BUILDING BRUNELLO

Expanding on the success of its West Village boutique on Bleecker Street, the Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli, known its for relaxed yet elegant style, opens a second store in our fair city at 683 Madison Avenue. Now the uptown set can conveniently find everything for the Cucinelli man or woman, from eveningwear to accessories and even the recently launched footwear collection. You may be thinking: Why open a new location in this economic climate? The man behind the brand, president and owner Brunello Cucinelli, explains why he is so confident about the prospects for the 1,985-square-foot-space: “We believe this is an important step toward the future development and growth of Brunello Cucinelli in the US market,” says Cucinelli. “We hope to increase our visibility within a new potential client base that views Madison Avenue as an exclusive and sophisticated shopping destination.” He adds, “Opening our boutiques in areas of the world that share our core values of excellence and good taste is a key element of our growth strategy.” 683 Madison Ave., 212-813-0900

MALE BONDING

Already considered one of Wall Street’s most prominent luxury retailers, Hermès proudly displays its commitment to the men’s market with a space catering just to them. Situated across from the flagship Hermès mansion on Madison, Hermès Men’s Boutique launches during New York Fashion Week in February as the first location worldwide dedicated solely to men—a milestone in Hermès’ illustrious history. The late Rena Dumas, former director of Paris-based architectural firm RDAI, designed the 6,000-square-foot urbane emporium that devotes an entire floor to a comprehensive department for made-to-measure and customized products. Limited-edition men’s items will also be available exclusively at the new boutique. 690 Madison Ave.; opening in February