One of Bermuda’s oldest fashion names is to disappear.

Luxury retailer Cecile, which has occupied a site at 15 Front Street for more than 60 years, is to transfer its operations and be absorbed into high end accessories store and sister firm Lusso, a few doors up.

Julie Currelly, womenswear fashion director at Cecile’s parent company TESS Group, said the move was designed to showcase clothes and accessories like shoes and handbags under one roof.

She added: “We decided it would be too confusing to have the two names in circulation.”

And she said: “There is no doubt retailers are operating in a very difficult market, but it’s really not what prompted the move.

“The consumer at the top of the market has tended to bounce back quicker than those at the middle and lower end.”

Ms Currelly added that the building housing Cecile was old and not suitable for the high standards demanded by luxury suppliers.

And she said that the owners of the building were looking at redeveloping the prime site, so major investment in the store was not on the cards.

Ms Currrelly added: “Top designers expect to be represented in contemporary space — with Lusso, we have that.

“It just makes sense — it will be like a mini-luxury department store on Front Street and it’s what Front Street needs.”

Ceclie shut its doors for the last time last weekend.

Lusso will continue to operate as normal, but Ms Currelly said it was likely to close “towards the end of February” for around a week for minor alterations to be made.

Ms Currelly added: “It is going to be fantastic to have all our favourite clothing designers in a fresh, contemporary space.

“We’ve been seeking to update the space in which we present them for some time now and with some brand re-assortments that became necessary at Lusso, we realised there was an opportunity to showcase all the collections under one roof.

“It’s a more modern approach and more cohesive for those of our brands who have shoes, accessory and ready-to-wear collections.”

The combined store is due to officially open in March, with Lusso continuing to carry top brands like Ferragamo, Fendi, Jimmy Choo and Geox, while brands like Rebecca Minkoff, LK Bennett and Ted Baker will have clothing and accessories on sale in the same store.

And Cecile favourites like Trina Turk, Emilio Pucci and Luisa Spagnoli will also be available in the joint store, while new accessories from Italian couture firm Emporio Armani and clothing from Rachel Zoe will also be carried.

Ms Currelly said: “Our customers have responded with so much enthusiasm to the idea. They love the convenience of the fact that they will be able to immediately pair up the accessories they love at Lusso with the clothing purchases they make with their favourite Cecile brands.

“It will bring the best of both stores into one space.”