Colette, the iconic Paris boutique that stocks both coveted high-end finds by Chanel and Saint Laurent side-by-side new brands like Off-White and Sacai, announced that it will be closing its doors for good this year.
Since 1997, Colette became a fashion must-visit when in the French city given its sharp selection of fashion along with books and technology. Dazed Media co-founder and director Jefferson Hack decribed it as “the perfect white cube.” “It was like a living magazine, you only had to step into it to know which brands and artists were shaping and influencing pop culture.”
Off-White’s Virgil Abloh goes as far as saying that Off-White wouldn’t be possible without Colette. The world-famous concept store had a knack for stocking who should be the next big thing in fashion. Colette was the first to stock the collections of Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Mary Katrantzou, and Simone Rocha.
It is also because of this that Colette became notorious as a tastemaker. It defined what cool meant and wasn’t afraid to adapt the new definitions cool took on. Karl Lagerfeld claims it’s the “only shop I go because they have what no one else has.” He also told Business of Fashion that “They have invented a formula you can’t copy easily because there is only one Colette and her and Sarah are 200 percent involved.”
“Her and Sarah” pertains to mother Colette Roussaux, from which the store takes its name from and daughter Sarah Andelman. Sarah is the one who took the helm at the store in recent years. Their eye and edit over what the store contained is what made Colette so important. “Sarah and her mother Colette are true visionaries and have created a benchmark for concept stores around the world,” said Mary Katrantzou upon hearing the news.
If you want to know what all the hype is about you still have until Dec. 20 to visit the famed Paris address. Currently, Colette is in talks with Saint Laurent as the luxury brand plans to take over the boutique’s location.
[Business of Fashion]
Photo courtesy of Colette’s Instagram account
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