J'adore Dior
Luxury fashion house returns to Houston as upscale retail battle heats up
With expert tailoring, clean lines and elegant styling, designer Raf Simons has propelled Dior back into the fashion spotlight. Before too long, the full range of his creations will be easier to find in Houston as the famed fashion house returns to the Bayou City.
After leaving The Galleria several years ago, Dior plans to open a boutique in the new River Oaks District mixed use complex on Westheimer near the West Loop, an official for developer OliverMcMillan told the Houston Chronicle.
As CultureMap previously reported, the new luxury development will include Cartier, which is also relocating from the Galleria, Hermès, which is moving from a location on Post Oak Boulevard, and Tom Ford, who is opening a free-standing store in Houston for the first time.
The 15-acre project is expected to open next spring.
In what is shaping up to be a prime battle for luxury stores, The Galleria has announced plans for a long corridor of upscale retail boutiques stretching from Neiman Marcus on Post Oak to a new Saks Fifth Avenue store currently under construction near Sage Avenue. Houston's longtime leader in the luxury market also has plans to build a stand-alone "jewel box" center along Westheimer for as many as three clients that want a freestanding space.
Galleria officials wasted no time in finding a tenant for the former Cartier space next to Chanel in the mall, luring menswear designer John Varvatos. Among other luxury stores headed to The Galleria are Rolex, Tod's, Tourbillon and an expanded Tory Burch store.




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