Hip but Laid Back
When Linda Gershon opened her mid-century home-furnishings store 21 years ago on Beverly Boulevard, the area had a sleepy, almost suburban feel. “Nothing was on this street then. I mean nothing,” she said recently. Nobody was that interested in Modernist antiques then, either.
When she accidentally left several 1950s Charles and Ray Eames chairs on the grass in front of her store, Skank World, they were still there the next morning. “Nobody would take them for free back then,” Gershon said. “Now the same chairs sell at auction for $1,200 apiece.”
The stretch of Beverly between Formosa and Laurel avenues, dotted with 1920s and ‘30s Art Deco and Moderne facades, was once considered L.A.’s Westside. Celebs frequented the boisterous Spanish Kitchen for 30 years until it closed suddenly in 1961. By then, the area had become the center for the local Jewish community.
Today, the street offers eclectic clothing and home-furnishings stores, in between temples, religious schools and CBS Studios. KBond, which opened a year and a half ago, is just a few doors down from Skank World but light-years away. A TV, always tuned to the Cartoon Network, hangs on a stark white wall like some sort of postmodern moving canvas, while the scent of jasmine radiates from essential oil burners on the floor.
“I would hazard to guess that this is the only place in Southern California that carries Petit Glam,” said shopper Shelley Carter, a 32-year-old publicist, barely able to contain her glee upon finding a copy of the Japanese design magazine at the art gallery cum store.
Many first-time boutique owners and designers are attracted by affordable rents. “The area around Robertson and La Cienega may be known as the decorator’s corridor, but the rent is much cheaper here,” said Carla Nora, who opened the store Carla to sell Space Age-style furnishings on Beverly seven years ago.
This spread-out neighborhood provides shoppers the option of walking. Driving store to store is ill advised because parking can be tricky. The mood and the merchandise are decidedly different than at the nearby Beverly Center.
“I shop here because I hate the department-store feeling,” said textile designer Yesim Dilaver, 37, coveting a pair of Sonia Rykiel heels at Diavolina shoe store on a recent Sunday.
Later this summer, a new L.A. Eyeworks will move in on the boulevard, along with upscale hair salon Prive, opening on the former Spanish Kitchen site. But in the meantime, there are plenty of stores to put spring in a shopper’s step.
The Route: Start on the north side of Beverly at Formosa Avenue. Head west until you hit Laurel Avenue. Cross the street and complete the loop.
A sampling of stores:
Skank World, 7205 and 7221 Beverly Blvd., (323) 939-7858 and (323) 965-1757. Rare, mid-century Modernist gems, such as Eames storage units ($15,000 to $17,000) and bronze-encased furniture by Dan Johnson. (Brad Pitt recently bought two lounges and a coffee table.)
KBond, 7257 Beverly Blvd., (323) 939-9779. Cutting-edge menswear, including Ron & Ron silk paisley pants ($259), Duffer St. George monogrammed shirts ($132) and limited-edition Nike Zoom sneakers ($210). Gift items include Chemistry Set bath products and Indigo Fixer kits to fade blue jeans ($20).
Brenda Antin, 7319 Beverly Blvd., (323) 934-8451. British Colonial and Asian antiques, plus reproductions.
Cynthia Benjamin, 7375 Beverly Blvd., (323) 954-0336. An eye-wear shop with 1970s vintage glasses and Benjamin’s own modern frames, ($100 and up).
Sage Upstairs, 7377 1/2 Beverly Blvd., (323) 931-0595. This lifestyle shop owned by jeweler Sage (see below) stocks clothing and home accessories with an ethnic feel, including a rainbow-striped Andes blanket ($300), place mats from India ($25 each) and skirts made from vintage handkerchiefs (about $200).
Diavolina, 7383 Beverly Blvd., (323) 936-3000. No comfortable shoes here, just sexy stilettos, slides and spike-heeled boots by Cassadei, Sky, Emanuel Ungaro, Sonia Rykiel, Marc Jacobs, Costume National and more, ($50 to $1,000).
NYSE, 7385 Beverly Blvd., (323) 938-1018. Urban-wear for men and women, including Triple Five Soul shorts and sweatshirts, short-sleeve button-down shirts in vintage-inspired patterns by Ben Sherman ($55), Diane von Furstenberg dresses (about $200), separates by Vivienne Westwood Black Label and L.A. designers William B. and Grey Ant.
Sage Jewelry, 311 N. Martel Ave., just north of Beverly, (323) 938-0402. One-of-a-kind jewelry with a hippie look ($75 to $2,500), some with vintage pendants.
Nell’s, 7407 Beverly Blvd., (323) 857-6697. Home furnishings and accessories that range from a ceramic, $18 hydrangea-shaped sugar pot to a $2,025 drop-leaf table.
Re-Mix, 7605 1/2 Beverly Blvd., (323) 936-6210. This funky shop, decorated with the work of House of Blues artist Jon Bok, features unused vintage shoes for both men and women from the 1920s to the 1980s ($40 to $200). Wedges from the 1940s are top sellers for women, but there is a limited selection of sizes. So this summer, owner Phil Heath will launch a line of vintage replica shoes up to size 11.
Sonrisa, 7609 Beverly Blvd., (323) 935-8438. Vintage American steel desks, chairs and filing cabinets, plus more unusual furniture, such as pharmacy cabinets and a casket dolly coffee table. Prices range from several hundred dollars for chairs to about $2,500 for larger pieces.
Shabon, 7617 1/2 Beverly Blvd., (323) 692-0061. Vintage duds with a nod to current trends, including Marc Jacobs-esque, wide elastic belts with seashell buckles ($12), Pucci dresses (about $250) and Gucci purses.
Momo, 308 N. Stanley Ave., just north of Beverly, (323) 964-5240. Closed Wednesdays. Kooky 1960s and 1970s sunglasses ($48 and up) that would make Elton John blush, vintage souvenir T-shirts from Disneyland, Bermuda and other locales ($18 and up), and old vinyl airline bags (about $38).
Erica Courtney, 7465 Beverly Blvd., (323) 938-2373. Her signature earrings, necklaces and bracelets with gold and sterling silver hearts, crosses and other talisman-like charms, plus fine jewelry. Prices range from about $45 for a pair of silver earrings to $50,000 for the 7.37 carat Canary diamond ring Madonna wore to the “Snatch” premiere.
Kowboyz, 8050 Beverly Blvd., (323) 653-6444. Used cowboy boots, western-style shirts, leather jackets and 10-gallon hats, all spill out onto racks on the sidewalk. Boots start at $75, shirts at $10.
Shelter, 7920 Beverly Blvd., (323) 937-3222. Contemporary furniture and home accessories, including vases and pillows by Jonathan Adler ($35 and up), paper products by Loop ($15 and up), custom platform beds ($2,050 and up) and more.
Carla, 7466 Beverly Blvd., (323) 932-6064. Space Age furniture and home accessories from the 1960s and 70s, such as an “Elda” chair ($1,100) by Italian designer Joe Colombo, a Chadwick sectional couch ($3,500), and orange-and-yellow plastic Heller Design kitchenware ($475 for 11 settings).
Eduardo Lucero, 7378 Beverly Blvd., (323) 933-2778. The L.A. designer can usually be found in the back, cutting and draping fabric at this workshop/store. Ready-to-wear separates include wraparound jackets in a pink and plum-colored pattern ($210), sheer blouses with flecks of tinsel and sequins ($280), and ball skirts covered with a hand-beaded flower pattern ($460). If you don’t find your size on the floor, Lucero can make it in two to three weeks. He also does custom work.
Modernica, 7366 Beverly Blvd., (323) 933-0383. Mid-century Modernist furniture by Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, Arne Jacobsen and Isamu Noguchi, and reproductions. Prices from about $295 for a coffee table to about $4,000 for a couch.
Suss Design, 7354 Beverly Blvd., (323) 954-9637. In a workshop in the back, Swedish designer Susanne Cousins (nicknamed Suss) and her team hand-loom whimsical sweaters, scarves, booties, leggings, and even cell-phone covers in hundreds of colors, patterns and textures ($35 to more than $300). Her evening knitting classes are popular, too.
Richard Tyler, 7290 Beverly Blvd., (323) 931-9678. The L.A. designer’s couture, ready-to-wear and bridal lines are superbly tailored and pricey: $925 for a cashmere sleeveless top, $1,950 for a patent-leather jacket, and more for gowns. Couture pieces can be made in four to six weeks.
Fifi & Romeo, 7282 Beverly Blvd., (323) 857-7215. The Taco Bell Chihuahua and Elle magazine’s canine columnist Sweetie are just two of the famous fans of this dog boutique, which specializes in vintage wool, Kelly bag-like carriers ($550), beaded and sequined dog sweaters ($135 and up), sterling silver and gold tags ($35 and up). No pooch to pamper? Stop in to check out the nostalgic interior, with its girlie pink-striped walls, and items for humans, such as vintage brooches, Patch NYC poodle purses and Fifi & Romeo clothing (cashmere robes, scarves and wool mules).
Beige, 7274 Beverly Blvd., (323) 549-0064. Kelly Peterson, formerly of Madison boutique, and stylist Tina Webb opened this store eight months ago to showcase the work of new designers from all over the world. Currently, they are stocking clothing from several of L.A.’s up-and-comers, including Rami Kashou (one-of-a-kind jersey tops), design team Josh and He Yang (homemade fabric halters) and Rozae Nichols (romantic separates). Prices range from $18 for a T-shirt to $920 for a silk dress.
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The Scoop
Where: Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles between Formosa and Laurel avenues.
Hours: Most stores open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Many are closed Sunday.
Parking: Two-hour meters on Beverly and some free parking on side streets.
Where to Grab a Bite: See E3
ATMs: Washington Mutual, 310 N. Fairfax Ave. at Beverly.
