CINABRE, the French-style dandyism
- Nathalie Dassa
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
The luxury men's fashion house, founded by Alexandre Chapellier, is tucked away on a private street in Paris. Inside, Necchi Architecture has created a stunning hybrid space, combining aristocratic extravagance with retro-futurism. Let's take a look.
Exit Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré. Make way for the discreet Cité Bergère in Paris's 9th arrondissement! This small private street, whose architecture has remained intact since 1800, is listed as a historic monument. It was at number 14 that Alexandre Chapellier set up Cinabre when he bought the four-story building. This establishment, dedicated to modern aesthetes and gentlemen, quickly won over its customers, with Karl Lagerfeld, Pharrell Williams, and Kamala Harris leading the way. French excellence is thus revealed in this iconoclastic venue, whose interiors were designed by Charlotte Albert and Alexis Lamesta of Necchi Architecture. Here too, the brand innovates. This hybrid space, available for visits and rentals, combines a flagship boutique, two XXL private suites, and an office-workshop. “This address was a deliberate choice for him,” explains the designer Alexis Lamesta. “This street starts at the Bus Palladium, a true Parisian nightlife institution, now closed. It recalls the time when Yves Saint Laurent used to frequent the red-light districts. Cinabre has a discreet luxury that appeals.”
FESTIVE COUTURE
Alexandre Chapellier, great-grandson of a tailor, is a dandy from the very beginning. A lover of fashion, cinema, music, art, and culture in general, he reinvents the traditional processes of an accessories and clothing brand, combining ‘French handmade savoir-faire’ with a ‘vision of Parisian art de vivre’. “His initial idea was to create a private space, like a gentlemen's club,” explains Alexis Lamesta. "This was also the principle behind the great old-fashioned tailors who welcomed visitors to their houses, with the shop on the ground floor, a tour of the workshops, and a smoking room for customers.” Ties, bow ties, scarves, silk squares, caps, belts, buttonholes, dressing gowns, blazers, shirts, scented candles, home linen... The collections offer a wide range of choices. “Wearing bow ties is no longer fashionable; it's outdated. Alexandre is breathing new life into these French coquetries. His approach is relaxed and uninhibited.”
A TIMELESS PLACE
It is in this approach to a certain idea of elegance that Necchi boldly mixes past and present. The duo often draws inspiration from cinema and advocates sustainability. “This project is a six-handed effort,” the designer reaffirms. "With Charlotte, we try to create interiors that go against the grain of current trends. We always have movie scenes in mind. This allows us to tell a story to our clients and immerse them in the atmosphere." Cinabre is thus an explosive fusion of Stanley Kubrick, Loulou de La Falaise, Hélène Rochas, Madeleine Castaing, and Napoleon. The influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey gives the boutique a retro-futuristic feel. The duo draws on the aesthetics of the spaceship and the bedroom, with backlit floors and classic furniture. "It's a break between codes. We combined the whole thing with the wild creativity of Loulou de La Falaise and her floral tapestries.“ The idea for the Napoleonic marquee came from the founder. The style is inspired by the tents that the emperor set up during his military campaigns. ”We reinterpreted it decoratively in the store's entrance. Maison Pierre Frey recreated the pattern here, which adorns the walls of the Château de Malmaison."
COCKTAILS AND MUSIC ON EVERY FLOOR
Cinabre is reinventing the way to stay in the French capital. The suites feature a vinyl listening lounge, a kitchen, a cocktail bar, and an atrium. The first is furnished like an offbeat bourgeois family house. The second is dedicated to the traveling aesthete. “The space is more cozy, designed for a single person returning from an evening at a palace club.” The bath lounge adds a unique touch, flirting with the Streamline style. The bathtub is designed like a sofa, facing the living areas.
All the furniture has been sourced from auction sites and flea markets around the world. Similarly, the hi-fi system is integrated and not hidden away. The turntable is built into the bench seat, very trendy in the 70s and 80s. “If we had to define a soundtrack for the brand, it would be intellectual disco,” enthuses Alexis Lamesta. The drinks corners complete the art of hosting. The champagne bar in suite 2, decorated with suede wall hangings, is a mirrored shelf that opens with a James Bond-style button. Comfort, warmth, elegance, and eccentricity are the keywords at Cinabre, which skillfully blends the chic of a tuxedo with the casualness of pop culture.
Cinabre
14 de la Cité Bergère, 75009 Paris, France
Photo credits © Ludovic Balay
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