Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
It was just last year that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen opened up their airy flagship boutique on Melrose Place right here in Los Angeles. But the sisters aren’t content on having just one store in under their watch, because New York is abuzz with the news that the twins are opening up shop in the Upper East Side before the end of the year. The townhouse at 17 East 71st Street is sure to get a little bit of a makeover before it houses the Row’s luxe offerings, but if the New York store is anything like the L.A. location, the Olsens are sure to keep the feel and history of the space in tact.
“We have had our eye on this property for the past two years,” Ashley told WWD.
Built in 1910, the space is in stark contrast to the midcentury space on Melrose (which was formerly Sally Hershberger’s salon). The move to establish their store in a townhouse suggests that the Row’s retail plan involves individual stores that take the tradition and history of their respective neighborhoods into account, in contrast to building an army of identical stores in the vein of Michael Kors or Tory Burch.
When the twins build their L.A. store, they kept the bones of the space, but added personal touches such as furniture pieces from their own collection and vintage finds, giving the store a residential feel. There are no details yet on the New York location, but the designers are no strangers to townhomes. Previously, they’ve hosted fashion presentations in similar surroundings.
For more information, visit www.therow.com.
Images courtesy Barneys New York
