Even in the midst of summer, there’s something oh so cool about those Moncler jackets. Made famous over the decades by celebrities including Jackie Kennedy, Madonna, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Casiraghi, Pharrell Williams and Rihanna (amongst legions of others), Moncler opened its fifth U.S. location at Bal Harbour Shops, which will undoubtedly lead to a new crop of goose-down-loving fans.
Like the company’s other boutiques, the Bal Harbour outpost was designed by Paris-based French architects Gilles & Boissier. The duo presents Moncler’s “haute montagne” world in this sleek, sporty and somewhat masculine store employing elements like steel, marble and wood. Feminine touches are found through the use of fur—lining boots, jackets and draped casually over a display case stacked with accessories from goggles to gloves.
The core of the line is Moncler’s quilted jacket. While it’s commonplace to see the recognizable Moncler arm patch on chic city dwellers, the company began outfitting men facing climates far more brutal than Downtown Manhattan. In fact, it was Moncler that made the first nylon and down quilted jacket, where the down was blown into the jacket in such a way to fill the space perfectly, in line with the cut and tailoring.
Although the brand was launched in France in 1952, it’s currently based in Milan under the direction of president and creative director, Remo Ruffini. When Ruffini purchased Moncler in 2003, he set out to position the company within the luxury sector, focusing on fit, materials and developing new styles that speak to current fashion.
The complete Moncler men’s, women’s and accessories ranges, as well as Moncler S and Moncler Grenoble lines are available now at Bal Harbour.
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