Miami

THE WEBSTER MIAMI

STORE: The Webster

CITY: Miami Beach, Florida

SINCE: 2007

FOUNDED BY: Milan Vukmirovic cofounder of Colette, Laure Hériard Dubreuil, and Frederic Dechnik.

PRICES: $$$$ (out of 5)

WHY WE COSIGN: If you’re vacationing in South Beach, don’t sleep on this super-luxe, three-level boutique. With a classic ’40s Caribbean art deco vibe, The Webster Miami houses brands like Billionaire Boys Club, Lanvin,Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, and a bunch of other brands you’ll want to spend your rent money on. The store’s inventory is so official because founders Dubreuil, Dechnik, and Vukmirovic actually hit the bricks and hand-pick pieces from runway shows throughout the year. If you got some dough to blow after a couple nights on South Beach, you would be doing yourself a favor by swinging through. “The Webster is part of an elite group of multi-brand stores that have influenced the fashion industry and it has the ability to put Miami on the map as a destination comparable to New York, Paris, and Milan,” explains Vukmirovic. We agree. Besides, don’t you want to say you were down with the shop before it blows up?

BRANDS CARRIED: Acne, Adam Kimmel, Balenciaga, Balmain, Billionaire Boys Club, Givenchy, Lanvin, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, Pierre Hardy, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Robinson les Bains, Sundeck,Tom Ford, and Trussardi 1911.

See our interview with Laure Hériard Dubreuil and Frederic Dechnik and pics of the store, address, and web site, see below…

Complex: So how did you end up with your own shop?
Laure Hériard Dubreuil: We all have a very extensive background in fashion including Tom Ford, Balenciaga, YSL, Hermes, etc. With the natural evolution of our careers, we were all ready for something bigger and with our combined experience we were able to open a successful multi-brand boutique carrying the full collections of the very best designers including the ones we have worked for.

Complex: What’s so cool about your shop?
Laure Hériard Dubreuil: The Webster is dedicated to providing high fashion and unparalleled service. Our exclusive selections, variety of luxurious designers, art/ photography collection, acclaimed Parisian restaurant Caviar Kaspia, incomparable ambiance and elegant décor and devoted team make the Webster so extraordinary.

Complex: What was the inspiration and influence behind the Webster?
Laure Hériard Dubreuil: Our vision of fashion is the inspiration—our very specific eye and selection. The Webster is the most prestigious, luxurious fashion store in the world. It’s about the architectural and artistic decision that we really love all the buildings that only exist in Miami. Miami’s architecture is Caribbean art deco and only in Miami can you find such an historical art deco architecture. The building has a tropical minimalistic feel and has been restored to its original 1930’s design.

The décor of the store is a tropical minimalism with a classic art deco 40’s vibe. The Webster Hotel was built in the late 1930s by architect Henry Hohauser. The façade and lobby are classified historical landmarks. We used the original terrazzo floors, staircases and cavernous ceilings as well as the previous pastel colors of light pink and baby blue. We installed vintage wallpaper linings from the ’60s, a sleek stone fireplace, and the use of natural tones for the interior. The Webster has a very warm and inviting ambiance.

“The three of us share a love for photography and Milan Vukmirovic is a photographer himself so we started building a collection of pictures and photographs that we own and are spread throughout The Webster. We will also be doing temporary exhibitions and will allow special artists/photographers to create artistic installations. This is a very strong part of The Webster concept.”

STORE INFO:
The Webster
1220 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
305.674.7899
Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.