If clothes are going to progress, then the spaces that house them must match an ever-evolving aesthetic. London's LN-CC isn't just a brick-and-mortar location fortunate enough to stock its shelves with the best names in high-end fashion; the store has grown to symbolize the shifting tides in men's fashion and design.
For starters, the shop is underground, literally and figuratively, and has an incredible interior that brings to mind scenes straight out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Octagon-shaped tunnels transport the shopper from room-to-room, and each individual space creates it's own narrative. The shop is more like an experience, outlining a lifestyle for those who find themselves wanting threads from Maison Martin Margiela, Raf Simons, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Garrett Leight, and Jil Sander.
The shop offers more than just beautiful and highly-edited clothing. Patrons are invited to browse through rare and curated literature in the library, sample some smoky Mezcal at the bar, and listen to highly coveted and hard-to-find records on state of the art audio equipment. There's even a dance floor that doubles as an event space, so that visitors can escape London's gloomy skies and hang out at LN-CC's events in a space that's as apocalyptic as it is glamorous.
While the clothes are what's for sale, the store is an immersive trip that portrays several aspects of life that would match the wares on the racks. The shop's sparsely-filled shelves bring emphasis to each individual product, while the shopper stays drunk on the general atmosphere. If you've only shopped from LN-CC through its e-commerce site, then giving its 18 Shacklewell Lane location in the East London neighborhood of Dalston is a must. But take heed, you might leave your mind scrambled, pockets dry, and life altered. The space is that impressive.
