Valentino Unveils Architectural Masterpiece with New Flagship Store on Madison Avenue
Valentino has introduced a new landmark on New York’s luxury shopping map with the inauguration of its latest flagship store at 654 Madison Avenue. In an ambitious departure from traditional retail models, the new establishment is a showcase of Valentino’s global retail concept launched in 2022, emphasizing a customized shopping experience within a uniquely reinterpreted structure.
Encompassing nearly 1,142 square meters over three levels, including a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and a second floor, the store commands a prominent corner on Madison Avenue and 60th Street. Visitors are greeted by the iconic columns and expansive windows, offering a preview of the boutique’s meticulous interior design narrative that celebrates the Maison’s heritage through color and materiality.
Inside, the flagship store stands out with its seven-meter-high ceilings and an industrial chic aesthetic marked by exposed steel columns and raw concrete. The retail space is distinctly zoned through design elements like a striking green onyx centerpiece and custom-designed furnishings that define areas dedicated to Valentino Garavani Accessories, footwear, and ready-to-wear collections.
Dramatic red Travertino marble and red velvet encapsulate Valentino’s iconic color in areas designated for the brand’s collections, while a monumental, asymmetric staircase made from a medley of marbles serves as a backbone to the store’s structure, providing a continuous dialogue between spaces through recurring materials and color themes.
The second floor features Valentino’s Women Ready-To-Wear collection amid a grand red lacquered wardrobe and chequered marble flooring, along with two VIP areas that evoke the intimacy of Italian ateliers, complete with Roll & Hill chandeliers, Charles Zana chairs, and ceramic pieces by Massimiliano Pipolo.
Descending into the basement reveals the Menswear collection, presented in a space where stark concrete and black parquet floors meet lilac accents and mirrored columns, softened by iconic 1970s design elements like DeSede’s Snake Sofa.
In addition to fashion, the mezzanine will serve as a cultural hub for temporary art exhibitions, aligning with Valentino’s deep-rooted support for global art and visual culture. The store debuts its artistic endeavors in partnership with Magazzino Italian Art, featuring works by Mario Schifano, thereby solidifying the brand’s cultural footprint.
Valentino’s Madison Avenue flagship is set to open its doors to the public on November 8th, 2023, marking a new chapter in the Maison’s storied presence in the heart of New York’s luxury retail landscape.
