It’s been a long time coming, but Chloé’s Los Angeles outlet has finally opened its doors.
The Melrose Place boutique’s opening was delayed for years due to construction woes, but it looks like it was worth the wait. The new store feels more like a townhouse than a retail outlet with its crisp white walls, landscaped courtyard, huge skylights, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
It might be beautiful, but is this really the time for any new retail venture to succeed? Other Melrose Place boutiques like Marni, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta have never really attracted large crowds. And ever since the financial crisis hit, budget conscious shoppers have been ditching designer outlets for vintage stores. Upscale designer stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks have also left the stand-alone stores in the cold by dramatically slashing the prices of luxury goods.
The odds are against the new store’s success, but Chloé is putting its best foot forward by hosting a star-studded opening party at Milk Studios next month. With style icons like Kate Bosworth and Chloë Sevigny set to attend, it might just provide the exposure Chloé needs in this tough economic climate.
