Glamorous Store Bows on Punk Street
Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood has been one of the centers of bohemian and streetwear fashions in Southern California. But that changed when Octavio Carlin decided to open a glamorous women’s eveningwear boutique on the 1700 block of North Vermont Avenue on Dec. 8. It’s the designer’s first boutique.
Carlin, who has often exhibited his collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., said that the neighborhood, with some punk-themed shops, is the logical choice for the selfnamed boutique.
It will focus on his eveningwear label, which also bears his name.
“I have all of the movie stars in my backyard,” Carlin said. With the exclusive Los Feliz Hills neighborhood just up the street, Carlin also said that Los Feliz is a stomping ground for stylists.
The boutique sells ready-to-wear, made-to-order clothes and cocktail dresses such as the Sharon, named after Sharon Stone, the star of the 1992 film “Basic Instinct.” The 2,000-square-foot space is marked by its simplicity. The space’s white walls and gray concrete floors are broken up by a blue ottoman bench in the middle of the store and a white chandelier crafted by designer Ghia Fam. Carlin designed the bench and the bar, which serves as the store’s cash wrap.
Ready-to-wear price points range from $300 to $1,000. Carlin said that he is interested in eventually opening another boutique. He will also exhibit his line in the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in March. “I believe in Los Angeles as a fashion capital,” he said. “It’s important to build a community.” —Andrew Asch
