L.A. boutique Satine moves to bigger digs on 3rd Street

Satine has expanded its retail presence on 3rd Street in Los Angeles, moving to a larger location across from the original storefront.

The new store, housed in a former restaurant, opened Friday. It's nearly 4,000 square feet -- three times the size of the former space. Proprietor Jeannie Lee says Satine simply "outgrew" its shell: "The racks were way too packed." The new boutique adds more changing rooms along with eight more parking spaces in the back.

Kimberly Ovitz trunk show at Satine

Two seasons into designing her eponymous line, Kimberly Ovitz (daughter of CAA founder and former Disney President Michael Ovitz) is having her first trunk show Thursday afternoon at Satine. 

Her collection, which debuted for spring '09, is inspired by her upbringing as an avid equestrian and her love of art. The line is made up entirely of black and white pieces such as a blousy, robe-like maxi dress, a white mini dress with a circular back cutout and an oversized, black drawstring hoodie.

In addition to the spring line, Ovitz’s fall '09 line will be available for purchase from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday.  Afterward, grab some Champagne and meet the designer from 5 to 7 p.m.

This event is open to the public.

Kimberly Ovitz Trunk show, Thursday, March 12, at Satine, 8117 W. 3rd St., L.A. 90048

Photos: Looks from Ovitz's spring '09 line. Credit: Kimberly Ovitz

Satine's recession friendly T-shirt line launches at Forever 21

There’s never a shortage of graphic tees in L.A., but with this dismal economy and unseasonably warm weather, it’s time for a fresh crop of fun, affordable styles.

Satine owner Jeannie Lee has created a line of inexpensive T-shirts and tank tops for $12 to $14.50, called Shibuya Mon Amour, which hit Forever 21 online this Friday. The prices are a far cry from the stock of Alexander Wang, Balenciaga and Stella McCartney she sells in her store, but we’ve got to have some lower-priced pieces to mix in and make our designer stuff look fresh again, right?

The Shibuya Mon Amour shirts are cute, with simple nature inspired graphics such as eagles, owls or deer on the front. I think they’d look best jazzed up under a sharp blazer and layers of chunky necklaces.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Above: A few styles from Shibua Mon Amour. Credit: Jeannie Lee

Satine strides into '09

Despite so many L.A. boutiques shutting their doors these days, West 3rd Street shop Satine seems to be doing pretty well.  Owners Jeannie Lee and Virginia Pereira have hosted some of the year’s hottest designer soirees including Jason Wu and Alexander Wang in the store, and they’ve also got their own design projects.

They’re designing the new uniforms for the Palihouse locations in West Hollywood and Hollywood. The uniforms, which Pereira describes as “prep school punk” will hit the hotel staff in April.

Lee and Pereira also have a new intimates line called Bacini (Italian for “little kisses”), which will be in their own store and Anthropologie in a few days. The collection of bralettes, panties and knickers are what Pereira describes as “sexy, but not provocative. It’s not for a girl who wears it to get a man to pay her rent. It’s for a girl who pays her own rent.”

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Jason Wu wows Hollywood ... and Washington

Hot off the results of the Vogue Fashion Fund awards, first-time nominee Jason Wu flew to L.A. to show his Spring 2009 line to media, celebrities and socialites. Wu may not have won the award (Alexander Wang and Vena Cava took home the prize), but he certainly has a following of starlets and most impressively, Michelle Obama -- who recently purchased four dresses from Wu’s spring collection.  She was introduced to his line by Vogue Editor at Large Andre Leon Talley, who has been styling the soon-to-be first family.

Lucy Liu hosted Tuesday night’s event in Wu’s honor at Satine.  Erika Christensen, Kate Mara, China Chow and Rachel Zoe all turned out to greet the 26-year-old and comb through racks filled with his collection. Also there was "Mad Men’s" January Jones wearing a beige and black fitted dress by Wu. “I love his dresses because they’re tailored and polished,” the actress said. But not as prim as the costumes and cumbersome underpinnings she wears on her hit TV show. “Oh no! This dress doesn’t have a corset built into it. I’d rather have a belly than a corset.”

Wu mingled at the boutique before heading off to the Palihouse to have an intimate dinner with about 20 guests. I caught up with Wu in the calmer, latter half of the evening and found out about his interesting background and start in fashion, which was surprisingly sparked during a bout of boredom in boarding school. 

Wu was born in Taiwan, moved to Vancouver, Canada, at age 9, attended boarding school in Connecticut, then design school at Parsons in New York. It was in boarding school that he filled his downtime with a natural talent for design and started freelancing for toy company Integrity Toys.  At 16, he developed the Jason Wu doll -- a Barbie-esque figurine that Wu designed from head to toe, hair and makeup and of course, clothes. The dolls have become collector items, selling at FAO Schwarz, and this year he is celebrating his 10th anniversary as a doll designer. That moment of boredom has paid off. Wu was able to start his ready-to-wear line with the earnings made from sales of his doll line.

He now dresses living dolls. “I love working with young actresses who are just on the verge,” says Wu.  “It’s always good to have a muse.” 

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Jason Wu and January Jones. Credit: Frank Micelotta / Getty Images