Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/575200
BAL HARBOUR 47 A MATTER OF STYLE Fashion and culture news from London to Bal Harbour PAGE TURNER Are books the season's must-have accessory? Judging by Rizzoli's new flagship store in New York's sought-after NoMad neighborhood, we'd say the publisher's latest volumes are safe investment pieces. Just three blocks north of Madison Square Park, the 5,000- square-foot space occupies the ground floor of the historic St. James building, which dates back to the early 19th century. Ike Kligerman Barkley Architects led the redesign of the bookstore's interiors, which captures the classic architectural experience for which the former location was celebrated while integrating the energy of its new location. Many of the classic fixtures from the former 57th Street flagship have been preserved and reintroduced in the new space, including its cherry wood bookcases and grand brass and iron chandeliers. Fornasetti designed murals that run from above the bookcases to the ceiling in all three grand rooms, which feature surreal motifs. "Our new premises have exceeded our expectations," says Marco Ausenda, president and CEO of Rizzoli New York. "To me, the store is our heritage translated in new ways in a neighborhood that's edgy and exciting." At the opening night party, 600 guests celebrated, including fashion powerhouses Diane von Furstenberg, Fern Mallis and André Leon Talley, literary forces, like author Emma Straub, food critic Florence Fabricant and Penguin Random House President Jeff Abraham, as well as cultural figures, including Architecture and Design Curator for the Museum of Modern Art Barry Bergdoll and interior designers Ricky Clifton, Lizzie Bailey and Steven Gambrel. Publisher and Vice President of Rizzoli New York Charles Miers tapped Talley to dress the stores windows. The main window was inspired by Talley's home library and the out-of- print book, "Vogue's Book of Houses, Gardens, People." Mannequins were dressed in Vivienne Westwood frocks with their heads wrapped in silk Gucci squares and Westwood fabric. Already, Rizzoli has attracted a steady stream of admirers, among them contemporary art dealer Edward Tyler Nahem. "We're living in a high-tech age with the printed page practically gone," says Nahem. "So, now in its new venue, Rizzoli remains the nexus of art, design, architecture, fashion and of course literature, where the very hands-on process of selecting books is in itself a pleasurable experience." With its bookstore-cum-salon approach, expect a full slate of author readings, panel discussions and concerts, along with exhibitions. And in keeping with founder Angelo Rizzoli's significant role in the film industry (he produced La Dolce Vita and 8 ½, among others), screenings, too are slated. —Brook S. Mason PHOTO BY DANIEL MELAMUD Just three blocks north of Madison Square Park, the 5,000-square-foot space occupies the ground floor of the historic St. James building, which dates back to the early 19th century.