ShoppingBefore walking through the door of this ivy-covered oasis on Santa Monica Boulevard, you can already sense that something truly inspired is in store. Proprietors Rodney Burns and David Malvaney who have worked in LA’s tip-top high end boutiques and have styled a string of A list celebs threw open the doors of their super luxury boutique in September of last year.
Their sensibilities are insane. The space alone is worthy of praise. Burns claims it’s a creative collaboration. Derek Young assists with the daily inspiration while Danny Gonzalez, formerly of Armani and Leona Reed were instrumental in the design and development, of what looks and feels as much of art installation as it does a high end boutique. The 5,000 square foot loft like space has corners of creativity from actual art to edgy antiquities sparsely yet appropriately placed. It’s what one would expect to see in the tony neighborhood of SOHO, either one, in NY or London, not in LA between West Hollywood and Hollywood. We can count our blessings that it is here in LA for Angelenos to drop in and reflect on high fashion on a regular basis.
Burns passion is definitively for the fashion. Mid sentence he will quickly drop off to question a customer and inquire as to who made their shoes. He doesn’t miss a step or a shoe. He does his sourcing through his influential circles, as most of the designers, clearly the Gods and Goddesses of this nondenominational temple, are close friends of he theirs.
Burns says, “This is a very slow grow. We wanted to do the designers and their lines justice by nurturing what we have. We wanted to create an environment that was worthy of their level…and that level is always rising.” He sang the praises of designer Diederik Comte and Brett Westfall’s Unholy Matrimony. He emphasized that he ones to watch were Dress and Mandy Coons whose recent collections were bananas. Another head turner is Alexander Berardi. According to Burns, “He comes from the New York’s social scene. His sensibilities are very luxe.”
Whatever they’re preaching over there, the choir is getting their message. On any given day there may be a fashion shoot or an event or a few low-key of A list celebs, super star stylists and multi lingual jetsetters dropping in for their divine fashion intervention.
I am truly grateful that Church opened their doors and are spreading the word on their Holy Haute Couture in our Hollywood community. Halleluiah!
By Karen Loftus
