BARGAINS / GERI COOK : Shop Customizes Clothes on the Racks
Years ago, when I lived in New York City, my favorite clothes shop had a semi-custom formula. It designed its own line of women’s wear, which hung on the racks, but the designs could be ordered in any of the fabrics found in a bin in the center of the store.
When I moved to California, there was one such operation on La Cienega Boulevard, but it closed several years ago. I have just uncovered a similar shop for women’s apparel in Glendale, Ann & Eve, that works on much the same basis.
There is no bin of fabric, but the designs on the rack represent a large selection of material. Separates and dresses, jumpsuits and jackets, most with a dramatic flair, are featured. I succumbed to a blouse in a classic shirt style--black on one side, white on the other, with a fine gold trim on the collar and cuffs and jeweled buttons to dress it up. The price: $35. To go with it, a pair of black polyester (a good grade) pants cost $28 (all of their pants have a good amount of elastic in the back) and a double-breasted and collarless black cotton-poly jacket with gold threads in a diamond pattern was $45. A really smashing outfit came in at $108.
The women use fringe cleverly. A black velvet cat suit was covered with a fringed cape, but the fringe starts at the shoulder and goes to the ankles. Now that’s dramatic. Price for both pieces: $90.
Most of their designs are not as outrageous. Classic career apparel is also on the racks. Tops run from $22 to $35, skirts from $25 to $35, pants from $16 to $26. The cotton-poly fabrics are a nice 50/50 blend.
Here is where the custom part comes in. Say, for instance, you love the cat suit and cape but would like it in a color. No problem. They will make it at no extra charge. Or you find a design you love but would prefer in a different fabric. No problem. Just check out the fabrics in the other garments and find one to your liking. Size isn’t a problem either. If what you want is not on the racks in your size, they will make one, usually in a week, and again--no extra charge. Extra charges are added only if a size demands a lot more fabric.
Ann & Eve is run by Annette Baboonian and Evette Kayzakian, sisters who have been manufacturing their own line of clothing for several years. Until the opening of this shop eight months ago, they were strictly wholesalers. They started selling to retail stores in London and a few years later came to California, where their first big customer was Neiman Marcus, soon followed by other specialty stores and boutiques. This shop is their first retail operation.
The sisters still sell their Ann & Eve label to other retail stores, mainly to hotel boutiques in resort areas, where you can be sure the prices are higher and, of course, there is no customizing.
Once again, the middleman has been eliminated. When you do that, there is almost always sizable savings and, in this case, far greater services.
Ann & Eve, 133 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, till 7 p.m. Thursday. MasterCard/Visa, American Express, Discover. (818) 244-9471.
Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
