Los Angeles-based eyewear brand Bonnie Clyde has opened their first NYC flagship in the Lower Eastside. Approaching their 10-year anniversary, the founder, Jonathan Yuan, wanted to create a space that reflected a romantic and effortless style, which their eyewear brings. Working with Balcony Studio, they transformed their New York space into less of a store and more of an experience. 

The store is divided into three rooms and is inspired by the aesthetic of an old New York apartment. The journey through the rooms starts with the walls naturally lit with florals to represent the beginning of a romantic relationship, full of love and optimism. Traveling over to the next room, you’ll find yourself in a much more intimate space, with darker panels and a warmer setting. This portrays the deeper and more emotional stages of a relationship.

The wood frames lining the door to the final room encapsulate the setting of the apartment bedroom, the most private area. The contrast of cooler aluminum walls, green shelves, and bright lighting relays a feeling of being exposed. The vulnerability and clarity at the end of a romance are portrayed in this final space, ending this romantic story.  

​The intimate and nostalgic space appears less like a retail store and more as if you were stepping into the past. Jonathan Yuan wanted each room to represent a piece of a story, hoping to reflect that feeling of romance and realness that old New York apartments held.