Plus Celine’s Troubador collection pays tribute to L.A.
Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL and REBECCA RUSSELL
Wild at Heart
The West Coast may be the birthplace of many standout trekking, climbing, and camping retailers, but Italy is no slouch when it comes to creating wardrobes meant to outlast the elements. LORO PIANA’s new Into The Wild collection of women’s and men’s gear adds an element of understated elegance to garments like bomber jackets, parkas, rainproof capes, trousers, leggings, and shorts designed for the great outdoors. The bonus is performance fabrics meant for layering that mix textile innovations with silks and cashmeres plus heat-conducting graphite-derived membranes — all made with impeccable tailoring and a chic palette. There’s also a sleeping bag and suitcase-striped camping chair in canvas and leather and a much-anticipated collaboration with ROA on two styles of hiking boots made with a blend of wool, stretch silk, and technical fabric in understated hues. 360 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-860-0765; 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-432-1301; 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-798-1069; 233 Geary St., S.F., 415-593-3303; loropiana.com. E.V.
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Italians Do It Better
GUCCI recently celebrated a century of reinventing luxury, and along with that milestone is opening a highly anticipated boutique at the Grove in the heart of Los Angeles. Guests are invited in by the golden glow of the Gucci logo, the warmly lit interiors, and the demure marble facade. The space, which occupies two floors and more than 8,000 sq. ft., is adorned with extravagant walk-in closets that will showcase the vast array of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, (including the signature Horsebit 1955 and Jackie 1961 collections), beauty, and the travel collection Gucci Valigeria. The neutral and refined palette complements the vibrant offerings on display. Monochromatic rugs and Gucci Décor plush velvet furniture round out the interior. Guests will feel so at home, they may never leave. 189 The Grove Dr., L.A.; 323-900-8080; gucci.com. R.R.
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25 Years Later
“Falling in love with California was a real surprise,” says ELYSE WALKER, a New York native who switched coasts and opened her first eponymous Pacific Palisades boutique 25 years ago in a 900-sq.-ft. space that now encompasses nearly the entire block. Since then, Walker has raised more than $16 million for cancer research and early detection benefiting numerous West Coast organizations, among others. To commemorate the milestone, she’s hosting a series of in-store gatherings with jewelry lines such as Harwell Godfrey (Palisades) and Shylee Rose (Calabasas), as well as ready-to-wear including A.L.C. (Newport Beach), and partnering with local charities along the way. elysewalker.com. E.V.
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Sheer Bias
COURRÈGES’ frisson is back in Costa Mesa. The French label, known for its founder’s minimalist futurism, became the first designer boutique to open at South Coast Plaza in 1975, after being lured by Henry Segerstrom. Now the architectural line is returning under creative director Nicolas Di Felice, whose bias-cut slip dresses, strapless gowns, wide pants, strategic slashes, latex footwear, and blindfold-inspired sunglasses join strategically pocketed trench coats inside the new space. Belgian architect Bernard Dubois devised chrome pillars along with mirrored ceilings and dressing rooms plus white floors, furniture, and railings to house the men’s and women’s collections. Accessories and jewelry are housed in a monolithic island at the space’s center. The house codes are all here, but the suggestive pieces are also forward-looking. 3333 Bristol St., South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-852-3777; courreges.com. E.V.
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You’re So Cane
CHRISTIAN DIOR filled his Paris couture salons with Napoleon III chairs upholstered in a woven rattan geometric Cannage pattern during his first presentations, and this fall the Dior cane is again top of mind at the house. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri tapped the look of natural braided vegetable fibers, the Graphic Cannage motif, for a selection of leather goods, raffia, and denim accessories for her latest collection, including the new Dior Groove carryall: a two-handled Boston-style bag with a padlock and key ring. The look, reworked over the years, unites architecture and interior design favored by the house with craftsmanship. The result is modern silhouette shapes that are both functional and of the moment. dior.com. E.V.
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Rio World
Founded in an open-air marketplace in Rio de Janeiro by Kátia Barros and Marcello Bastos, FARM RIO is bringing its vibrant patterns and colors inspired by Brazilian culture to Melrose Avenue. The nearly 1,700-sq.-ft. Los Angeles boutique is rife with the singular tropics-inspired art and craftsmanship the line has honed over the past two decades, tapping Alê Sisdelli and Dominique Jardy for the creative interiors. Joining its Venice sibling, the boutique is filled with blue botanical print maxi dresses, breezy wrap skirts, and crop tops in lush reds and sunny yellows, plus multihued embroidered pieces and tailored cotton eyelet looks in sandy neutrals. 8551 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 424-284-3175; farmrio.com. E.V.
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Balenciaga’s Continuous Loop
Muscle memory-building repetition is the key component in a range of workouts, and BALENCIAGA’s newest pair of extremely lightweight gym shoes — in black, white and silver, or white, silver, and a hint of pink or blue — pays homage to the continuous path toward athletic improvement. The Circuit sneaker has a dynamic sole, supporting both the ball of the foot and the heel for motion and also agility, and the proportions are decidedly generous. The trainers — which are available in styles for men and women and are made of polyester, nylon, and polyurethane — have speedy pull-on tabs, vented panels to keep feet cool, and multiple house logos throughout. The shoe’s name itself refers to the continuous motion of repetitive athletics and the flow of charged particles in an electric current. And yet, they’re equally appealing in stasis. balenciaga.com. E.V.
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Banana Republic Gets a Redesign in Century City
The spirit of exploration, aka BANANA REPUBLIC’s foundation, is reintroduced in the Bay Area–based line’s new boutique at Westfield Century City. The space, reworked in collaboration with Noa Santos of NAINOA, is an expansive series of Venetian plaster-walled rooms and white oak floors stocked with fall designs for men and women alongside the line’s furniture collections (chairs, tables, and lamps are all on offer) and accessories including Moroccan Cote Bougie candles. Artwork curated by Jacqueline Schnabel and the brand’s in-house team includes pieces by Servane Mary, such as her screen-printed Plexiglass tubes with inkjet prints, glass panels depicting images of the American West, and a canvas of brass metallic paint and silkscreen ink. At the back of the store, a large fitting room includes a lounge and an in-house tailor — an essential no one wants to travel far and wide to find. bananarepublic.gap.com. E.V.
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Celine Pays Homage to West Hollywood’s Music Mecca
The Troubadour, Los Angeles’ legendary nightclub that began as a coffee shop before hosting folk and rock acts, punk and new wave bands, and pivotal performances from a wide roster of talented musicians — including Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Fiona Apple, and Radiohead — has inspired CELINE’s latest capsule. The Santa Monica Boulevard spot, known for its distinct sign and close quarters, plays prominently across limited-edition T-shirts, nylon Teddy jackets, hoodies, and a flannel baseball cap, all riffing on the venue’s script with concert-style merch. The capsule is exclusive to the Paris-based house’s Rodeo boutique and its online shop. celine.com. E.V.
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Louis Vuitton Returns to the America’s Cup
On the heels of its Olympics takeover, the Paris-based trunk maker is off to sea this month with the LOUIS VUITTON 37th America’s Cup Barcelona, which runs from August 29 to October 27. This 173-year-old competition will ultimately lead to a showdown between the trophy-holding defenders (Emirates Team New Zealand), and an opponent to be determined by the challenger of record (Great Britain’s INEOS Britannia) after faceoffs held during the Cup. The athletic abilities and teamwork of all the regatta participants — also including Switzerland, Italy, the United States, and France — will be tested, as will their use of cutting-edge technology, foiling monohull yachts, and logistics. In addition to trophies presented in trunks crafted by the French house, there are sporty men’s and women’s capsule collections crafted from technical textiles in bold primary colors inspired by the venerable sailing races. The vibrant nautical setting’s architectural marvels, shops, and restaurants are detailed in the house’s City Guide to the Catalonian capital overlooking the Mediterranean on Spain’s northeastern coast. americanscup.com; louisvuitton.com. E.V.
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Prada Unveils Sporty Style
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons are offering up a new take on collegiate style with Re-Nylon or cotton bomber jackets and sporty wool-and-cashmere oversize cardigans, all complete with varsity letters emblazoned on the front. At last, lettering in PRADA is possible. The number 1913, the year the house was founded, appears on the sleeves. Participation in basketball, crew, football, rugby, soccer, gymnastics, and the pantheon of sports has long been recognized by a single initial sewn onto university—or high school—outerwear, and now the Milan-based house is adding its capital P to the game. Women’s versions in kid mohair or leather plus sweaters debuted on the runway, and the new men’s capsule expands the initial concept. The new silhouettes, complete with patches, puts teamwork front and center this fall. prada.com. E.V.
Feature image: FARM RIO moves to Melrose.
Portions of this story originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of C Magazine.
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