Italian fashion powerhouse Valentino is to open a flagship West End store after fighting off competition for a site on Old Bond Street.
The luxury brand, which designed the dress acress Keira Knightley wore to the Oscars this week, has signed a lease to open the shop at 39 Old Bond Street.
The site belongs to the famous fashion family Maramotti, which owns Max Mara womenswear chain.
Valentino will also keep its existing Sloane Street shop in Knightsbridge.
The Old Bond Street shop was previously home to plus-size premium womenswear brand Marina Rinaldi, which has expanded into nearby Albemarle Street.
Luxury brands are continually searching for more space on London’s prime shopping streets to showcase growing product lines and to capture strong footfall, including the many tourists visiting the capital.
Many retailers have recently expanded into office space above their shops to add space, such as Alexander McQueen on Dover Street and Salvatore Ferragamo on Bond Street.
