Bergdorf Goodman’s newest concept store B. opens this week on the third floor of the 5th avenue men’s store. Each piece inside was handpicked by Bergdorf’s Men’s Fashion Director, Bruce Pask. The shop will carry special buys from some of the store’s favorite brands (Dries Van Noten, Sacai, Craig Green) alongside newly introduced designers (Bode, Closed) and special collabs from Pask favorites (Clarks and Common projects). While BG’s third floor is a showcase of the more fashion-forward items, this shop will focus on wardrobe pieces and an offering that speaks to and inspires customer’s personal closet. The racks are mixed vendor, merchandised by item and meant to suggest the Bruce Pask formula for how to dress well.
The open space feels like an invitation to step inside Pask’s personal wardrobe—in part because each rack offers a variation of the outfit he already has on: a structured jacket, a pleated trouser, a striped shirt and a pair of desert boots. Each element here—design-minded and easy—lays the groundwork for effortless dress. “These are pieces that get better with age and lend themselves to repetitive wear,” he explained, pointing to a collaboration piece he did with Clarks—a woven suede iteration of their iconic boot. For Bruce, filling this store was a meticulous process of selecting the pieces that represent what each designer does best. Sprinkled in, you’ll find a knit polo with tipped sleeves that Lou Dalton designed in collaboration with British knitwear brand, Smedley. “Harris Wharf London does the best cotton pique sports jackets,” he said, pulling one off another rack and noting that it ties perfectly back to the striped tee behind it.
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The interiors of the store are as carefully assembled as the clothes—and as quintessentially “Pask.” For the design, Bruce worked alongside his twin brother and three-time tony-award winning set designer, Scott Pask. The grey shingles and shaker peg walls are a nod to Pask’s house out east, and the overlapping southwestern rugs are a wink at his upbringing in Arizona. “Design intervention,” was as much a part of the clothes as the interiors. A table is cantilevered through the counter and a large wall-mounted armoire appears to float. The ample greenery that fills the space was designed by Satoshi Kawamoto of Green Fingers and brings a warm and welcoming feel that was extremely important to Pask.
While B. is meant to follow in the footsteps of Linda Fargo’s female counterpart across the street, men and women alike can find the perfect wide leg khaki or everyday chore jacket here. Inviting and non-pretentious, B. is a place where anyone can get a little bit better dressed.
