Kristin Knauff's Apartment Living
When Kristin Knauff opened a women’s clothing store in an apartment on Los Angeles’ La Brea Avenue in 2003, she thought the novelty of her digs would attract a discerning, dedicated following and leave her with room to expand.
Eighteen months later, Knauff found that apartment life had its limits. While a sandwich-board advertisement drew customers to her commercially zoned one-story shop above street level, she did not have enough space for a guys’ section. So she did the next best thing to buying a house: On Dec. 6, she leased a 1,300-square-foot storefront at 813 N. La Brea Avenue for her store, Apartment 3.
The move almost doubled her space and allowed her to build a men’s store. But she did not sacrifice the original boutique’s cozy feel. The burgundy shag carpet on the floor and the old record-album covers and thrift-store art on the walls make shoppers feel like they are stepping into a good friend’s apartment, albeit a friend with an obsession for 1970s design.
It’s only natural that the best-selling item in a store with a 30-year-old look is the vintage- inspired “La Fem Blouse” ($130 retail), designed by Kween by Kelly Markiewicz, based in Santa Monica, Calif. Knauff said her clients like the old-time, rustic look of the red jacket’s vintage rose buttons, as well as the piece’s modern body-hugging fit, low neckline and puffed sleeves. —Andrew Asch
