SKIMS, the clothing brand founded by Kim Kardashian, has opened its first flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue with interiors by Rafael de Cárdenas.
The flagship SKIMS NYC has taken over a historic building with an intricately detailed stone facade located one block north of St. Patrick's Cathedral and across from Rockefeller Center.
Inside, De Cárdenas applied the brand's signature nude palette to gently curved surfaces, arches and flooring.
“The flagship’s sumptuously soft yet extremely clean interior highlights the landmark building’s lavishly historic façade,” said the New York-based designer.
“The collaboration has resulted in an immersive and innovative brand experience for existing and new SKIMS customers to discover,” he added.
On the soaring ground floor, a giant mannequin showcases SKIMS' ultra-stretch underwear, loungewear and shapewear collections.
Products are laid out on Corian display podiums and smaller mannequins are placed in niches that match their tonal shades, designed for a wide range of skin tones.
The walls are covered in soft Ultrasuede, with mirror panels in between, creating infinite reflections where they face each other.
Fitting rooms are equipped with wraparound mirrors and light box ceilings to “bathe customers in a soft, flattering light.”
One floor is dedicated to men's fashion, which SKIMS launched in 2023.
“This flagship is a dream come true for SKIMS,” Kardashian said. “We have created a space that perfectly embodies our brand and enhances the customer experience.”
“New York City has always had a special place in my heart and opening our first flagship here during the holidays is truly magical,” she added.
Kardashian founded SKIMS in 2019 and the brand has created pop-up retail spaces in cities like Paris and London since its inception.
In 2022, SKIMS launched an underwear line for people with disabilities, combining easy-access closures with a range of sizes and colors to accommodate different skin tones and body types.
De Cárdenas, whose company was nominated for Interior Design Studio of the Year at the 2022 Dezeen Awards, has created spaces for a variety of well-known brands throughout his career.
These include the New York headquarters of the cosmetics company Glossier and a bar at the Nordstrom department store.
The photography is by William Abranowicz.