by 
MILAN — Francesco Russo has zeroed in on the chic Via Bagutta here to open its first Italian store.
Located just a few steps away from the tony Montenapoleone shopping street, the 247-square-foot unit is nestled in a quieter and more intimate passage and it’s deliberately privy of shop windows, to be marked only by a glass threshold. The choice evokes the Italian shoe designer’s vision for his namesake brand, which is best known for its seductive high heels and designs rooted in precision and reduction.
Russo tapped Studio Dini Cataldi to conceive the interior concept of the space, which makes for his brand’s only flagship in the world at the moment, after an outpost in Paris shut down.
The Milanese unit recreates a cozy domestic environment furnished with objects and design pieces drawn from Russo’s own private collection. Works by Helmut Newton and Irina Ionesco add to the space and tune with Russo’s signature feminine footwear collections, displayed in modular shelving systems or standing on wooden pedestal as art objects.
The designer launched his own brand in 2014, shortly after his departure from Sergio Rossi — where he served as creative director from 2008 to 2013. He previously piled up more than two decades of experience working for prominent fashion houses, including Miu Miu, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior.
Russo’s decision to embark on an independent journey stemmed from his desire to shape a personal vision inspired by the elegance of his mother and sisters, as well as celebrate the craftsmanship of local artisans and traditional shoemaking techniques while developing his collections, which are entirely produced in Italy.
