Retail Boom: A slew of store openings in time for the holidays
BEAUTY / HOME ACCESSORIES
D.L. & Co.: 417 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 205-0025), dlcompany.com. Candles in enamel apple-shaped boxes, Madame Pompadour candle busts, pocket watches with solid perfume inside, diffusers and curiosities such as dessert plates emblazoned with skulls abound at this Goth-tinged gift emporium, the Van Nuys-based brand’s first boutique.
Nars Cosmetics Flagship Boutique: 8412 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 623-1730, narscosmetics.com. This 1,500-square-foot makeup Valhalla offers some exclusive products not available elsewhere, including the Self Portrait Palettes that are part of the new Nars Andy Warhol collection for the holidays.
JEWELRY
David Webb: 9621 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, (310) 858-8006, davidwebb.com. Jeweler David Webb’s new West Coast flagship features an expansive collection of the house’s signature animal-inspired and colored jewels, which have been worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and Babe Paley.
Kimberly McDonald: 8590 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 854-0890, kimberlymcdonald.com. American jewelry designer McDonald chose L.A. as the destination for her first boutique. The 680-square-foot space features her one-of-a-kind, earthy jewelry designs and home accessories, including silver and agate ice buckets, cocktail shakers and trays.
Van Cleef & Arpels: 300 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 276-1161, vancleefarpels.com. The Parisian jeweler, which first opened on Rodeo in 1969, has reopened after a seven-month renovation. The boutique floor is now designed to have the feel of a Parisian apartment, with several individual rooms for bridal, timepieces and fine jewelry.
WOMEN’S
Burning Torch: 1627 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-1920, burningtorchinc.com. The L.A. brand, founded by Karen Craven in 1999 and known for its melding of vintage, modern, organic and global elements, now has its own boutique offering sportswear, including leather jackets and tops, silks, up-cycled sweaters, jewelry, vintage eyewear, one-of-a-kind pieces and vintage furniture, tabletop items and home furnishings.
Dior: 309 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 247-8003, dior.com. The French fashion house, which is enjoying much buzz thanks to new designer Raf Simons, has reopened its Rodeo Drive boutique in grand fashion. The art-filled interior features different salons devoted to ready-to-wear, accessories and fine jewelry and special items, such as a starry gold lace cuff, created exclusively for the store.
Isabel Marant: 8454 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, isabelmarant.tm.fr. Opening Jan. 3. It’s a wonder it’s taken so long for the Parisian designer, who started her business in 1994, to open here, considering L.A. seems to be her spiritual home. For the last several seasons, her laid-back cool collections have been directly inspired by the West Coast. And her label is already a huge hit with the young Hollywood set. The boutique will be the designer’s second location in the U.S. after one in New York.
Joseph: 156 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 385-7187, joseph.co.uk. The British brand comes to L.A. with its first West Coast store and all the smart-looking knitwear, sleek trousers and day-to-night dresses that have made the label a mainstay for women in Europe and Asia.
Madewell: The Grove, 189 the Grove Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 900-8080. J. Crew’s little sister has opened a store at the Grove, with all the cool-girl skinny jeans, colorful printed scarves, friendship bracelets and boyfriend cardigans that fans of the brand have come to expect.
MEN’S
J. Crew Men’s: The Grove, 189 the Grove Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 939-1070, jcrew.com. J. Crew’s first stand-alone men’s store in L.A. stocks the brand’s suits, sweaters and tees, along with a curated selection of goods from other brands, including New Balance sneakers, Corgi socks, Hav-A-Hank bandanna print handkerchiefs and stylish coffee-table books.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S
Rag & Bone: 8533 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (424) 245-4816, rag-bone.com. The New York-based brand’s new L.A. flagship (see accompanying article) is a two-story structure with an old industrial feel and all the denim, chunky knits, leather jackets and ankle boots that the brand has to offer for men and women.
Vince: 189 the Grove Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 602-0550, vince.com. The newest Vince boutique is open at the Grove, with drapey cashmere cardigans and soft T-shirts, silky blouses, leather jackets and more.
DESIGN AND ACCESSORIES
A + R: 171 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 692-0086, aplusr.com. You’ll find Cast of Vices jewelry, JumpFromPaper Op-Art bags, Fair Trade-made knitted animal masks, Design House Stockholm & Marie-Louise Gustafsson’s crochet plastic bicycle baskets and more gift ideas galore at this newly opened second location of A + R, which is double the size of the Abbot Kinney store.
C. Wonder: Fashion Island, 347 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, (949) 644-4376, cwonder.com. Chris Burch’s New York-based preppy-cool brand is now open in Orange County, with clothing, accessories and home goods that are tailor-made for gift giving, including monogrammed mugs and cheese boards, heart-print sweaters and sparkly holiday jewelry.
Clare Vivier: 3339 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 665-2476, clarevivier.com. L.A.-based handbag designer Clare Vivier worked with architect Barbara Bestor to give the airy Southern California space the feeling of the Marais District in Paris. Offerings include Vivier’s fold-over clutch bags, which come in a festive stamped paisley leather for the holidays, Caran d’Ache pens and hats by Steven Alan. Customers can order monograms or custom stripes for their bags as well.
LaMerch: 1636 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 663-4441, lamerchstore.com. Next door to the popular Silver Lake coffee spot LaMill, LaMerch offers an inspiring selection of gifts from near and far, including RB of McD leather goods (the designer John McDavid Lehman III was a regular at LaMill), Halcyon Days enamel bangles, Rifle Paper Co.’s royalty-themed paper coasters, Mor candles, Marie Belle chocolates, stylish books and, of course, the bags of LaMill’s coffee.
Marimekko: 370 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 299-2530, us.marimekko.com. A one-stop shop for the Finnish design company’s happy, colorful prints, on everything you can imagine, including women’s dresses and scarves, men’s bow ties and pocket squares, and cocktail napkins and place mats.
Will Leather Goods: 1360 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-8700, willleathergoods.com. The flagship for the Eugene, Ore.-based leather goods brand has a repurposed juniper and redwood interior, featuring rugged leather cuffs, zippered coin purses, belts and a deep bench of bags.
POP-UPS
Apt2B-Alpha Pop-up at Satine: 8134 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 655-2142, alphaman.com; apt2b.com. The combination of Alpha’s well-curated selection of guy-centric gear (hip headgear, Jack Spade camouflage and blaze orange Dopp kits and a “Godfather” trivia game among them) and Apt2B’s quirky, colorful collection of furniture and housewares (including a Kikkerland mustache-themed wall clock, eye-catching throw pillows and comfy couches) make for one well-appointed nook tucked into the back corner of West 3rd Street women’s boutique Satine — but only until Dec. 31.
Scoop NY Beverly Hills Holiday Shop: 265 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 362-6100, scoopnyc.com. The multi-label New York-based boutique chain has opened up an outpost in Beverly Hills for the holidays (it will close in January or February) with sparkly metallic Missoni sweaters and ponchos, Preen cocktail dresses, Scoop brand fur vests and coats, plus denim, menswear and shoes.
SHOES
Christian Louboutin Men’s: Opening Tuesday. 650 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 247-9300, us.christianlouboutin.com. The shoe designer opens a men-only boutique steps away from his women’s boutique on Robertson Boulevard. Look for low-top sneakers, studded smoking slippers, patent leather color-blocked wingtips, travel satchels and totes. Shoppers will be able to add a personal touch to their shoes in the Louboutin “Tattoo Parlor,” which will offer bespoke embroideries.
