In a chic space that was more akin to a large yacht rather than a SoHo retail shop, Jeffrey Rüdes hosted some select guests to explore the collection and socialize on a Thursday evening in NYC. Here’s some notes on our impressions and the future of the brand.
The space is largely done in Macassar ebony high-gloss woods, fit with high quality, contemporary metal fixtures, tidy, trim use of glass, white marble floors, an elaborate staircase, and more. The bookshelves are stacked high with cultured trinkets and books of Mr. Rüdes, the designer. The space is very social and conductive, similar to the main salon of a yacht, with an arrangement of chairs and a sofa, inviting guests to take a moment to relax. With an open space and a few long rows of clothing, all given space to breath, the room was designed to host.
The clothing is totally ready to set sail, too. Materials are extraordinary, the designs are approachable but have just enough detail and sophistication to catch the eye. A restrained color palate rarely drifts far from a Klein blue or a mustard yellow. I could imagine myself in a hand-woven sweater in gray just before boarding the tender to see the sunset in Capri. From a business standpoint, courting the highly-mobile and incredibly choosy sailing set seems like the logical next step for Rüdes, especially after spending an evening in his shop. Mr. Rüdes himself was helping guests try on various garments, giving his opinion. This kind of high-service, personal approach is exactly what the traveling class seek- an experience, a personal moment. Rüdes’ shop would be perfect on the main pass of Portofino or the plaza in St. Tropez, two must-visits in the sailing circuits. The international approach of Rüdes keeps him fresh, and particularly in the context of New York’s faux-grit SoHo, it’s nice to find a brand with a penchant for unabashed luxury. We were hungry.
