A much-needed dose of color and creativity in the strait-laced Financial District, Emily Ming An-Wang brings us along for a tour of the all-new Printemps New York.

Amusement Park: Printemps New York is an Escape That Goes Way Beyond Shopping

Thanks to a restoration by Printemps, the Red Room joins nineteen other interior landmarks Downtown. Image: Gieves Anderson via Printemps New York.

Instantly, Printemps is my Berghain, in the New York City shopping sense. If there was a 72-hour bender here, I would go all weekend, every weekend. Printemps is its own membership club. At its pre-opening celebration, I forgot about life in the most memorable way.

Shopping is my first form of therapy. Therapy is my second form of therapy. With so many avenues to fill the void in my soul, fashion is all about the experience. At the all-new Printemps New York, I was reminded of why I shop in-store. When your friends aren’t really your friends, fashion can be your friend.

The Printemps New York debut was a suitably flashy affair, attended by A-listers including Parker Posey, Katie Holmes, and Meadow Walker along with many of the collaborators who brought the Printemps New York to life, including Printemps CEO Jean-Marc Bellaiche.

Inside Printemps New York

A shopping lounge at Printemps New York. Image: Gieves Anderson via Printemps New York.

Designed by architect Laura Gonzalez (who has also collaborated with Cartier), the 55,000-square-foot space spans two floors and integrates retail, hospitality, dining, and curated experiences for a chameleon of a space. In the beginning is a bright layout displaying easily wearable daily clothes, with a designer twist. Exclusive Nikes, embellished streetwear, and a DJ/dance floor that I’m not sure is just for this party. It’s evidence of how adaptable this space is.

A showstopper: the landmarked Red Room, which occupies the former Bank of New York entrance with its 33-foot ceilings and original 1920s Hildreth Meière red ombré and gold mosaic.

Emily Ming An-Wang attends the Printemps New York opening. Image: Emily Ming An-Wang.

Up the escalator to the second floor. But it’s not just any second floor. By this time, you have seen all the pictures of the architecture. The ultra high ceilings, attention to historic detail, the fact that its still the downstairs of the residential building One Wall Street.

All the premium brands fluidly blend with each other with their own section, along with a bar that will make shopping more effortless or difficult, depending on one’s outlook.

A bright white light that you’ll actually want to follow. A hallway displaying various fragrance and beauty solutions to another make-up salon with private beauty treatments rooms, and a bar at the very end. This is right before you’re being transported a vintage designer clothing Mecca, displayed as if in a museum in Paris.

Interiors Beyond Imagination

The landmarked Red Room inside Printemps New York. Image: George Chinsee via WWD.

Down the mirror-lined rose quartz stairs, or via a golden elevator, is another bar with a seating area, that opens to an architecturally significant shoe parlor. This is all you must see in person to experience, but here’s a general written map so you don’t get stuck in one place and miss out on the full experience. I would’ve missed a lot had not someone told me.

Those who work there are personable with their own individualistic style, qualities you’d want in your new fashion friend/advisor. Because, friends can’t always be friends, but fashion is always your friend.

“This was a bad day,” a new friend confesses.

“Me too,” I share. The fact that we’re both at this event, looking forward to seeing the style, the clothes, the people, there’s an immediate kin. Sure, this is a highly visually atmosphere, but Printemps understands there’s depth.

That just because there’s beauty doesn't mean there’s no substance, even if only those who understand that can see. Those who know, know.

Dining and Events at Printemps New York

Seafood is my third form of therapy.

James Beard Award-winning chef Gregory Gourdet, dressed in red velvet Tom Ford, served endless seafood hor d’oeuvres. Moët champagne, wine, and cocktails were plentiful at every bar, as well as everywhere else.

Printemps features a number of dining venues and bars within its magic walls, ranging from the moody Red Room bar to the Maison Passerelle with its infused menu. Cafe Jalu— so named after Printemp’s founders— is an all-day escape with delicate pastries and coffees.

A Dining space at Printemps New York. Image: Gieves Anderson via Printemps New York.

Live music was playing throughout the venue with various two, three people bands, adding an element of class while being amongst all the classy designer pieces and people. The new store will feature scheduled events regularly, from live shows and shopping sessions to expert talks and cocktail hours.

Like a salmon jumping against the current, I was suddenly swimming through the crowd to a surprise musical performance. I can’t say who, because someone who knew the surprise told me the surprise, so out of respect for the surprise I can’t tell you the surprise. But, she’s someone whose songs I’ve played on repeat during certain melancholy periods of my life. Her song July was my friend.

Noah Cyrus, dressed in a Saint Laurent black hooded dress.

At the party, I run into my fashionable fashion friends, new aspirational fashion friends, friends I don’t know are my real friends, and a lot of people who work in real estate. Location, location, location, is the only thing I know about real estate. And this is one great location.

Printemps is the Willy Wonka Factory

Concept Sketch of One Wall Street fACADE. Image; Groupe Printemps.

Now, a speech made by Printemps CEO Jean-Marc Bellaiche, about the blending of Parisian and American culture. Of their blending of all cultures. Of this being something New York hasn’t seen yet— And it really hasn’t. After living in New York for so long, it’s nice to be reminded why one moved here. New York City is where all cultures come to make it. There was never anything exactly like Printemps, and it was a long time coming, with the initial announcement of the expansion being made in 2022.

The cherished Barney’s had a hard-metal edge of a Dieter Rams product. Printemps is the Willy Wonka factory.

“My shoe brand is here.”

“My purse brand is here.”

“My clothing brand is here.”

I meet designers of up-and-coming labels featured among the established fashion houses.

Printemps makes efforts to not only carry high demand labels, but to also introduce international labels new to the American market. As an artist, I appreciate that. Opportunity. In a world that can be so competitive and cutthroat, there aren’t many outlets to turn to and just be. Fashion is a way to connect with others without having to know each other. Printemps offers respite.

Memories of Paris in New York City

Shoe Salon at Printemps New York. Image: Gieves Anderson via Printemps New York.

Before I leave, I pass through the first floor where the DJ is playing until late. I’m reminded of my first night in Paris, dancing away in some exclusive club, meeting so many new people, wondering how life brought me there in the best way possible, when I’ve experienced worse. How something as simple as eating a full sized baguette while wandering around the city without knowing anyone made me feel like I belonged. When walking through the energetic crowd on Boulevard Haussmann, I slid into a never-ending designer maze of Printemps Paris, witnessing how international shopping could be. You can only do Paris for the first time once.

Dressing Rooms at Printemps New York. Image: George Chinsee via WWD.

Tonight, I got to experience Paris in Printemps New York for the first time once. Sure, Paris is a seven hour flight away, but now Paris can be a seven(teen) minute subway ride, too. It becomes clear the entire store is more like a luxury hotel, where you can easily can spend an entire day simply hanging out.

Open now, Printemps New York is located at 1 Wall St, New York, NY 10005. Information here.