Haute Fashion: Vivienne Westwood Opens First U.S. Location on Melrose

Upon arriving at 8230 Melrose Avenue, I of coarse first noticed the gigantic 9-foot neon pink Vivienne Westwood signature which serves as the store’s exterior signage.  The 10,000-square-foot corporate headquarters is divided into 3 main locales.  While the ground floor has more than 2,000 square feet of retail space, the second floor is dedicated to a very luxurious wholesale showroom. The best part is that the rooftop event area will host several trendy outdoor events in the coming months!

“The collection that we have in the store is equal to the collection that we have in the store in London or in Tokyo or Milan.  We try to have the same merchandise – maybe less coats, because tis’ not so cold here.” – Cristiano Minchio, Chief Executive of Operations of Vivienne Westwood of America

The latest retail addition contains the runway collections of the Gold Label; Ready – to – Wear from the Red Label; contemporary pieces of Anglomania; and even an L.A. limited edition selection of goods including trinkets like a keychain with the store’s address to leather goods and cotton tees. The Melrose store also carries Vivienne Westwood Men and Vivienne Westwood Baby in addition to the tempting handbag wall and inspirational leathers section.

Moving on the serious merch: shoes!  Here, in one single location, houses some of the most impacting trends from the Vivienne Westwood timeline.  Her pirate, bondage, and sack boots all grace the marvelous shelves, amongst the bubblegum – scented, plastic collaboration shoes produced with the Brazilian company, Melissa.  The beloved rocking horse shoe will also be making an appearance any day now! Product prices can range from $20 for Baby to $100,000 for Gold Label.

Vivienne Westwood has and will continue to appeal to many different trendsetters from across the globe over many years with her strict line construction juxtaposed with innovative design details. She established a name for herself in the 1970s through outfitting The Sex Pistols in her infamous King’s Road “SEX”. Then, Westwood set the tone as a trendsetter via the band Adam and Ants in the late 1980s with the ‘pirate’ look.

Now Westwood continues her legacy by way of fashionistas on the streets of Tokyo. The brand now operates more than 300 stores internationally and reportedly brings in more than $44 million in sales per year. Although the Melrose shop is the first U.S. store, the brand intends to expand with additional retail locations around North America. Coming next are stores in New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Costa Mesa, then Vancouver.

Vivienne Westwood Corporate Headquarters is located at 8230 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles.
Open Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.

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