The Alaïa flagship store in London first opened its doors to much fanfare almost seven years ago, its first outside the French capital. The prestigious three-storey retail space on New Bond Street has been meticulously tweaked to be even more hospitable to its highly discerning cult following with the opening of a bookstore and an adjacent café. Mind you, this isn’t the first bookstore linked to legendary fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017), as the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation opened one in the very house in Paris where he once lived and worked. Situated on the second floor, the bookstore, which sits on the street side, is a collaboration with book dealer and publisher Claire de Rouen.
The setting sees a hyper chic setting with an elongated table with chairs, armchairs and sofas, all flanked by dark timber shelving units laden with coveted publications on art, fashion and photography. Directly opposite, on the other side of the circular glass-encased stairwell, a cozy café can be found. Similarly understated, yet more practical, the space sees a constellation of tables with chairs, which can easily be reconfigured into smaller seating units, a bench, and in the back a metal clad counter with matching backdrop. The Alaïa café is operated in collaboration with Violet Cakes, a local yet California-style bakery, serving a wide range of tasty cakes and pastries made from seasonal ingredients. © superfuture
Alaïa
139 New Bond Street, Second Floor (Mayfair)
London W1S 2TL
Telephone +44 20 30577905
Mon-Sat 12pm-7pm (store)
Sun 12pm-6pm (store)
Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm (bookstore + café)
Sat 11am-6pm (bookstore + café)
Publishers Note
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