The very new Galeries Lafayette is the only reason you should walk down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. While I hate the idea of department stores, especially with all the independent boutiques that shape the Parisian fashion scene, opening one feels like a pointless idea. But the new project from Lafayette is quite intriguing. As their site reads, the place is “shaking up the conventional notions of a concept store, on the scale of a department store”. Here, you will discover the latest fashion, lifestyle, and beauty collections from emerging and luxury labels, dreamed up by the surprisingly uncorporate team. There’s the rare niche (think Batsheva, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Magda Butrym, Molly Goddard, Rosie Assoulin, Paco Rabanne, Simone Rocha, Medea) as well as all the Guccis and Balenciagas. The perfume section is rich in niche brands like Ormaie Paris and Régime Des Fleurs. And also, this place is a Jacquemus paradise. Jacquemus & Caviar Kaspia teamed up to imagine an exceptional space in store – Cafe Citron. Conceived under the artistic direction of Simon Porte Jacquemus, the café offers a menu based on fresh seasonal products all year round, prepared on-site and served with the grounded simplicity of the French provençal style. Of course, there’s also the ‘Lemon’ dessert, which keeps on storming Instagram since the store’s opening. It’s really, really good.

60 Av. des Champs-Élysées / Paris

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.