Birds, Unspeakably Chic Mannequins Now in Lanvin's Windows

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

When we swung by Madison Avenue today on yet another Lanvin-stalking mission, we discovered the doors will open to customers Thursday afternoon. Sitting outside the now fully dressed space were the store director and assistant manager who will both be there tomorrow for the grand reveal. They said they are just fixing some minor details while turning eager passerby away, and they assured us that the space will be worth the wait. Lanvin womenswear has taken over the five-floor space that will be resemble a luxe townhouse. (We're told that menswear will come later, after the traditional women's brand gets settled in the neighborhood.) There's not a definitive time set for the grand opening yet, but we'll be sure to update you when we hear word.

Today's progress report: The wooden planks and cardboard boxes we saw on Wednesday have been replaced by the most chic mannequins we've ever seen. The bird theme around the outside panels of the store is echoed in the bird cages the mannequins are carrying. Inside, we saw lots of bright colors and dresses on the first and second floors. WWD reports that the ground floor is supposed to look like the residential apartment that Jeanne-Marie Lanvin lived in, in the 1920s, when she was designing in France. While inside, expect luxurious carpets, crisp white floors, Carrara marble, glass hardware, Art Deco and Art Nouveau chandeliers, and a lot of exclusive merchandise including a $11,395 fox fur jacket trimmed with gray grosgrain ribbon, a 120th-year-in-business-commemorative T-shirt and porcelain dolls. The space will feature three dressing rooms, an entire area outside the main floor devoted to footwear, and an entryway lined in mirrors. —Joann Pan
· Lanvin to Open on Madison Avenue This Wednesday [Racked NY]
· Lanvin to Open First New York Store [WWD, subscription req'd]