Browsing by author: Guest Shopper

Krigler’s history spans five generations and reaches from St. Petersburg to Berlin and Paris, from the French Riviera to New York. The company’s only current United States location is an intimate glass box nestled into a corner of the landmark Plaza Hotel; and, in a bit of local déjà-vu, this shop marks Krigler’s second residency at the Plaza. The Krigler family first operated a small retail venue within the Plaza from 1931 through the 1970s, catering to the hotel’s glamorous guests and other members of Fifth Avenue’s elite. After a period of dormancy, the company reopened in 2000 and returned to the Plaza in 2008, when the hotel had just completed its own extensive renovations.

The new-millennium image for Krigler seems to have been composed in the Penhaligon’s/Creed mold: there’s much emphasis on legacy, archival fragrance recipes and famous clientele. Krigler’s packaging has an old-world European flair, and the well-stocked shelves of the Plaza boutique are decorated with framed black-and-white photos of classic Hollywood stars who wore its fragrances. Krigler’s present-day shoppers include curious midtown browsers and hotel guests, visitors who remember Krigler affectionately from its earlier years at the Plaza, and world travelers familiar with the company from its boutique in Monte Carlo’s Fairmont Hotel…

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