A slew of European cult brands have been making their way stateside these last few years including Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Maje, and Sandro, but none have done so with as much of a splash as Zadig & Voltaire (now if only COS and The Kooples would follow suit…). With multiple retail locations throughout New York and Los Angeles, Zadig & Voltaire just opened their New York City flagship in the swanky Madison Avenue hotel, The Mark.
The streamlined 1,300 square foot space (located at 992 Madison Ave at 77th Street), is the French brand’s first uptown location (the others are in Soho, Meatpacking, and the West Village), and it gives nearby rivals like Intermix a run for their money when it comes to luring in the uptown set looking for plush, cozy, seasonless everyday wares.
Sun-drenched and airy, it’s hard not to want to slip into the cashmere and velvety-soft leathers that make up the current season’s collection. Known for their rock-n-roll aesthetic skulls, often of the bedazzled variety, are prominently featured as are sequin embellishments on separates including covetable gold blazers and tops.
The company was founded by Thierry Gillier, whose father was a founder of Lacoste, so it’s little surprise that Zadig has mastered the art of creating reliable basics (tees, skinny trousers, long ultra-thin sweaters, fitted blazers) fashioned out of luxury fabrics (silk, leather, cashmere, specially developed cotton jersey) — and now Uptowners no longer have to trek downtown to open up their wallets.
Let’s hope e-commerce for the U.S. isn’t far off.
