Don't call it a comeback. The big brands, born of '80s opulence and opiates, those bred on '90s expense-account excesses who had their bubble burst by the dark days of the dot-com depression, are hot on re-establishing their retail dominance. Luxury brands have all but reinvented themselves, forsaking their exclusive wears and couture lineage for logo-laden and readily accessible designs.
But David Yurman's been here for years, and he's not about to switch up his style just to fit in. Established in 1980, he caught the eye of Northeastern socialites and Southwestern sophisticates alike with his signature, two-tone cable bracelet that have stacked wrists at charity events for nearly 25 years.
Luxury department stores have long carried Yurman's collections, always a healthy sampling of his newest cable bracelets and cushion-cut gems encased in his signature silver and gold but only a glimpse of his more extravagant offerings. To only know Yurman from the vantage point of Neiman's and Saks is really not to know him at all.
The timely deployment of my Las Vegas Weekly business card scored an impromptu tour of Yurman's newest boutique in Caesars Forum Shops just before its opening on November 21. Carl Barbato, Yurman's retail VP, introduced me to the breadth of the collection, and though the assortment of cable bracelets is truly awesome, that is the least of what the boutique has to offer.
The storefront and interior are elegant, with a softer take on modernism and subtle use of grass-cloth panels and walnut display cases that mirror the warm tones of the sparkling jewels showcased therein. The floor is aglow with champagne citrine, green tourmaline and the warm, rosy shades of baroque pearls set in silver, accented in bright yellow gold and dusted with diamonds.
Yurman's budding bridal collection and leather and silver men's pieces are unique to the Vegas and Madison Avenue stores, as is the extensive selection of one-of-a-kinds. Store manager Giti Esmaili assured me that while the Vegas boutique highlights Yurman's most glamorous creations, they are equally dedicated to his signature lines, offering everything from trendy two-tone lariats to a dazzling yellow-gold lattice cuff covered in pearls and pave-cut diamond squares.
If their meet-and-greet lunch at Hannah's—hosted by the Yurman fan and restaurateur herself, where the guest list of 50 topped 75 attendees and numerous admirers were turned away—is any indication, David Yurman is poised for a proper welcome.
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Suite 1145. 794-4545.
Jennifer Henry has got the goods on what to get and where. E-mail her at
[email protected].