DVF Opens at South Coast Plaza, Planet Blue Closes Westlake Location
South Coast Plaza made way for a new DVF store on April 2. The 2,000-square-foot store is located on the first level in the Costa Mesa, Calif., luxury center’s Saks Fifth Avenue wing. It moved into a space formerly occupied by a Marina Rinaldi–brand boutique.
The DVF boutique will offer the brand’s full ready-to-wear and accessories collections. It was designed with a white gallery-style interior and a patterned tile floor and features custom blackened steel and brass fixtures. DVF is designed by iconic designer Diane von Furstenberg. She opened a DVF boutique on West Hollywood, Calif.’s Melrose Avenue in 2005. DVF does not plan further retail expansion this year, according to a company representative.
Santa Monica, Calif.–headquartered Planet Blue recently closed its boutique at The Promenade at Westlake retail center, which is owned by Caruso Affiliated, the owner of exclusive Southern California malls The Grove and The Americana at Brand.
The Promenade at Westlake is located in the well-off town of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Los Angeles–area contemporary retail chains Madison and M.Fredric also run boutiques there.
Celebrities such as Heather Locklear were spotted shopping the Westlake Planet Blue in 2011, but it was rumored that foot traffic could not support the store. Planet Blue did not respond to emails and phone calls requesting comment on the store closing. Planet Blue currently runs four bricks-and-mortar locations and an e-commerce operation.
German fashion brand Oska is on the move. Last month, it opened a boutique in Edina, Minn. In Fall 2011 it opened two California stores, in Pasadena in September and in Mill Valley in November. It also opened a Montclair, N.J., shop in October. A representative for the brand said it is scouting two more U.S. locations.
Simon Property Group’s Fashion Valley mall in San Diego recently announced that a shop for Spanish retailer Zara and a 3,950-square-foot location for The Limited will open at Fashion Valley in Fall 2012.—Andrew Asch
