California Apparel News

Brigade

This elegant dress by Vancouver, Canada–based Obakki is one of the top sellers at Brigade. It retails for $495. Brigade owner Kuo Yang said the brand appeals to the woman who loves Diane von Furstenberg. “It’s well-constructed. It has great styling,” he said. It also will satisfy those who like philanthropy. Obakki said 100 percent of its proceeds support nonprofits that fund projects such as drilling for fresh water in the impoverished African nation of South Sudan.

Accessories from Canadian brand Rudsak have been selling well. When cooler weather descends upon Southern California, Yang expects the label’s “Alley Black Double-Breasted Biker Trench” to sell well. It retails for $495.

For dresses, the “Gainsbourg Singlet” dress by Australian brand Maurie & Eve has been selling well. It retails for $167. “It has a Celine look,” said Brigade floor manager Rolland Ryan of the thigh-length dress.

“Trashwhores” shorts from another Aussie brand, Oneteaspoon, retail for $93 and sell well among the under-25 set. These short shorts are provocative, Ryan said, and some buy the shorts in bigger sizes for relative modesty. But they are popular because they do have a risqué appeal.

Stanton James

The leather dress from U.K. brand Muubaa retails for $698. The dress is cinched at the waist and features an asymmetric waist, said Stanton James owner Brooke Price. “It’s a beautiful, seductive dress,” she said.

Drop-crotch pants by the Knomidik by Daniel Patrick label have been selling well, and they retail for $118. “They’re comfortable—so soft. They have style,” Price said. “There are no great men’s clothes that are fashion forward and are reasonably priced.” A lot of women, including Price, wear them, too.

The Vibe Johansson shirt dress retails for $296. It’s a hit for women working at office jobs, Price said. “Girls have a hard time finding pieces for work that represent their style,” she said. “Without a drape, it would be a simple shirt dress. With a drape, it’s got Vogue written all over it.”

Stanton James also wades into red-carpet fashions, and the “Velvet Cowl”gown by Brooklyn, N.Y.–based Suzanne Rae has gained notice. It retails for $1,200. “The gown is floor-length, and it’s meant to drag. The dress was designed to have that effect; to shorten it would cut its potential for elegance,” Price said.

Sixhundred

The “Munktrunk” pants from Australian brand Zanerobe retail for $108 and have been selling well, said Alan Bunao, owner of Sixhundred. “They’re the new skinny jeans,” he said. They have a drop crotch and elastic ankle cuffs, and if you are a bicyclist, it means you don’t have to worry about pants ankles getting caught in wheel spokes.

The “Ziggy Disco Romper” has also sold well at Sixhundred. Los Angeles–based label Gypsy Junkies makes the romper, which retails for $120. “It’s velvet. It’s good for the holidays,” said Jackie Bunao, Alan’s wife. “It’s low cut, so you can dress it up and dress it down.”

A crew-neck floral sweatshirt by U.K. brand Marshall Artist retails for $120. “The floral pattern gives it a casual feel. It’s slightly masculine,” Jackie Bunao said. “Guys don’t mind that look. It’s perfect for the skinny-jeans look.”

Outfitters

T-shirts from new Los Angeles brand Coup Street start at $22, said Ahmad Jouni, manager of Outfitters. “We try to help new brands,” Jouni said. “And a lot of people from the neighborhood come in looking for new brands.”

Los Angeles jeans brand Silence Is Golden also is popular at Outfitters. A pair of these jeans retail for $35, and they come in all colors. “It’s a clean, basic jean without designs on it,” Jouni said.—Andrew Asch