Bloomingdale’s has renovated Intimates, the lingerie department in its Upper East Side flagship (Lexington Avenue and 59th Street), to engage the bridge shopper with designer apparel.

The 12,500-square-foot department has had a reduction in selling units, from 55,000 to 35,000, but has doubled the number of fitting rooms and combined labels and designers, much like its New View floor on the third floor.

Architect James Harb was engaged to set the stage for the salon-like environment. Soft lighting prevails and boudoir furnishings and rich (read expensive) touches point to custom installations throughout.

Mancini•Duffy (New York) worked with Shan DiNapoli, Bloomingdale’s vp, store design and planning, to achieve the simple, uncluttered-but-trendy contemporary feel that the store wanted.

The Mancini•Duffy team, led by retail creative director Edward Calabrese, introduced creamy marble and black signature accents. Lisa Contreras, the firm’s senior associate, retail group and resource director, designed the carpets (which were produced by Atlas Carpet and Corniche). Other custom work by Contreras included the large panels of low iron glass which are laminated to poppies on film for a stylized floral feminine motif.

The entrance to Intimates is seductively placed near the store’s designer shops. It beckons with more custom details in the grilles, cabinets and artwork. The upscale La Perla seems appropriately ensconced here. Beyond are Vera Wang Lingerie, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Hanro and Cosabella among the labels.

Photography: Courtesy of Mancini•Duffy, New York