Bloomingdale's revamps beauty dept.

Bloomingdale's flagship department store on 59th Street is celebrating what it calls "The Biggest Makeover in NYC."

The Oct. 15 unveiling of the revamped beauty department on the main floor marked the completion of a storewide renovation that began in 2004.

The "makeover" overhauled the department's floor plan, partitioning what used to be one large room into three separate rooms. Space for six new brands was also part of the renovation: Giorgio Armani, Bare Escentuals, Bumble and bumble, Jo Malone, Sisley and Shu Uemura. These vendors now share the floor with perennial mainstays such as Chanel and Bobbi Brown.

Browsing the aisles of the remodeled Bloomingdale's beauty floor is an aesthetically satisfying experience; it gives the sleekly styled Sephora a run for its money. The black-and-white tiled floor draws the customer through the wide aisles, from vendor to vendor and from room to room. Although the decorative accents differ slightly in each room, a black-and-white theme is maintained throughout as the iconic trademark of the department store, unifying the rooms.

Space defines the makeover: The department boasts 25,400 square feet, having acquired an additional 4,400 square feet from the menswear department to make room for the new brands. Each vendor's height was raised approximately 5 feet, which, when combined with the wider aisles, physically opens up the entire floor and allows for a better flow of customer traffic.

The renovated floor has more to offer than just cosmetic products. A cosmetics studio complete with makeup stations and treatment chairs can be used for classes with renowned makeup artists, makeup appointments and private parties. Bloomingdale's newest beauty brands also bring new features, such as Bumble and bumble's Bb. StylingBar and the Tokyo Lash Bar at Shu Uemura.

The department store's makeover may have come at the perfect time — in the midst of a recession — to bring customers back to an era of customized personal service and grandeur. For the next two months, Bloomingdale's will host public events on its main floor to promote "The Biggest Makeover in NYC," bringing beauty innovations to their customers in the process.

Katie Thompson is a staff writer.