Louis Vuitton celebrates the opening of new beachside boutique

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The excitement surrounding Santa Monica Place mall was palpable Thursday night as a gaggle of glamorous guests filed into the newly opened Louis Vuitton boutique to celebrate the brand’s first Westside location. Many people showed their love for the brand by wearing some of Louis Vuitton’s most statement-making pieces. Cameron Silver arrived in a marigold blazer and matching shorts, a yellow- and gray-striped scarf, two-tone sneakers and gold sunglasses all by LV. And one woman accessorized her black cocktail dress with sequin Louis Vuitton pumps from the winter 2010 collection, a couple layers of fleur and crown pendants, while toting a purple sequin Rococo pouch from the evening bag line.

It was a true celebration of the house and the highly anticipated 3,200-square-foot beachside location which carries men’s and women’s bags, shoes and accessories. “We’ve been looking forward to opening a store on the Westside, but just needed the right environment,” said Charles Delapalme, senior vice president of Louis Vuitton’s western region stores. And though it’s just been open two weeks, he says that customers have been gravitating toward the store’s beach-friendly items such as sunglasses and the light gray- and ivory-checked Damier Azure collection that women can carry from the beach to dinner.

The beach theme carried right on through to the after-party, which was held at the Annenberg beach house right off PCH. Stylish celebrities such as Kristen Bell, Serena Williams, Dita von Teese, Gabrielle Reese, Rachel Zoe and Eva Amurri (the latter three ladies acted as hosts for the event, which benefited Heal the Bay), mingled around a decadent table of lobster tails and oysters as well as on the house’s back deck that overlooked the ocean. A percussion band dressed in beachy whites jammed outside, illuminated by Louis Vuitton logos projected on the wall behind them.

It was truly a “Vuitton goes to the beach” affair, lavish, upbeat but relaxed California-style and full of the brands’s top fans.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Middle, Charles Delapalme and Serena Williams

Bottom, Sofia Vergara and Molly Simms