Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/49393
WYNN WRITINGS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 2.55 classic bag with flap in patent lambskin ($3,700), Cruise Antibes cuff in lambskin ($725), and large embroidered shopping bag ($2,600) by Chanel. Chanel at Wynn, 702-770-3532 Coco and Karl. Pearls and camellias. Bouclé and lace. Throughout its history Chanel has excelled at perfect pairings, and its duet of CHANEL'S DYNAMIC DUO dazzling boutiques at Wynn and Encore is no exception. BY LAURIE BROOKINS P 136 WYNN erhaps nowhere else on the planet does there exist such an intense concentration of designer labels as the two-square- mile section of thoroughfare known as the Las Vegas Strip. Here the universe of fashion has firmly and deeply planted its roots, eager to offer its wares to those style-centric visitors who descend upon the city each year, a number that is expected to reach 38.3 million in 2011. And for the hottest labels, it's no less than a bounty: The retail selection at Wynn and Encore boasts one of the city's three Hermès boutiques, one of a trio of Cartiers, one of seven Louis Vuitton stores—the list goes on. Chanel is a bit of an anomaly in that equation, having chosen to open two of its locations within rather close proximity: one at Wynn and one at Encore. Here, Barbara Cirkva, president of Chanel's fashion division, talks about success in Las Vegas and what the future might bring. WYNN: How important is Las Vegas in the overall Chanel landscape? BARBARA CIRKVA: Las Vegas runs neck-and-neck with Southern California as our number-two market [in the US], after metro New York. So of course, we view it as a very special city. It's also a rather unique market for us in that, unlike New York or Beverly Hills, where 70 percent of the customer base is derived from people who live locally, in Las Vegas about 75 percent of our customers are domestic or international visitors who are in Las Vegas for only three or four days. It's rather unusual for you to have two boutiques so close to each other. When Steve Wynn tells a story, he can be a very compelling individual. Not long after Wynn had opened [in 2005], he shared with us his vision for Encore and how it would differ from Wynn in tone and feeling, and he convinced us it was quite viable to have two stores between the two resorts, and we shared his enthusiasm for offering two very different experiences for guests. Indeed, it's notable that each of these Chanel boutiques boasts its own unique look. I don't like the idea of cookie-cutter stores. If you have more than one store in a city, they should offer different experiences. I like to use the same important codes of Chanel, and then have Peter Marino, who's done an amazing job designing our boutiques all over the world, reinterpret them for different locations. How do the Encore and Wynn boutiques differ from one another? From a hotel standpoint, Encore is the top of the top, and that's what we wanted our Encore boutique to be: It's a flagship jewelry boutique and ultra-luxe from an apparel and accessories standpoint. That's where you'll find exceptional, one-of-a-kind bags, for example. Both sections of the store are small and intimate, but Peter conceived them like little jewel boxes, and it's a concept that's worked very well. The Wynn boutique is a bit more about fashion of the moment and introducing Chanel to a newer customer, so it feels brighter and a bit more spacious. We're celebrating the color red this issue, partly as an homage to Chinese New Year. We love Chinese New Year in Las Vegas; it's an exciting time to be in the city, and our Asian customers are very supportive of the brand. When we look at the growth of Chinese business as a penetration in the US—East Coast, West Coast, and Las Vegas—it's a much smaller percentage than, say, France, but that's also because the US has much more stringent visa issues. Having said that, our Chinese business [in the US] has grown about 100 percent a year over the past two years. You're about to open your third Las Vegas boutique in January; to celebrate, Karl Lagerfeld recently designed a selection of products that will be exclusive to all three Las Vegas locations. For every store opening we try to do something unique and special. Karl and his design studio did an amazing job this time around. Of course, Las Vegas imagery can be quickly conjured in everyone's mind. We'll have some amazing sequined Chanel bags based on classic shapes or a traditionally iconic Chanel bag that's totally jeweled, and some with little dice charms on them. Limited-edition products always sell quickly, but in Las Vegas, I anticipate they'll have a shelf life of about five minutes. n PHOTOGRAPH BY BORIS LIPINITZKI (COCO CHANEL IN 1937)