K-based department store chain Selfridges has unveiled the world’s biggest shoe department (35,000 sq ft) named Selfridges Shoe Galleries in London, designed by Canadian architect Jamie Fobert. The Shoe Galleries houses more than 5,000 shoes from 120 brands, ranging from designer styles by the likes of Roger Vivier and Jimmy Choo, to collections from high street chains including River Island and All Saints, including 35 new labels and more than 30 exclusive styles, like Balenciaga and Marc by Marc Jacobs, designed just for the retailer. The vast space – which is bigger than Tate Modern’s Turbine – contains six different salons, each with a different look: in one, shoes are showcased like works of art on floating glass panes, appearing to float across the room; in another they are spotlit on long dark blue shelves. And in anticipation of the shoppers likely to spend hours trying on the coveted designs, there is plenty of plush fuchsia pink seating. The space includes 11 “apartment” boutiques for the department’s premiere labels – like Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Dior, Prada, and Gucci – which were each designed in accordance with the labels’ distinct looks: the Chanel area is a recreation of Coco Chanel’s apartment, while the Christian Louboutin boutique boasts a red carpet and a trompe l’oeil chandelier. Selfridges’ director of accessories, Sebastian Manes, said: “The Shoe Galleries will be a new and exciting way to experience shoe shopping within one huge space. ‘The new department will fit perfectly into the essence of what Selfridges is – a place where everyone can find something extraordinary to buy, from the inexpensive to the luxurious.”
www.selfridges.com
