Inside NYC’s FiveStory

Just over a year ago, Claire Distenfeld, encouraged by her father, set her imagination free. And that she did. Distenfeld, along with her father, recently opened the doors to their latest project, FiveStory, a New York City shopping emporium that ranks among the likes of Colette of Paris and Milan’s Corso Como 10. “When imagining what we wanted Fivestory to be, we used words like “maven,” “connoisseur-ship,” “curated,” “au courant”  and of course “luxury.” FiveStory is meant to be unique and exciting like shopping at Fiorucci and BIBA was in the ’60s and ’70s. We’re about uptown and downtown; up-and-coming and establishment; A democratic, fun and newly distinct attitude” says Claire Distenfeld. With an aptly titled name, their shop occupies that space at 18 East 69th Street, occupying a five-storey brownstone that transformed an uptown residence into the ultimate shopping and retail experience. Décor materials include a circular entry with walls covered in deep emerald green, custom-dyed Italian velvet; a custom wrought iron balustrade leads from garden level to 2nd floor; Italian black and white grained marble covers floors throughout in mirror-finished diamond-cut graphically patterned inlays. To mark the shops debut, we take a look inside Ms. Distenfeld’s wonderful shopping play land.