If you saunter up the street from the celebrity hot spot - The Villa - you'll stumble across a well-manicured lava garden with a row of stunning 6 foot cacti edging the walkway on trendy Melrose Avenue.
The site houses the chic Balenciaga boutique - the only outlet for the discerning upscale clotheshorse to shop in - outside of Manhattan in the continental U.S.
Nicholas Ghesquiere - the creative director - fell in love with the building early on when locations were being scouted for the fashion house known for its cutting-edge designs and celebrity clients like Kate Moss, Jennifer Connelly, and Nicole Kidman.
The two-story Gucci-owned store is quite distinctive, brimming with high glamour, and has a futuristic feel to it.
Ghesquiere - and the French artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster - zeroed in on a signature color (blue); then, used scintillating lighting techniques to ensure there would be dynamic rhythms in the light throughout the day as the sun lazily moved across the sky.
In addition, the visionary duo installed shutter-like blue slats to run floor-to-ceiling along the walls to maximize the affect.
There are state-of-the-art designer touches too - LED lighting fixtures, custom-made display cases that open with touch-activated mechanisms, and interior walls etched with silver leaf, for a luxurious feel.
Customers are usually wowed by a geometric pattern on the floor in the grand entrance which is artfully set with three shades of elegant marble.
The moneyed elite are easily enticed in the inviting front door by a well-stocked mini-bar, bathrooms concealed by sliding doors, and dressing rooms that feature gender specific seating.
The fashion collection is far-reaching.
Here, you'll plunk down $350.00 for designer shades or $3,000.00 for a chic one-of-a-kind handbag.
Meanwhile, dazzling eye-popping gowns range from a paltry $1,000.00 to $70,000.00.
Just say, "charge it", in the VIP dressing room.
By the way, David Barry once said,"The leading cause of death among fashion models is falling through street grates."
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