Prima Yana
Yana Khromova took one small step up Melrose—and one giant leap up market.
“My designs are getting better,” said the Russian-born designer. “Dressier, sexier and with more variety.”
Khromova recently opened her second Yana K boutique at 7655 Melrose Ave., which houses her latest playful designs. She continues to maintain her original Melrose store at 7408 1/2 Melrose Ave., which carries her more youthful and athletic fashions.
The new store will cater more to stylists, said the petite designer, who wore a backless jumpsuit of her own design at the Sept. 25 grand opening.
H. Lorenzo in Los Angeles and New York boutique Atrium recently bought the line, Khromova said. She intends to launch a men’s line in 2004.
Yana K is for the sexy, independent woman, said actress and model Jenna Dewan, who has modeled the line. “She follows the trends but doesn’t get caught in them,” Dewan noted.
Among the guests at the opening party was former “Baywatch” babe Nicole Eggert, who wore her first Yana K dress at the event.
“I like the soft fabrics and loose fit,” Eggert said. “Usually when you look sexy, you’re uncomfortable.”
Another attendee was Maybelline model Tomiko Fraser, who called the line “young and colorful.”
“It gives me a feeling of New York meets Jamaica,” she said. —Christian M. Chensvold
