A Parisian Apartment, Reimagined in Kits: L’Appartement Opens June 17
This June, a new address in Kitsilano opens its doors. L’Appartement, a boutique inspired by the feel of a Parisian apartment, arrives on June 17, 2026, bringing a curated edit of European and French womenswear, accessories, jewellery, and footwear to Vancouver.
Less retail and more reverie, L’Appartement bridges two cities: Paris, where dressing is about confidence, expression, and refinement; and Vancouver, where simplicity and comfort shape everyday style. What emerges is a wardrobe that is made for living but retains a point of view.
Step inside, and L’Appartement feels like an intimate home you wish you had been invited to sooner. Warm, welcoming, and transportive, the 710-square foot space encourages intentional browsing led by curiosity and the thrill of discovery. The collection moves from elevated everyday clothing and accessories to statement pieces, all selected for their cut, detail, and enduring appeal.
L’Appartement’s interior design contributes to the feeling of a thoughtfully curated, inviting space. Designed in collaboration with Rochegram Studio, the boutique features subtle nods to mid-century style through cherry wood finishes, brass-accented racks, and signature Josef Frank wallpaper. Expansive windows flood the boutique with natural light, while pops of chartreuse and deep sea blue lend character. Artwork from founder Rafaella Petrolacci’s personal collection adorn the walls, creating intimacy and a lived-in quality to the room.
Rafaella is a Paris-born creative who has called Kitsilano home since 2013. Raised just steps from the iconic French department store Le Bon Marché, she grew up lingering outside its window displays, captivated by the artistry of fashion long before she understood it as a profession. At home, fashion became a shared language for Rafaella and her mother, who introduced her to a life-long love for clothing.
Rafaella’s education and early career spanned art direction, graphic design, and packaging design, influencing her approach to fashion guided by composition, cuts, and proportion. Having spent years moving between Paris and Vancouver, she developed an instinct for pieces that feel equally suited to both cities: refined yet relaxed, polished yet practical.
A considered cast of European labels lines the racks, many not available elsewhere in the city: Des Petits Hauts, known for its playful femininity and soft knits; Leon & Harper, master of the perfectly undone outfit; Tinsels, which mixes poetic touches with trendy cuts; Le Mont St Michel, which crafts beautifully made moleskin work jackets; and A Punto B, shaped by noble fabrics and bold colour. Together with accessories and jewellery brands Gas Bijoux, Jack Gomme, and Rive Droite, alongside footwear labels Flower Mountain and Voile Blanche, the collection brings French style in step with Vancouver life.
With L’Appartement, Petrolacci has dreamed up a space that bridges what she loves most about her two cities—the elegance of Paris and the ease of Vancouver—into one transportative, highly curated space. The concept is simple: style is sparked in stores, but it is honed at home. Her hope, above all, is to encourage people to find their own voice through fashion, to help them feel confident in their clothing choices, and to enjoy the process along the way.
“I created L’Appartement because I couldn’t find a place in Vancouver that felt like me,” says Petrolacci. “Living between Paris and Vancouver, I’ve always been drawn to pieces that work both for a no-nonsense, casual lifestyle, and that also bring a bit of joy – something to elevate the day and infuse it with style.”
Complementing its Kitsilano storefront, L’Appartement’s online store launches in July 2026, with shipping available across Canada. The digital space will feature a capsule of 30 styles, offering a glimpse into the boutique’s full collection.
L’Appartement is located at 2581 West Broadway Street, Vancouver, BC. Store hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-6pm. For more information, visit www.lappartementvancouver.com.