French luxury fashion brand Saint Laurent Paris (aka 'Yves Saint Laurent') has opened its first Canadian location in Vancouver's 'Luxury Zone'. The two-level, 4,800 square foot store at 746 Thurlow Street is located between recently opened Moncler and Prada locations in The Carlyle retail complex.

Vancouver's Saint Laurent store features women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, as well as accessories and footwear. Women's fashions are on the main floor along with footwear and accessories, and menswear is located on the second level along with accessories for both genders. The upstairs level features soaring ceilings and a large rounded skylight that was part of the original complex, which recently saw major changes to house multiple luxury retailers. A basement space is dedicated to offices/storage, according to a source with the company.

*Women's fashions on the store's ground floor. Photo: Helen Siwak (@helensiwak)*

*Women's ground-floor accessories. Photo: Helen Siwak (@helensiwak)*

The Vancouver Saint Laurent deal was negotiated by Mario Negris, Martin Moriarty and Shane Epp of Vancouver's CBRE Urban Retail Team. CBRE has been involved with leasing retail spaces in The Carlyle, which also includes upscale tenants De Beers and Tory Burch (as well as Prada and Moncler, as mentioned above).

Saint Laurent joins a substantial number of luxury brands in Vancouver's expanding 'Luxury Zone'. Directly across Thurlow Street, Strellson, Versace and Brunello Cucinelli opened stores late last year. Nearby luxury brands include Burberry, Escada, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Tiffany & Co. and Dior, and opening this fall will be large licensed locations for Rolex and Stefano Ricci. French jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels will join them in early 2017 with a large unit on Alberni Street, currently under construction.

*More accessories on the second floor, with a staircase leading downstairs. Photo: Helen Siwak (@helensiwak)*

*The men's floor, located upstairs, features a curved skylight that was part of the original Carlyle podium design. Photo: Helen Siwak (@helensiwak)*

Saint Laurent women's ready-to-wear and accessory boutiques opened within Vancouver's flagship Nordstrom in September of 2015, and a limited selection of men's Saint Laurent fashions are carried at Leone and Holt Renfrew in downtown Vancouver.

We'll soon be announcing a second freestanding Canadian Saint Laurent store location that will open later this year.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: July 12, 2016