California Apparel News

Nowhere near a freeway and replete with parking, Riviera Village in Redondo Beach flies below-the-shopping-radar in Southern California.

But the seaside breezes, the quaint cafes and the collection of apparel and home furnishings boutiques and art galleries along South Catalina Avenue provide shopping enthusiasts with a relaxed but fulfilling experience.

It’s that carefree ambiance that lured retail veterans Mary Williamson and Carla Wagner to open their new boutique, Will & Wag, in the village in April.

“We’re from Santa Monica, but we’re in love with this area,” Wagner said. “The people are so friendly and it’s a community atmosphere.”

The two-story, 1,200-square-foot boutique caters to the working woman and carries Versace jeans, Hard Tail, Love Amour and the French line Sharagano. So far, what’s checking is colorful looks along with bold and racy prints, Williamson said.

“It’s American and ’Moulin Rouge’—anything with a flower or ruching,” Williamson said.

Vertigo’s huge bald eagles and dollar-bill motifs on white V-neck shirts are selling well, as are Love Amour’s mock turtlenecks with vertical stripes and stars. Customers are pairing the tops with fitted denim jackets and capris and low-rise stretch jeans by Hard Tail.

Another newcomer to the area is Hannalorree Chahine, who recently bought the Champagne boutique with business partner Carla Matta. A former hair-salon owner, Chahine plans to streamline inventory and add more upscale fashions to the designer mix of Earl Jean, Trina Turk, D&G and William B. One move is to drop the Kate Spade line—too many department stores carry it, according to Chahine—and add the embroidered and beaded novelty bags of Lulu Guinness of London by August.

Aside from sipping flavored coffee and nibbling on Hershey kisses, shoppers at the store are flocking to the rhinestone-buckle belts by Hollywood Trading Co. and silk belts covered in paillettes by Chan Luu. Chahine said the military theme is still a contender, and Michael Kors provides a solid base of capris in floral camouflage prints and sleeveless khaki turtlenecks.

Festive occasions are calling for Philosophy shoes by Alberta Ferretti. The black and green slingback mules designed with floral beading are being sold with a matching mini-skirt ensemble for a head-to-toe silhouette.

With the seasonal descent of bridal showers, benefits and class reunions upon shoppers, Balisimo owner Toni Gartner said dresses are moving quickly.

Above-the-knee sheath dresses in V-necks and spaghetti straps from ENC by David Meister are a popular fit. The vivid designs range from diagonal black and white stripes in block patterns to orange and white prints adorned with a thin white belt.

“It’s very Jackie O.,” Gartner said.

Clingier fashions are the rage at Ribbons, according to buyer Debbie Shirejian.

“The tighter the better,” she said, referring to what she calls summer’s “hottest thing,” the muscle T-shirt by Project E. Customers were also scooping up the line’s glitzy, retro ribbed tanks and logo tops, buying them in fistfuls.

Body-revealing items from disco halter tops with plunging V-necks to low-low-rise—try a 1.5-inch zipper—bootleg jeans by Buffalo were also checking. The other look of choice is the “feminine contemporary hippie,” said Shirejian, exemplified by Michael Stars’ shine T-shirts matched with bias-cut skirts worn low under the belly. Long, flowing skirts by Lotus in Indian paisley fabrics also are selling with three-quarter-sleeve cardigans.

To appeal to the active lifestyle of nearby residents in Palos Verdes Estates and the beach communities of Manhattan and Hermosa, the year-old Cellina boutique has brought in a line of golf clothes called Tehama, Clint Eastwood’s label usually only sold at golf resorts and upscale department stores. According to owner Cellina Fafard, men’s jungle-print and patterned polos and light-cream microsuede jackets are a big draw on and off the course for young and older professionals. Women’s gingham-check capris are also a fashion favorite for the links with matching V-necks and three-quarter-sleeve shirts.

Feminine styles are a top draw at her store, including Tessuto’s ruffle-edged skirts and Absolu’s ultra-sheer twinsets in gold, silver and pewter, which sync with black flowing and fitted black skirts.Fafard also sells the creations of local artists to capitalize on the influx of young newcomers drawn to the beauty of the area and new real estate developments.

“The art is doing well. People are reordering and even asking me to fill out their entire home,” she said.