LA Story visits the grand opening party of American RAG in Newport Beach– to celebrate the store opening, talk with CEO Mark Werts and go shopping!
One of the coolest shopping venues in So. California is Fashion Island in Newport Beach. With the feel of ocean breezes (and from some locations, a view of the ocean), you know you are "someplace else" when you are at Fashion Island.
American Rag et cie, is a new store at Fashion Island that also gives you that feeling of having been on a trip– of being "somewhere else" just by visiting the store. This HUGE store is light, bright, white yet full of colors and a relaxed ambience and sales people that actually KNOW what they are talking about!! (amazing that!)
With an eclectic mix of high end designers as well as highly edited vintage clothing for men and women, it’s an amazing store where you can spend just a little (even on jewelry) or a ton on brand names like Stella McCartney, Elle McPherson Intimates, shoes from a variety of designers from Isabella Fiore to funked out slip on canvas casuals. It’s an interesting mix because Werts is all about creating a lifestyle brand. It’s not about selling clothing or a bowl.. it’s about selling a style, a way of life.
Listen to Werts talk about why he chose the OC over other more celebrity laden locales. Smart guy, he knows that Orange County has serious dinero floating around and also loves the good life (OC’s South Coast Plaza is the highest dollar per square foot mall in the US). People in the OC appreciate fine things and aren’t afraid to spend money on it and American Rag is essentially a one-stop shop.
FYI: the photos shown are not from Fashion Island as those weren’t available at the time. As soon as I get them, I will replace them. These are photos from the La Brea store which carries the same product mix
Want to buy some beautiful pillows or glasses or linens? No need to cover the mall, Werts has cherry-picked the best from around the globe.
The clothing is just as selective and the dinnerware, glassware, linens, towels and even the soaps and fragrances are just as eclectic and unique.
It’s a fun place to hang and if you can stop by for a glass of champagne, it might make buring a hole in that plastic card a little less painful, but you will know you bought something phenomenal. Even the music is carefully selected and you can buy a very slim selection of the most cutting edge music including American Rag et cie compilations of electronic music that’s very very easy to listen (or dance) to.. definitely something I play in my car a lot!
American Rag et cie— a lifestyle that’s totally So. Calif– yet global as he has stores in the land down under, Japan, San Francisco and all over.
Check out the podcast, listen to what Mark Werts has to say. Thank you to Mark Werts, the American Rag staff at Fashion Island as well as Jane Gillespie and all of the Irvine Company staff members who participated in this grand opening party. It was one of the best parties of the season!
Stevie Wilson
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