Inside Dior’s Dazzling New York Flagship

It’s an exciting time for Dior. Fresh off the much-lauded debut of a new creative director, Jonathan Anderson, the storied brand just opened the doors to its new flagship in Manhattan, the House of Dior New York.

Located on the corner of 57th Street and Madison Avenue, the space was designed by acclaimed architect Peter Marino, known for his work across luxury retail, including Barney’s and the Dior boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. In fact, the new Christian Dior store in New York borrows the garden element of that location; the verdant space came to life thanks to Belgian landscaper Peter Wirtz in collaboration with Marino. Meanwhile, 20-foot windows throughout let the city light in, while the displays of various flora and fauna are made using up-cycled materials.

When it came to balancing the French heritage that’s intrinsic to the luxury label’s DNA with a New York sensibility, Marino likens it to a math equation: “One third Christian Dior history. One-third of the Dior period from 1947 to 1957 and one-third of my own touch,” he explains via email. For the curious: that decade Marino references was a time of rapid growth for the brand, from establishing its fragrance line and opening the first New York location (in 1959) to dressing Marlene Dietrich in Hitchcock’s Stage Fright.

The instantly iconic new space is designed combines all the elements from the world of Dior under on roof: Women’s, Men’s, Fine Jewellery, Timepieces, Dior Maison, the La Collection Privée Christian Dior Fragrance (dreamed up by the award-winning in-house perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian) and Dior Beauty (helmed by industry legend Peter Phillips) across four floors and housed in distinct rooms to create a sense of intimacy and discovery.

Special pieces, reserved for this location, are on offer too: like a reimagined Lady Dior handbag, finished with rose gold charms and embroidered detailing as well as some clever nods to the Big Apple via a pair of J’adior slingbacks stamped with “New York House of Dior” and a lineup of Book Totes, scarves and more accessories rendered in the New York newspaper print (available in September).

Plus, did we mention there’s a spa? The new space will offer signature treatments using Dior products, bringing the most luxurious take on wellness and relaxation imaginable. When dreaming up the design, Marino started by thinking about the spa experience he’d want for himself and his friends.

As for how Marino hopes you’ll feel when you walk into the space? “At home, relaxed, cheerful, elevated,” he offers. And, hopefully, with a few Dior treasures to take home.