate principal and cultural resources planner at Page & Turnbull, to collaborate on the vision.
The result: a cool and sparkling interior that engages with both industrial and natural design. The floors and ceilings were restored to their original diamond-scored glory, warmed by the opening of two fireplaces. The elevated minimalist design of the store, topped off with an archival tiger print straight from Hubert de Givenchy's own home, honors the ethos of classic Givenchy outlets as well as the personality of Wright, and the climate of LA.
“For Givenchy’s first permanent store in Los Angeles, it was important to select a space that would resonate with our brand," explained Valerie Leon, president of the Americas at Givenchy. "Given Hubert de Givenchy’s love of art and architecture, the Frank Lloyd Wright building felt like the right choice, and the opportunity to bring Givenchy to life there was inspiring.”
Shoppers will have access to a full array of Givenchy wares, from accessories and special collections to pieces designed specifically with the West Coast city in mind. The original, multi-store design of the building has been kept intact, though this is the first time it will be occupied by a single tenant. As such, each storefront offers a different selection for visitors, whether men's or women's, or a first-ever "experience" space, to be opened next year.
Givenchy’s Fall 2024 Pre-Collection will be available, as well as previews from the Fall/Winter 2024 runway show. Store exclusives are set to include a Rodeo Drive Limited Edition Shark Lock Cowboy Boot in white leather and Limited Edition Mini Antigona Lock Bag in the same colorway. Thus, the Givenchy shopping experience will be sure to match the locale in its striking singularity.
