Vivienne Westwood's Party
Punk innovator and fashion icon Vivienne Westwood works as the gracious hostess at debut for her flagship boutique. Photo credit: Jayne Seward.
Dame Vivienne Westwood confessed not to know much about Los Angeles when she visited the City of Angels for the March 30 debut party for her flagship Vivienne Westwood boutique. But the iconic fashion designer can spot potential.
She thought Los Angeles was the best place to hoist the store’s pink, neon Vivienne Westwood sign. It is the only Vivienne Westwood flagship in the United States. It will be the best market for her highly regarded and idiosyncratic work she said.
“They have red carpet events,” Westwood said of Los Angeles’ long, annual awards show season. “It’s what we do. We have once in a lifetime dresses.”
The two-story, 10,000-square-foot boutique also offers all of Vivienne Westwood’s lines such as Gold Label, Red Label, Anglomania and Man. It is located at 8320 West Melrose Ave., on a stretch of the popular retail street which has been plagued by high vacancy.
Westwood’s Melrose neighbors were glad that an established fashion house was moving onto a section of Melrose which juggles empty storefronts and boutiques for high profile brands Paul Smith, Ever and Kiki de Montparnasse.
An established brand will have the means to grow roots on the street said Akul Dang, a sales associate for the Ever boutique. “Small boutiques turn over every month,” Dang said of the area’s high vacancy. “(Vivienne Westwood) is going to stay there for awhile. They’re going to be a staple of the block.”
The party was something to remember. The guest list took inspiration from Westwood’s refined present and scruffy beginnings. A list actors and pop stars walking the boutique's red carpet were Kristin Davis, Christina Hendricks, Kelis, Anna Kendrick, Marilyn Manson and Dita von Teese.
Fashion mavens and stylists gracing the party included George Blodwell, Tomoko Kobayashi, Brian Lichtenberg and Cameron Silver. Then there were a host of fashion hopefuls at the party wearing outrageous garb that might have fit in with, and definitely was influenced by, the punk look of the 1970s. Westwood helped start that iconic look.
Barbara Kramer, co-owner of the Designers Agents trade show attended the party and considered it a feat that Westwood could be a rebel and be embraced by the A list.
” She is the grand dame of our industry,” Kramer said. “She put her stamp on so many decades. She is timeless.”
Following this blog will be a deeper look into the party and the wild fashion and inspired style at the debut for Vivienne Westwood boutique.
