California Apparel News

Abbot Kinney Boulevard has become one of Los Angeles’ top fashion streets—a place where unique brands from Los Angeles, New York and around the globe go to make a statement. But the latest boutique on Abbot Kinney hopes to give the street an Austin point of view.

Stag opened in 2009 in Austin, Texas’ state capital and the home of some of America’s most influential music festivals. On Sept. 12, the men’s multi-line retailer opened a 3,500-square-foot boutique at 1338 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in the former space of floral design business the Floral Art. Stag’s newest boutique is adjacent to a location for Dutch brand Scotch & Soda.

Don Weir, co-owner and co-founder of Stag, doesn’t plan to change the merchandise mix to appeal to the surf and Hollywood crowd. He and business partner Steven Shuck believe that Austin and California share more of a fashion point-of-view than many think. “They’re similar in perspective,” Weir said. “Jeans and T-shirts will take you through the day.”

The shop built a style that aims to be both timeless and uniquely American. It is one of a handful of outside vendors that Ralph Lauren gave a green light to sell his Western-inspired RRL line. It broadens the look with brands such as Universal Works, a U.K. workwear brand designed by David Keyte, whose résumé lists stints in a coal mine and at celebrated men’s designer Paul Smith. There’s also Alex Mill, a line designed by Alexander Drexler, son of J. Crew’s Mickey Drexler.

At the Abbot Kinney store, a visitor will find a plaid wall on the right—that is, a wall dedicated to plaid woven shirts made by a diverse group of brands. There’s the indigo wall to the left. It’s a wall devoted to denim. At the back, there’s space for apothecary, shoes, small leather goods and outerwear. On the shop’s mezzanine, there’s 450 square feet of space, which will be reserved for pop-up shops. The first pop-up shop to move into the mezzanine space is Lot, Stock & Barrel, a retailer of vintage clothes.

Price points will range from $40 to $145 for T-shirts, $80 to $225 for wovens, $100 to $1,600 for leather jackets and $50 to $1,000 for watches.

Stag is on the move. In the next year, it will open locations in Houston and Dallas, Weir said.