La Vida Monaco

Deborah Berke, the New York architect who designed Club Monaco's recently opened New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue, has designed the retailer's first Florida location, which will open today. The 7500-square-foot, two-level space is on Collins Avenue in the heart of Miami's South Beach.

According to the retailer, the South Beach store is clean and modern in design, and unique in its use of light and space. The building's exterior, including its stucco facade, has been restored to its original condition. A stairwell focal point will be clad in rough-cut limestone with a stainless steel railing. The wall display units are framed in walnut, and the dark stained cherry wood floors will be offset by clean white walls. The store's first floor will house fashions for men and the Club Monaco cosmetics collection; the second floor will house women's fashion.

Club Monaco a subsidiary of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., currently operates more than 100 stores worldwide. By January 2001, the company expects to have 21 Club Monaco stores in the United States.