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Alexandre Narakas: fashion, exhibits and DJs
The place may catch you off guard, for there is no shop window, just a plain glass door that opens onto the narrow sidewalk along rue du Temple. The windows of the boutique showroom look out onto a sublime paving stone courtyard.
Hailing from the chic quarters, stylist Alexandre Narakas, formerly with Balmain, did custom tailoring in an atelier on avenue François Ier before answering the call of the hip and setting up shop in the heart of the Marais. He now presents his collections amongst other designer labels in a recently restored 15th-century private mansion that spans three levels. The mauve cement ground floor has matching Mongolian sheepskin bench seats and fitting rooms with baroque armchairs of gilded wood and green and orange panne velour.
Alexandre Narakas’ creations like flowing openwork trousers and tops with dolman sleeves leave plenty of room for names like Vivienne Westwood, Gas, Savage, Play Boy, Custo and Roberto Cavalli. Made-to-measure and semi-finished garments are also available.
Narakas’ men’s wear on the first floor has jeans, patchwork shirts, graffiti tee-shirts and an unusual sight: a sheepskin shirt that has been wet, creased and then popped in the micro-wave. The result is permanent wrinkles and creases, and a truly surprising success. The price, on the other hand, hasn’t melted in the least! But the real highlight of the place is to be found underground. Like a gallery, a stone vaulted cellar plays host to contempary artists. Every art opening is a big party and the fiesta continues on a weekly basis with a guest DJ spinning every saturday night? The Japanese will love it and so will we!
USEFUL INFORMATION
Alexandre Narakas 79, rue du Temple Paris 3rd Tel. 01 44 54 88 80
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