House warming: Want Les Essentiels opens its first global boutique in NY
The meticulously crafted world of Want Les Essentiels has come to life with the opening of its first global boutique. The Canadian accessories label which has become synonymous with well-made leather goods that are as functional as they are stylish, has claimed a piece of New York City’s West Village for their own.
Situated on a leafy corner (in Marc Jacobs' former Bleecker Street enclave), the elegant boutique opens up like any of the well-appointed homes in its vicinity. Floor-to-ceiling windows flank the first floor space, which is reminiscent of a living room with its loose arrangement of vintage furniture, minimal American art on the walls and bookshelves filled with Want Les Essentiels’ androgynous and versatile carryalls, backpacks and folios. In a second, walk-in wardrobe-like room, men’s and women’s clothing is displayed neatly alongside the Montreal-based label’s footwear assortment. And even further back lies a tearoom, where visitors can enjoy a cup of the German brand Paper & Tea’s brew.
Brothers and co-founders Byron and Dexter Peart chose to round out their boutique’s offering by mixing in some of their favourite things, namely clothing from Commes des Garcons Forever, Aspesi and 1205, fragrances from Byredo and objects by Hasami Porcelain and Carl Aubock. The idea itself might not be new, but framed within the townhouse space’s historic features, domed windows and sloping archways, Want Les Essentiels has created an experience that’s singularly its own.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
301 West 4th Street
New York
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Australian surf culture merges with the charm of the Mediterranean at Il Delfino
Il Delfino, designed by Sheree Commerford, is a restored 1940s seaside inn nestled on the Yamba coastline in Australia
By Amber Hunter Published
-
Meet Scotland's best new building: The Burrell Collection wins Doolan 2024
The Doolan 2024 award crowns The Burrell Collection in Glasgow as Scotland's finest building this year, celebrating its comprehensive recent refurbishment
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A new Oxford Street pop-up celebrates IKEA's blue bags
IKEA's iconic blue bag gets its own pop-up concept store, the 'Hus of Frakta'.
By Smilian Cibic Published
-
Sarah Moon brings painterly fashion and dark fantasy to Fotografiska New York
Octogenarian French photographer and filmmaker Sarah Moon shows 30 years of work at Fotografiska New York – spanning fashion and fantasy, mystery and the macabre, it’s dark, painterly and compelling
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
‘In America: A Lexicon of American Fashion' is coming to The Met
The first of a two-part, year-long extravaganza, ‘In America: A Lexicon of American Fashion’ is organised into 12 sections that seek to define the emotional qualities in American style
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Saint Laurent celebrates 40 years of Memphis Group
Memphis Group's milestone birthday is celebrated with a series of colourful furniture installations across the French maison's concept boutiques
By Laura Hawkins Last updated
-
‘A place for the eye to pause’: Ulla Johnson unveils New York HQ
The Manhattan-born fashion designer opens a warmly-hued style sanctuary, created in collaboration with architect Rafael de Cárdenas
By Tilly Macalister-Smith Last updated
-
Es Devlin-designed time-travelling exhibition opens at The Met’s Costume Institute
‘Our aim is to communicate the phenomenon of time as it is expressed through the female form,’ says Devlin of the exhibition she has designed alongside curator Andrew Bolton
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Theory A/W 2020 New York Fashion Week Women’s
By Tilly Macalister-Smith Last updated
-
Michael Kors A/W 2020 New York Fashion Week Women’s
By Tilly Macalister-Smith Last updated
-
Gabriela Hearst A/W 2020 New York Fashion Week Women’s
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated