The ground floor of the store offers a comprehensive collection of suits, ties, perfumes, small leather accessories and watches, while the mezzanine will feature knitwear, sportswear, belts, hats and luggage. A more intimate setting showcases the men's suits, shoes and briefcases on the third floor. A quick peak at men's suits revealed prices ranging from $5,500 to $20,700. Stunning crocodile jackets were priced as high as $129,500 and can be custom ordered if a special size or color are desired.

The made-to-measure program is housed on the fourth floor which was designed to evoke the serenity of a private home. Here, clients will select fabric and be fitted for custom suits which are then made in France. The suit will be shipped back to the NYC location and a second fitting will ensue. If any alterations are necessary, they will be done in NYC by Hermès' in-house tailor.

Hermes has long offered a made-to-measure program at its flagship store in New York, but the facility was small. "We offered it across the street, but we really hadn't planned for it," says Chavez. "We took an existing fitting room and transformed it into a made-to measure room. It worked and we were surprised at how much business we were doing out of this little makeshift space. But when this opportunity surfaced, we knew immediately that the fourth floor would become a made-for-measure salon. I think our customers are going to be thrilled."

The 2,450 square foot boutique is the first in the world that Hermès has dedicated to men. The classic brownstone was redesigned by RDAI, the Parisian architectural agency founded by Rena Dumas, and features an interior that is new and contemporary yet borrows from the decorative vocabularies of the traditional tailor's shop and gentlemen's club. Details from the original Hermès store at 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré are revealed and reworked and paired with the store's streamlined architecture to offer a space that is both elegant and simple.

Chavez recalls that when the call came from a real estate agent that 690 Madison was available, it didn't dawn upon him immediately that the flagship location was directly across the street. Once he realized how close the two stores were, he was eager to lease the entire building.

Another impetus to expanding across the street was the need for more space at the flagship store for the women's lines. Indeed, 62% of Hermès revenues derive from its women's lines while 38% is from its men's lines. "We didn't want to give up our wonderful corner on Madison Avenue," says Chavez. "We love 62nd and Madison."

The entire men's line has been moved to the new space. "There are no men's products across the street at the flagship anymore, with the exception of some unisex products," says Chavez. "Of course, our staff will accommodate any of our clients who need help. If someone needs something across the street, such as a scarf for his wife, our staff will get it for him."

Are there plans to open more Hermès Man locations in the future? "I am sure the company will watch and see what happens here," says Chavez. "If it is a big success, which we are pretty confident it will be, who knows what can happen elsewhere."

To be sure, devoted Hermès clients will likely travel from all over the world to patronize the boutique, for it is the only location that will feature the company's entire line for men. "Several of our made-to-measure clients have already made appointments," says Chavez. "Who knows what can happen going forward."