The Bendel spirit

A touch of NYC in the Lone Star state: Henri Bendel sparkles and shines its wayto Houston

It’s hard not to be effusive about the Henri Bendel opening in The Galleria. Not only is the 2,000 square-foot store beautiful and laden with baubles and bags, but it is a signal of the improving times and explosive growth of new, upscale brands calling Houston home.

Henri Bendel was blazing trails long before chocolate brown was an “it” color and Andy Warhol, the pop artist icon, was an illustrator for the company. The signature brown-and-white color scheme was an intentional branding move by Mr. Bendel back in 1895, and its relevance is evident today in the cocoa leather wraps on the shelves and reflected in the handmade Italian chandelier.

"If you are going to get serious about rolling out stores in America, and if you are really are worth your salt, Houston’s one of the top five markets in the country,” Fiori says.

“There is great attention to detail in the store.The fixtures are surrounded by luxury goods at accessible prices” Henri Bendel president Chris Fiore says. “We concentrate on creating the New York Bendel spirit here.”

They are also concentrating on aggressive expansion. A refreshed website and the unflagging desire to accessorize and beautify means 50 to 60 brown-and-white striped stores across the country.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve started looking for markets where we can resonate the Henri Bendel brand and relate to the customer. If you are going to get serious about rolling out stores in America, and if you are really are worth your salt, Houston’s one of the top five markets in the country,” Fiore says.

Houston’s rep as a serious shopping city is reflected in the merchandise. The store received a limited number of a black cascading necklaces ($298) and a $7,500 rolling jewelry trunk handmade in Morocco standing at the entrance of the store speak to the companies enthusiasm for the Houston shopper.

“This is really the best of who we are right now,” Fiore says. By the looks of the crowd on opening day, Henri Bendel’s best certainly seems good enough.

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FALL FÊTE

Texas luxury boutique collabs with Houston designer for new fashion brand

Saint Bernard x Lyndsey Zorich

Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard teams up with Houston designer Lyndsey Zorich for Love Note.

River Oaks District boutique Saint Bernard is getting ready for fall with a new collection created with Houston style veteran Lyndsey Zorich. The fashion-forward retailer and the founder and designer of Mason's Daughter teamed up to launch Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich, a new Saint Bernard-owned brand.

Saint Bernard doesn't usually collaborate with local designers on its own brands, making this partnership with Zorich special. She was involved in everything from creative direction and textile development to fabrication and production. Shoppers can expect a feminine collection with a playful take on everyday dressing for women who want to look put together, but not too serious.

Love Note officially launches on Thursday, September 10 at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as online. Customers will have to be patient, because another unique aspect of this collaboration is that the entire collection won’t debut at once. Instead, the brand will roll out in a series of monthly drops, each having its own seasonal point of view.

Saint Bernard x Lyndsey Zorich Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

The Kick Off is the first drop in September. It is a game day-inspired collection with pieces designed for fall sports and weekend road trips. In October, The Lean In will debut with more feminine silhouettes, followed by Getting Comfortable, which focuses on the perfect layering pieces for Texas’s warm fall weather.

A longtime Saint Bernard shopper herself, Zorich's unique style and Texas perspective gave her a greater understanding of what Texas customers want.

“Getting dressed has always been one of my favorite forms of self-expression, and Love Note allowed me to take that idea from concept all the way through the finished product,” said Zorich. "Saint Bernard felt like the right partner, because I genuinely understand and love their customers. Love Note is meant to bring a little more playfulness to getting dressed, pieces that feel personal, special, and bring joy to everyday life.”

That individual connection is what Saint Bernard wanted in this project. According to Ashleigh Goyer, director of owned brands for Saint Bernard, the store wanted a new way for Saint Bernard to give customers something both recognizable and unexpected.

"She shares her perspective, her lifestyle, and her love of fashion, and she has an incredible ability to make getting dressed feel effortless and personal," said Goyer.

lyndsey zorich river oaks district houston shopping saint bernard houston

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