Diane Merrick: Finding What's Next in Cashmere
Diane Merrick was one of the pioneers of Los Angeles’ boutique scene, and her self-named shop could have moonlighted as a finishing school for some of Los Angeles’ fashion and boutique elite. Her former employees at the Diane Merrick boutique include Juicy Couture founders Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy; Claire Stansfield, co-founder of fashion label C&C California; and Tracey Ross, who went on to open her own influential self-named boutique in Los Angeles.
While an employee reunion could be star-studded, Merrick prides herself on being something of a soft touch with her creative employees. “I’m not tough. It’s hard to say you can’t do this on the job,” said Merrick, whose boutique is located at 7407 Beverly Blvd.
Similarly, the retailer has a soft touch with fabric, and the best-selling fabric at Diane Merrick is cashmere, which is prized for its luxurious softness. Her business has focused on cashmere since the late 1970s, and she also manufactures her own Diane Merrick private-label cashmere shawls, which range from $168 for a lightweight shawl to $198 for a heavier shawl.
Other top sellers include a long-sleeve cashmere sweater manufactured by Troy, Mich.–based Autumn Cashmere. With its seams sewn on the outside, the sweater retails for $260. Another top seller is a cashmere hooded sweater by Los Angeles–based Vince, which retails for $258. While the sweater comes in different colorways, the inside of the hood offers a different color from the rest of the sweater.
While cashmere has long been a favorite of the several generations of women who have shopped at Diane Merrick, Merrick said the secret to keeping sales buzzing is to seek out novelty. “When I look for cashmere, I look for something that is a touch off from what is expected,” she said. —Andrew Asch
