Saks Fifth Avenue changed the landscape of New York’s main shopping thoroughfare when it opened the first large department store between 49th and 50th streets in 1924. The big idea conceived by Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel expanded the northern boundary of Fifth Avenue — the city’s most famous shopping stroll. The moment, as WWD reported, marked “a new era of development for prestige shopping in New York City.”
By the 1970s, Saks Fifth Avenue had established a national presence, with branches across the United States, in cities where fashion-savvy consumers viewed luxury department stores as aspirational destinations. Its expansion, fueled in part by economic expansion and a rising interest in luxury fashion goods — both domestic and international — played a key role in the growth of the fashion industry.
Over the years, WWD would chronicle the rise and evolution of Saks, alongside the department store’s broader impact on the fashion world. From the debut of its first custom salon, helmed by Sophie Gimbel in the 1930s, Saks set the stage for creativity and innovation in fashion. Subsequent designer showcases — including the first French collections featured in its millinery department — and notable beauty launches at its cosmetic counters established the store as a hub for industry legends and celebrity appearances. Equally iconic were its galas and benefit luncheons— events as memorable as the department store itself.
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As Saks seeks to evolve again and emerge from bankruptcy, WWD revisits its coverage through the Fairchild Archives with a look back at moments from the store’s iconic journey.
