Shopping: Vera Wang opens L.A. flagship
If Alice decided to decorate Wonderland using feng shui, would it resemble Vera Wang’s Los Angeles flagship?
Wang’s new 3,500-square-foot boutique, which opened March 4, is separated by a “looking glass” fireplace into two rooms: A dark purple foyer showcases Wang’s feminine ready-to-wear designs, and a sunny and modern bridal salon takes up the rear. Wang, who collaborated on the design with RNA Associates, ensured all feng shui elements were present — water flows down a window fountain, fire glows inside a glass tube, stone fixtures represent earth, and air flows from the entrance toward an outdoor fireplace.
It’s her first standalone presence on the West Coast and only her third boutique (there are two in New York City). “L.A. resonates as a lifestyle, a feeling of ease,” she said, noting that she wanted something that established a presence beyond just “red carpets and weddings.” “I wanted my own home here,” Wang says.
In the glass-terrazzo-floored entrance, mannequins hang from the ceiling over the Vera Wang spring ready-to-wear collection, which ranges from layering tanks ($175) to tie-dye shorts ($395), from bias-cut tunic dresses ($695) up to “full-on runway pieces,” such as a $2,000 embellished silk dress.
“We’re kind of bullish on ready-to-wear,” Wang says.
The bridal salon, open by appointment, is spacious enough for trunk shows or wedding parties with sexy mohair banquettes plucked from a nightclub.
The New York-based designer says her bridal business has weathered the recession by adjusting to price-conscious brides. “We’ve gone down a price point from $15,000 to $10,000, $10,000 to $6,000 and $6,000 to $3,000,” she says.
A trendsetter in wedding fashions, Wang says clients such as Khloe Kardashian and model Brooklyn Decker, who wed tennis pro Andy Roddick, recently requested dresses made from stretch fabrics for a body-conscious look.
Wang launched her store with a dinner hosted by Vogue magazine on March 2 that was attended by Reese Witherspoon and Renee Zellweger.
8445 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 602-0174. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. https://www.verawangonweddings.com
Events
Missoni Tuesday: Meet Angela Missoni, Missoni’s creative director, and celebrate the opening of the new Beverly Hills store.
469 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 246-3060. 2 to 6 p.m. missoni.it
Planet White T-Shirt at Space 15 Twenty Saturday (March 20) through April 18: Urban Outfitter’s Space 15 Twenty showcases 31 designers from 13 countries taking on the humble white T-shirt. Look for tees from L.A.’s Unholy Matrimony, along with designers Bruno Pieters, Siv Stodal and Project Runway’s Jerell Scott. For more details, e-mail info@space15twenty.com.
1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. 7 to 9 p.m. https://www.projectwhitetshirt.com
Jodi Arnold Saturday (March 20): New York designer Jodi Arnold, whose capsule collection for the Limited is out Thursday, hosts a fashion trunk show featuring her contemporary women’s looks at the Thompson Beverly Hills’ lounge. New spring styles will be 30% off retail prices (ranging from $80 to $250 before discount) with a portion of sale proceeds benefitting Doctors Without Borders. Guests can enjoy food, wine and art, plus discounted parking with purchase. RSVP to rsvpla@jodiarnold.com.
FOR THE RECORD: In Sunday’s Image section, the Shopping column listed an incorrect e-mail address to RSVP for the Jodi Arnold trunk show being held Saturday. The correct address is rsvpla@jodiarnoldnyc.com.
9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (347) 270-8610. Noon to 4 p.m. https://www.jodiarnoldnyc.com
Opening
Odd Molly Saturday (March 20): Stockholm-based contemporary women’s label sets up shop on Robertson Boulevard. Odd Molly’s collection of cotton tops, Wigwam embroidered dresses and Fair Isle-patterned sweaters range from $75 to $400.
104 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 858-9311. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. oddmolly.com
