The Chanel Opening
There is this long running theme in my life that has brought Chanel close to my heart. Given to me as gifts in precious moments, I remember the when my husband bought me a Chanel watch for our henna (a traditional engagement party in our culture), my mother gave me a beautiful statement necklace that has become a timeless classic that I will pass onto my girls, and my dad gave me my first pair of Chanel shoes when I was younger.
More recently, right before my dad passed, he bought me my first Chanel bag on our last Christmas together. It was a gift to me as he held my hand and thanked me for taking care of him throughout his stay at the hospital. He joked that I shouldn’t have to borrow my mother’s purse anymore and so he got me my own.
I don’t think I noticed how recurring the brand has been in my life until I took pause to compile the notes for the grand opening of the new Chanel boutique. So many sentimental moments in my life have been marked by Chanel; I keep these memories close to my heart and I know that they will stand the test of time.
When I first heard that Chanel was opening a new boutique doubling in space from its former location, I immediately imagined the stock that was going to adorn those shelves. We’ve always had select Chanel items available at the former location on the 2nd floor at Holt Renfrew, but now with its expansion, Chanel has a street-front façade to showcase the Ready-to-Wear collection, handbags, shoes, costume jewellery and eyewear and other accessories.
Peter Marino designed the space with iconic Chanel fabrics and tones. Modern yet soft, the space sees emblematic tweeds, wool carpeting and textured finishes throughout the store. Embodying true Chanel colours, the boutique see black, white and gold to create contrast as well as the perfect backdrop for any and all Chanel collections.
The Holt Renfrew Ogilvy marriage was originally thought by Montrealers as a downsize, but the truth is, we’ve seen nothing but expansion because of this merge. Bringing in highly curated, one-of-a-kind boutiques, Chanel is probably the whip cream on top of an already delicious sundae. High ceilings, specially commissioned artwork by Hugo McCloud, eye-catching décor and then of course, Chanel!
It honestly feels like you stepped into a Paris boutique, whisking you away to the enchanting couture and décor. The Montreal Chanel store takes shopping to a magical place filled with gorgeous bags and shoes and watches, oh my! Something spectacular is buzzing in this city – what are your thoughts?!
Photography by Patricia Brochu
