Bellagio shopping offers a variety of riches

Friday, Oct. 16, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

Via Bellagio, the shopping arcade at the Bellagio, doesn't require a reservation, yet it's an outstanding form of entertainment.

Via Bellagio allows Las Vegas to join the best-known shopping cities in the world -- New York, Paris, London and Milan -- offering boutiques and shops owned by preeminent companies: Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Giorgio Armani, Fred Leighton, Moschino, Prada, Tiffany & Co., plus Bellagio's own Bellagio Collections and the Intimate Collections.

* This is the first Las Vegas store for Tiffany & Co. It's not that it hasn't wanted to come here. For some time, Tiffany has been looking for a location. Via Bellagio was the right place and the right time, Suzi Nagle, Tiffany & Co. Las Vegas director, said. "We have great expectations for the Bellagio store. We anticipate a strong local market." Nagle also said that Tiffany & Co. will become involved in the community, as it does wherever there is a Tiffany store. She's already joined the board of the Mojave Desert Preserve.

Tiffany's signature blue box and tote bags hold more than just precious gifts. Gift items are priced as low as $15 for a boxed set of playing cards. The signature wrapping and service are included. The Bellagio store carries a full selection of Tiffany merchandise including: exclusive jewelry designs by Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Jean Schlumberger; watches and clocks; fine and engagement jewelry; sterling silver flatware; china, crystal, fragrances, stationery and pens; and personal accessories. Tiffany's provides personal shopping, bridal and children's registries, and repair and engraving services.

* The Bellagio Chanel Boutique is the first Chanel boutique in a hotel. It was designed by Christine Gallion, architect designer of Chanel Boutiques in Europe and the United States. This has been a busy time for Chanel. The shop opened the day before the Spring/Summer Ready-to-Wear show in Paris. Arie L. Kopelman, president and chief operating officer, says he considers Las Vegas a fascinating tourist attraction that attracts people from all over the world. And, he repeated something I was to hear time and again; "If anyone knows what makes the town tick, it's Steve Wynn and our bet is on him."

The Chanel Boutique has two entrances: through the Chanel Fashion Boutique and the Chanel Fine Jewelry Boutique.

The Chanel Fashion Boutique offers the complete range of Chanel products: the Chanel Ready-to-Wear Collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld, handbags, accessories, shoes and Chanel Beaute and fragrances. Lagerfeld has been the artistic director of the House of Chanel since 1983. A Chanel source said that Lagerfeld has been able to take the legacy of the past and translate it to the future. "Under Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel continues the legacy of Coco Chanel by setting trends for the entire fashion industry, not just Chanel." The Jewelry Boutique is the ninth in the country. It houses the complete collection of more than 400 exquisite fine jewelry designs "based on Mademoiselle Chanel's own artistic heritage and passion for jewels."

Coco Chanel adored jewelry. She wore it, she said, for her own pleasure when a sudden desire overcame her ... a desire for luxury and splendor, or the moving memory of a loved one's face. She would, assuredly, have approved of the Via Bellagio Chanel Boutique.

* The design of the Giorgio Armani boutique at Bellagio "anticipates the 21st century." Designed by Michael Chow with Armani, the boutique will carry the designs for men and women that make up the Giogio Armani Borgonuova collections. Included are the exceptional tailored clothing that is an Armani hallmark, dresses, sportswear, evening wear and accessories. Clothing from other lines within the Armani collections -- Giorgio Armani Classico, Giorgio Armani Neve (ski wear), Giorgio Armani Golf and Giorgio Armeni Sposa (bridal wear) -- are also available.

Personal shopping appointments, professional wardrobe consultations, expert alterations and a multilingual staff are just a few of the available amenities.

* The Gucci shop is the second in Las Vegas. "This shop is really our jewel," Pat Malone, president of Gucci America, said. "We are somewhat restricted at the Forum Shop in terms of space at the moment. The plan is to expand at the Forum and, in order to accommodate the volume of our accessory business, we needed additional space in order to maximize the potential of the market. Bellagio is as committed to customer service as we are. In addition, they are targeting the luxury goods clientele. We have a wonderful location. Ballagio is bringing a bit of Italy to Las Vegas and Gucci is Italian. It seems a natural fit."

Gucci offers a complete line of accessories and footwear and outstanding customer service.

* Ask Fred Leighton, founder of New York's Fred Leighton, Rare Collectible Jewels, why he came from New York to Las Vegas and he passionately exclaims, "I didn't come to Las Vegas, I came to Steve Wynn's Bellagio."

Some years ago Leighton discovered that the jewels of the past were being destroyed by modernists who bought the pieces for their diamonds and precious stones; they would melt down the gorgeous handmade platinum settings. His mission became to save the treasures of the past and he began buying every lovely old piece he could find. Today, he and his wife, Glorya, own the world's largest and most prestigious collection of estate and antique jewelry. Each piece is from an important period of jewelry design and from such world-renowned jewelers as Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef and Arpels, Mauhousson and Belperron. There are court jewels from the 19th century and from the golden age of India. Leighton's skill as a collector has endeared him to the hearts of the rich and famous. His celebrity list of devotees is endless.

Leighton has passed on his zeal for jewels to his daughter Mara, who travels with him in his never-ending search for the rare and precious. Most recently they acquired "The Tudor Rose," which was purchased by Cartier from the 1904 auction of the property of Princess Mathilde, the daughter of Napoleon's brother, Jerome. This is only one of the many precious and rare jewels available at the Via Bellagio shop. The stories Leighton tells are precious, too. He's a masterful spinner of wonderful tales about Maharajahs and movie stars.

Visit with one of the Leightons when viewing the historic collections.

* Prada in Via Bellagio continues the sophisticated design of Prada boutiques worldwide. Gorgeous glass-fitted doors with handmade brass handles define the facade; stainless steel fixtures line the interior. The distinctive pale Prada "verdolino" green graces the walls and ceilings. Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi has created a lovely environment.

The Prada Boutique offers women's ready-to-wear bags, accessories and shoes, and intimo (lingerie). Some sports accessories from a new line will be available. For men there are the elegant Prada accessories and shoes and some of the new Prada line of sport accessories.

* The world of the Italian Moschino company is an exciting one based on the philosophy of the late founder Franco Moschino, who wanted to give consumers "total freedom." Basically, what Moschino was saying was that clothes should be chosen with the same ease that you would choose something to eat. Today, his family, associates and friends carry on the business and respect his philosophy, producing everything from clothing to accessories. The Via Bellagio shop will feature the fall/winter collections.

* The venerable Hermes, saddle-maker to heads of state and royalty, showcases its exceptional leather goods, accessories and shoes in a tasteful setting. All of the Hermes wares are finely made. The silk scarves are collectibles.

Via Bellagio shops will open at 10 a.m and close at midnight -- plenty of time to window shop or max out all the credit cards.

Muriel Stevens writes a shopping column, Charge It, Please, that appears Wednesdays in the Accent section.

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