Element Goes Global: New Executives, New Boutique
Element, an Irvine, Calif.–based brand owned by Billabong International Ltd., announced on Nov. 24 the hiring of two European executives.
Connecting Asia to the U.S. Through Orange County
Based in Ningbo, China, with U.S. headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., Dragon Crowd makes apparel for specialty stores and private labels for department stores such as the BP and Make + Model brands at Nordstrom.
Forever 21 Opens Thanksgiving Morning
Forever 21 Gets the Jump on Other Clothing Stores on Thanksgiving.
Naked Princess To La Cienega
Naked Princess opened its first flagship store at 653 N. La Cienega in West Hollywood earlier this year. It is the former address of a Catherine Malandrino Maison shop. Jordana Woodland, Naked Princess’ chief executive officer worked with LM Pagano, an interior designer to make a space that also could serve as a space for private events. The Naked Princess boutique sells the brand’s loungewear and lingerie and beauty products.
Barbie Loves Wildfox: The Party
Wildfox introduced its “Barbie Loves Wildfox” collection last week. Time to party. Check out the guest list which ranged from Wildfox chief executives to Kardashians.
Wet Seal Hires Team to Explore Sale
Beleaguered retailer The Wet Seal Inc. announced Nov. 24 that it hired a team to help the Foothill Ranch, Calif.–based retailer to look for “strategic and financial alternatives,” which can be industry lingo for considering an array of new directions for the business, including a sale.
New Standalone Shop in Santa Monica
After almost 20 years of doing business in the well-off seaside city of Santa Monica, Calif., Ron Robinson was told to vacate his successful Ron Robinson shop at the landmark Fred Segal compound in May. The entire Fred Segal building at 500 Broadway was going to be torn down to make way for construction of a mixed-use building of residences and restaurants.
Jen Awad’s Lovelace Collection
We missed Jen Awad at the last edition of Los Angeles Fashion Week. However, the designer best known for making clothes for the rock ‘n’ roll set made a splash Nov. 20 at West Hollywood boutique Orphic. She presented her new Lovelace Collection.
The Stronghold X Red Wing party
You don’t get more heritage than The Stronghold. The denim and clothing store on 1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Los Angeles makes workwear styles with a Roaring ‘20s feel. It makes sense that The Stronghold would partner with other heritage brands. On Nov. 21, it held an event for Red Wing shoes. The party celebrated the venerable footwear label’s Kangatan 8180 boots, a green leather boot, which was designed for baseball player Ted Williams.
August Getty Atelier’s Fabulous Dinner
The young, the beautiful and the outrageous convened at a fashion shindig for August Getty Atelier at the Montage Beverly Hills last week. Along with new designer August Getty, Tyra Banks was on hand, along with Taylor Spreitler, an actor and producer, and Vicky Vox, drag queen, entertainer and a model for designer Marco Marco’s notorious debut in 2013.
Clare V. Takes A Bow in Santa Monica
A Clare V. store opened at 1318A Montana Ave., in Santa Monica, Calif. Nov. 20, adjacent to the new Sleepy Jones boutique and Aero theatre,a favorite of Westside cineastes. There was a store party featuring an appearance by brand founder Clare Vivier herself.
Nasty Gal Opens on Melrose
A line of fans and shoppers snaked around the corner of Melrose Avenue and N. Kilkea Drive in Los Angeles on the morning of Nov. 21 to take in the opening of the first physical boutique for Nasty Gal
Attention Fashion Shoppers
You have three more days to take advantage of the deals at Shop for Success, the pop-up shop fundraiser for Dress For Success going on this weekend in L.A.’s Westwood neighborhood.
Port Congestion Fees Suspended for Shippers But More Problems at the Docks
The silver lining in the West Coast port-congestion problem is this: There will be tons of discounted winter merchandise for sale after the holiday shopping season.
Kirwan, Owen to Helm Gap Divisions
Gap Inc. announced Nov. 20 that Jeff Kirwan was named global president for the Gap brand and Andi Owen was named global president for Banana Republic brand.
