It Takes a Village: Larchmont Is L.A.'s Main Street
Small-town transplants must love Larchmont Village. The 5-miles-per-hour stretch between Beverly Boulevard and Third Street is an oasis of suburban charm in the strip-mall desert of Los Angeles. With quaint restaurants, a stationery store and the oaken facade of a community bank, this is where you send your kid to open a lemonade stand.
But this is still Los Angeles, which means Larchmont’s boutiques are daring, not dowdy, and fashion-forward instead of behind the times.
At 225 N. Larchmont Blvd., Noni is the block’s edgy boutique—complete with music and art events. Currently hot is Luscious by Rebecca Ford’s ’80s-style mesh skirt in black and khaki. Louis Verdad’s low-slung, pin-striped capri pants are also selling strong. A similar pair comes in wool herringbone with flared legs. “People are wearing them with boots and fishnets underneath,” said store coowner Elaine Lewis.
She also highlights Montreal-based Beige, which offers a denim blazer with rivets, contrast stitching and a matching pleated miniskirt.
Celebrities such as Britney Spears and Richard Gere have come to Spirituali, at 120 N. Larchmont Blvd., in search of enlightenment.
The New Age–themed gift, apparel and accessory store’s hottest items are Energy Muse’s necklaces, which feature Tibetan turquoise and lapis lazuli stones with antique Chinese coins. “They’re not magic, but the stones do have some powers—really,” said coowner Avi Sitbon.
Also popular are Da Nang’s ubiquitous cargo pants and various accessories from Von Dutch, including an assortment of trucker hats that would please ice cream vendor Baskin-Robbins. “There are 55 different styles and colors,” noted Sitbon.
Shoppers at Pickett Fences, at 214 N. Larchmont Blvd., are going for C&C Clothing Co.’s simple Tshirts. Customers will often grab a long-sleeved one and pair it with a contrasting tank underneath.
“The colors are bright and gorgeous, and it’s fun to put them together, like orange and turquoise,” said store manager Ritu Paramesh. “And they’re so soft and thin and yummy. We can’t restock them fast enough.”
Pickett Fences carries 15 denim lines, but the undisputed top-seller is Adriano Goldschmied’s “Angel” jean.
“It fits every shape and size,” Paramesh said. “It’s not too low, and it’s comfortable.” Shoppers try on several brands and invariably choose the Goldschmied jean, she said.
At Lisa Y., at 205 N. Larchmont Blvd., owner Lisa Yoonchalard highlighted the stretch-denim and cottonfleece track suits by Japan’s San Joy, one of her bestsellers. But her latest hit is a T-shirt line by Love This Life, which features the company’s name in bright graphics. The line has crossed demographic lines to sell exceptionally well, she said.
“It appeals to skateboarders, hip-hoppers and starlets, Yoonchalard said. “It’s graphically appealing, and people are enamored of simple, positive things.”
Other stores to check out on Larchmont include the Earl Jean store at 141frac12; Larchmont Blvd. and Lucy, which sells women’s workout wear at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd.
