New York, June 21, 2007 – French luxury goods retailer Hermes opened a store in downtown Manhattan’s financial district, setting itself apart from the rest of the big designer shops that all settled in Soho. The location directly across the street from the New York Stock Exchange should be a boon for those with high incomes but little time to shop.

At the opening reception, Rachel Weisz, Kyra Segwick and Kevin Bacon, Chloe Sevigny and Leelee Sobieski, protected by umbrellas in Hermes’ trademark orange, dashed through the rain to check out the new boutique.

A cash wrap station did double duty as a champagne bar, and tray-bearing waiters bobbed through the crowd, miraculously not spilling anything on the expensive merchandise.

The after party, at the magnificent Cunard Building nearby, was far bigger, far louder and very lavish, done up like a stable in 18th century Versailles – albeit a very fancy stable, complete with endlessly replenished buffets, and a “dessert garden” outside, with more sweet stuff than we can describe. Guests had turned the revolving wooden floor into an impromptu dance floor by the time we left.