Khaite Store at Soho: A Luxurious Shopping Experience
Khaite has finally done it. The New York-based fashion brand, known for its painfully sleek silhouettes, has graced us mere mortals with its first retail Khaite store in Soho. I mean, I guess we should all be grateful that we can now touch the fabrics that we’ll never be able to afford.
let’s not forget that the founder, Catherine Holstein, won the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award. I guess that’s one more thing for us plebs to feel inadequate about. But hey, at least they hired an architect, Griffin Frazen, to design the 4,000-square-foot store. Oh wait, that’s just Holstein’s husband. Must be nice to have a built-in designer and decorator for your brand, huh?
The new retail store in Soho sounds like a real treat. Apparently, they’re really embracing the minimalist vibe, with clothing racks that are about as populated as a ghost town. But don’t worry, if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the floor, they’ve got plenty more options and sizes tucked away in the stock room downstairs. And let’s not forget about the pièce de résistance – a live tree growing out of the ground in the back of the store. Nothing says “fashion” like a bit of nature. Ps; the store don’t actually look like the picture.
Oh, and did I mention the dressing rooms? They’re designed to be a stark contrast to the rest of the store with their bold red walls and different soundtrack playing inside. Because, of course, trying on clothes is so much better when you’re surrounded by loud music and the color red. And if that’s not enough, they’ve got large mirrors that take up most of one wall and a plush red carpet to make you feel like a celebrity.
Khaite Store Soho Location: A Bootlegging Hotspot
it looks like Khaite’s new retail store is all about creating context for the brand. Catherine Holstein, the founder, apparently wanted to break free from the shackles of wholesalers and dot coms and create a “tactile experience” for customers. Let’s be real who needs the convenience of online shopping when you can physically touch and try on clothes? Especially after the stunt Amazon just pull.
Holstein also chose the Soho location because of its “varied history” as a bootlegging hotspot and apparel factories. I mean, who doesn’t love a good bootleg ring? And let’s not forget about the historic artist watering holes nearby. Because nothing says “fashion” like being surrounded by the ghosts of struggling artists who probably couldn’t afford to buy anything in the store.
Over the weekend, they used the space to stage a runway show for their Autumn/Winter 2023 collection. It was done with a small group of guests in attendance. They including some big names like Karlie Kloss, Chloe Fineman, and Meghann Fahy from “The White Lotus.” The collection apparently featured lots of shearling and leather, because nothing says “winter” like wearing dead animal skin. But don’t worry, they still managed to incorporate their signature sleek silhouettes. You can’t have a Khaite collection without looking like you’re about to walk into a corporate board meeting.
According to Holstein, the collection is all about power and sophistication, which is just perfect for those of us who want to look like we’re in charge while freezing our butts off in the winter. Another thing is that Italy has a lot of history as well. However, I don’t think that’s why Prada is so invested over there.
Khaite & Oliver Peoples Unite for First-Ever Eyewear Collection
Well, well, well, it looks like Khaite is really branching out with its latest collaboration. The brand has teamed up with Oliver Peoples to launch its first-ever eyewear collection. If there’s one thing that screams “fashion,” it’s a pair of glasses with a designer label on them. And apparently, this is just the beginning for Khaite. With majority ownership from brand incubator Assembled Brands, the company is planning to open 10 stores over the next five years. That’s right, 10 whole stores! So now you can have a tactile experience with Khaite’s offerings in not just one, but possibly ten sleek and immersive environments. But hey, who doesn’t want to spend their entire paycheck on clothes and accessories they don’t really need? It’s truly an exciting time for Khaite, and by exciting, I mean expensive.