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Bonpoint—the St. Germain-based purveyor of smocked Liberty-print dresses and pastel cashmere cardigans—opened the doors to their new Soho concept store last night. Which is great news for the neighborhood's Francophile (and actually French) moms, who turned up in droves to browse teensy embroidered tunics, chat with the brand's creative director Christine Innamorato, and watch their kids go HAM on some Laduree desserts.
Yes, the shop is right next door to the macaron temple (in fact, Bonpoint and Laduree share a garden out back), which is pretty genius. What better way to mollify a child who really doesn't want to be shopping than with the promise of sugar if she tries on just one more dress?
Other kid-friendly details in the Soho space include dressing rooms outfitted to look like playhouses, dolls that come with mini versions of Bonpoint girls' looks, and cases of sparkly Aurelie Bidermann for Bonpoint friendship bracelets (a store exclusive) just at a six-year-old's eye level.
And while the offerings are definitely pricey for things-that-will-inevitably-have-chocolate-pudding-spilled-on-them (a child-sized handbag runs $250, while a linen and cotton voile baby dress is $220), a salesgirl assured us that some styles can be worn by (petite) adults, too. Harley Viera-Newton, who was DJ-ing out back, did just that and looked adorable. See her floral shift, the store's fairytale interior, a cameo by Garance Dore, and Bonpoint's littlest (and cutest) customers, in the gallery.
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