A pair of men’s Italian clothing brands are expected to open new shops in the River Oaks District near Houston's Uptown-Galleria area, with one of the retailers making its first foray into Texas.

 

Stefano Ricci, an Italian clothier specializing in silk ties, menswear, shoes, fragrances and interior design, is set to make its Texas debut with its River Oaks District storefront. The men’s clothing brand, founded in Italy in 1972, is on pace to open at the retail center sometime this summer. Stefano Ricci's other U.S. locations are in Beverly Hills, California; Las Vegas; Miami; and New York City.

 

Brioni, a menswear brand specializing in tailored ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods, shoes and eyewear, is also expected to open this summer in the River Oaks District. Brioni opened its first store in Rome in 1945 and has since expanded to the United States, including a location in Dallas.

 

Brioni's River Oaks District store, located next to Van Cleef & Arpels, will be the brand's first location in Houston.

 

River Oaks District is a 14-acre open-air retail center located at 4444 Westheimer Road. The 300,000-square-foot center was bought by Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta earlier this year and features brands such as Cartier, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Equinox, iPic Theaters, Saint Bernard and Steak 48.

 

Brioni's space is about 2,000 square feet while Stefano Ricci's is 2,285 square feet, according to state permits. Terms of their leases were not disclosed. The Italian brands leasing space at the River Oaks District comes on the heels of the nearby enclosed Galleria mall announcing a multimillion-dollar renovation and two new tenants: clothing store Etro and linen provider Frette.

 

Two other retailers have reopened in Houston's River Oaks District. Alice + Olivia, a women’s clothing brand founded by Stacey Bendet, reopened after undergoing what a River Oaks District statement called a “store refresh.”

 

Also reopening at River Oaks District is Vince, a California-themed clothing brand for men and women. The company relocated to a 2,154-square-foot space across from Etro, according to the statement and a state permit.