What do Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior have in common? Beyond the obvious - they're all big-name in-house designers with somewhat unwearable but oh-so-conceptual couture and much-coveted accessories - as of Friday they'll all have shops in Copley Place, when Christian Dior moves into the space formerly occupied by Bottega Veneta, next to French Connection on the first floor.

Joining the ranks of LA, New York, Miami, and 10 other major cities, Boston has become part of Dior's move off the runway and into the streets. And for a town whose fashion presence has traditionally been more Filene's than Fendi, Dior's selection of a Boston locale is notable.

Boston's 1300-square-foot store will be the 13th nationwide for the LVMH-owned fashion house. Shoppers pining for the label's big-selling, slick aviator shades have been able to obtain them for a cool few hundred at Saks, but this will be the first time Boston's conspicuous consumers will get to attire themselves from head to toe in locally purchased Dior duds.

Though the buzz-heavy menswear line by newly initiated Hedi Slimane won't be sold in Boston's store, John Galliano's equally chatted-up womenswear will be available - along with jewelry, bags, leather goods, and sunglasses. Galliano's work over the past few years has riffed playfully on what some call " white-trash glamour, " but these days his clothes seem more art-school glam. " John loves to do pattern and color and different fabrics to create trompe l'oeil patterns, " enthuses Courtney Moss, Dior's vice-president of public relations and advertising. " There will be splashes of paint splattered on dresses. "

If that doesn't say enough about the changing face of the once ultra-traditional line that began in 1940s Paris, take a look at who's recently been spotted sporting the designer duds. Folks known for setting cutting-edge trends, including Lauryn Hill and Gwen Stefani, are some of the latest notable fans of Dior's work. And the unveiling of the new flagship store in Manhattan in December was attended by the likes of fashion bigwigs Bianca Jagger and Milla Jovovich.

But Dior execs don't want the average woman to be intimidated by all that. Talking about what's going to be in the store, Moss announces that it will stock the coveted single saddle bags for $250, along with the doubles going for $995. " So there's really something for everyone, " she raves.

Issue Date: May 31 - June 7, 2001