Acne Studios Opens Its Largest Store in Downtown L.A.

Acne Studios

Acne Studios L.A.

For its first foray into West Coast retail, Acne Studios is going big. Really big. Their Downtown L.A. store (although they prefer to call their retail shops studios and not mere stores) rings in at a whopping 5,000 square feet and sits pretty in the East Columbia Building. It’s all part of a new resurgence downtown — which includes Urban Outfitters’ renovation and repurposing of the historic Rialto Theater — and Acne’s presence in the area will likely bring other cool, hip brands to the area. So instead of considering Downtown L.A. a place to head just for sample sales, brands are hoping you’ll consider it the West Coast version of NY’s SoHo neighborhood.

Acne Studio L.A.

Acne Studio L.A.

Back to Acne Studio, though, because the shop opens today and with the opening comes the brand’s signature blend of chic and street. Acne is a go-to for the model-off-duty as well as the street style set thanks to a combination of relaxed, easy luxe as well as having the guts to put out a major statement maker once in a while (see the gold blazer above). The brand doesn’t have a retail mold, so each store (there are a few sprinkled throughout the world) has its own unique look. L.A.’s studio is in a historic Deco building, but once you enter the shop, it’s anything but a Gatsby throwback. Clean lines, bold colors and a unique perforated aluminum shelving system run throughout the store, casting a unique polka dot shadow effect on most of the bags and shoes that are on offer. Feel free to touch, especially since the brand’s known for using tactile materials such as pony and soft leather in both accessories and ready-to-wear. The store’s even got exclusives like a scarf printed with a Deco pattern that draws from the East Columbia building’s architecture.

Acne Studio L.A.

Acne Studio L.A.

Menswear leans more casual, though thanks to a recent collab with Mr. Porter, guys have been able to pick up Acne suiting and formal wear and the brand has shown the world that it’s not just about motorcycle jackets and denim. There is plenty of denim, however, which is what most shoppers will gravitate towards if they’re not obsessing over booties and other show-stopping footwear. In addition to being the brand’s biggest shop, it’s also the first to get  an in-store café courtesy Stockholm’s Il Caffè and a secret VIP room for shoppers who want a little more privacy when they’re stocking up on Swedish staples.

And while we wouldn’t call Acne a full-blown lifestyle brand just yet, there are magazines on offer that are published by the label as well as a curated selection of books and art pieces that share the brand’s DNA. To fête the store’s opening, there’s an installation by Belgain artist Carsten Höller that features a giant triple mushroom sculpture. Expect more rotating art, celeb spotting and more to come out of this spot, which is sure to become a haven for shoppers and fashion’s culture vultures alike.

Acne Studio is located at 849 South Broadway, in Los Angeles. For more information, visit shop.acnestudios.com.

Images courtesy Acne.

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Author:Christopher Luu for Fashion Trends Daily

Christopher Luu is a Fashion Trends Daily Senior Writer and Menswear Editor.