EYES ON PARIS: Hollywood favorite eyewear label Oliver Peoples has just opened its first outpost in Paris, a move that has been a long time in the making.
“We’ve had our sights set on it for years, patiently waiting for the perfect location,” Oliver Peoples chief executive officer Rocco Basilico told WWD. “As one of Europe’s most iconic and influential cities – and the last major one where we didn’t yet have a presence – Paris has always been a natural fit for us. It’s a global destination for luxury, and now, with the right location, the right space and the right opportunity, the timing finally felt perfect.”
He continued, “France has long played a significant role in the optical industry and in Oliver Peoples’ growth through wholesale. Now, with a flagship in Paris, we’re able to fully express the brand.”
A rendering of the Oliver Peoples Paris storefront / Courtesy of Oliver Peoples
The 650-square-foot boutique at 316 Rue Saint-Honoré opened quietly on June 27, with activations planned for later in the year. Just across from Saint Laurent, it combines the brand’s Southern California esthetics, with its rich blue signature color evoking the sky, with elements of classic Parisian interiors like gold-leaf wall moldings, marble accents, herringbone parquet flooring and modernist furniture over two floors. Custom designs created for the concept include window pieces by French ceramist Olivia Cognet.
“Every Oliver Peoples boutique begins with a foundation of midcentury design, layered with local influences to create a space that feels truly site-specific,” Basilico explained.
The store offers the brand’s mainline styles as well as its high-end Japanese-made Series, the Nineteen Sixties collection and designs from its collaborations with Khaite and Roger Federer. Complimentary eye exams from an in-house optician and prescription fittings are also available. To mark the opening, the brand will issue an exclusive edition of its Oliver Sun sunglasses, limited to 30 pieces with a box and case marked “Paris Boutique EST. 2025.”
Since its founding in West Hollywood in 1987, the vintage-inspired luxury eyewear label has built its footprint with locations across the U.S., and will soon revamp its original Sunset Boulevard location, as well as expanding further in California and Texas, said Basilico.
International expansion is a key priority, with recent store openings in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam and Milan, as well as Paris, bringing the brand’s total store count worldwide to 46.
“We’re deepening our presence across Europe and exploring additional key cities in France, while also continuing to build momentum in the APAC region,” said Basilico.
The brand continues to see “steady” growth year-on-year, he said. “We’re focused on deepening relationships with key wholesale partners through curated projects, while also enhancing our direct-to-consumer experience, particularly in optical services.”