Maison Le Fame in JC-Plaza Shanghai 拉飞姆锦沧文华店

Maison Le Fame in Shanghai JC Plaza is a jewelry box brought forth by the Lefame Fashion Company.

The jewelry box is enveloped in layers of red.

A crimson narrow strip mosaic creates a winding and undulating wall, extending from the exterior of the store to the cashier area deep within the space. The raised floor and lowered ceiling are made of smoky pink cement material, resembling the cornice and base of classical facades, with decorative reliefs adorning the frieze. They imbue a sense of ceremony to the entrance area: the displayed mannequins seem to come to life, resembling the elegant and dignified columns of the Temple of Erechtheion, as well as seductive sirens emerging gracefully from behind thick curtains.

A band adorned with patterns of crimson marble encloses the remaining space. In front of the glass curtain wall, this band is made of glass material with printed dot patterns, while in front of the concrete walls and large red lacquered pillars, the band features patterns screen-printed on simple wooden boards. The grand and elaborate patterns of the marble contrast with the simplicity of the materials and the method of production, creating a playful tension. In his book “À rebours,” which was famously described by Oscar Wilde as “overflowing with venom,” Huysmans, through the voice of his protagonist, said, “Artificial imitation is the unique standard of human talent,” and thus, “There is no strange rock or cliff that cannot be realistically assembled with cardboard; no flower that cannot be matched by special silk and marvelous colored paper!”

Unveiling the layers of red reveals a dim and mysterious zone. The terrazzo floor, embedded with dark green stones, emits scattered glimmers in the black cement, reflecting upon the nearly black emerald-green wooden ceiling. Within the triangular grid, some lightboxes are arranged in a scattered manner, extending onto the walls of the jewelry area. Deep green marble and mirrors intersect and cut into each other, creating a dazzling interplay with the pearls and gemstones adorning the crowns and tasseled pouches.

In the center lies the jewelry box crafted from glass, velvet, mirrors, ceramics, and brass. Its lines are restrained, following clear and rational functional divisions, yet it exudes a magnificent and enchanting atmosphere. The transparent space enclosed by two golden moon-shaped doors is said to be reserved for the skilled artisans of Lefame Fashion Company.

If we believe that “decoration is a sin,” then Maison Lefame is the flower of evil exuding a dangerous aura in the bustling metropolis. However, Voltaire once said, “Excess is necessary.” Without those hazy, exquisite, delicate, sharp, vibrant yet dim… elements, what else can our lives hold onto?