Filled with unique and unexpected "treasures," boutique shopping offers us a different experience. I love an open and airy expanse whose interior beckons as much as the pieces therein. I ran across this particular store on glamour.com and imagined myself browsing through those exciting accessories. Read on for more about
Des Kohan.
How many times have you been caught checking out another girl and then mentally “pinning” everything she has on? In our new series, straight from the streets of L.A., we visit with the ladies who define that effortlessly cool style that California has put on the fashion map.
In our latest installment, we’ve taken a chic peek inside Desiree Kohan’s namesake boutique, Des Kohan. A gem of a store, Des works overtime collaborating with brands like Juan Carlos Obando and Gabriela Artigas. The store is bubbling over with hard-to-find clothing and accessories (80 percent of the store is exclusive), all scouted by Des and her fashion maven friends in Los Angeles and on her travels. We chatted her up how she got her start, what inspires her, and of course, which pieces we all need to own this spring. (
glamour.com)
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Des in a Splendid T-shirt, Des Kohan pants, Dries van Noten shoes, necklace found in the souk in Istanbul.
The best part of her job: "I love that every day is
different—one day I am meeting with clients and stylists in the store,
the next I am in a design studio working with the very best designers
choosing exclusive pieces for the store. But the best part is being in
the store; you never know who is going to walk in. It is like a big
open living room waiting for old friends to come visit!" |
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Handbags and jewelry, smartly displayed.
How she got her start: "I was a trend forecaster for
Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu while living in Milan, where I met everyone I
needed to know in the fashion industry. Then I designed my own
collection, which was sold at Neiman Marcus, Saks, and other A+ stores
in the U.S. But I realized I wanted to keep my designs exclusive, so I
opened a store. Everyone I needed to know, all my contacts for the
designers I wanted to showcase were already close personal friends, so
the rest is history." |
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Bare monogram rings, they can be engraved through the website.
What she loves most about working in the fashion industry:
"I love the traveling—it kind of feels like being "on tour" but for the
fashion industry. You see the same people every season and just pick up
where you left off. The events and exhibitions during Paris Fashion
Week top the charts! It is a mad rush of energy." |
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In a necklace she found while at Istanbul Fashion Week, when she was shopping in the souk.
The best-selling item in the store: "Our Bare
14-karat-gold twinkle rings! They make great gifts, and they're nice
stacked in between the rings you already own. They're perfect rings for
styling!" |
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Here they are, how cute!
For spring, she's most excited about...: "The Dusan
event we are having early May in the store. We are having a private
sit-down dinner afterward for journalists and stylists. Events in the
store are always fun and high-energy, but even more than that is
supporting Dusan and welcoming him and his team to L.A." |
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Dusan shirts, perfectly displayed.
How she finds new designers for the store: "I have
scouts in Europe and New York that look for designers for me. I also
count on my friends to be my eyes and ears; some of the best designers
came to me via friends. The Rodarte sisters years ago called me to tell
me that they found the best designer for me, and it was a match made in
heaven."
What she's excited to wear this spring: "I love long dresses for spring, preferably white with a bold bright shoe and or belt." |
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Morgan Jean necklaces, Art Forms in Nature by Ernst Haeckel book.
The one thing every woman must have in their wardrobe:
"I always try to convey to my clients the importance of buying one
great piece that you invest in rather than five T-shirts and one simple
top or dress. Something that works for any occasion day to night. I
always feel you need to have a standout pair of pants, preferably in a
bold color and European cut. That way you can dress it down with a gray
T-shirt for a casual day or dressed up with color or silk on top." |
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194T stripe T-shirts and sweatshirts
The best purchase she's ever made: "A Hussein
Chalayan black overcoat. It kind of looks like a wool gown. I get
stopped in the streets of Paris every time I wear it."
Her favorite jeans: "If you can believe it, up until
six months ago I never even wore jeans because we don't carry denim. So
I wear what my friends in the industry send me. At the moment I am
wearing R13." |
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In her R13 jean, with jewelry by Gabriela Artigas, Nancy Newberg, and Bare. Vintage bumble bee ring.
Her favorite pair of shoes: "My favorite flats are my
Alaia suede black ones with little balls on them that I bought them five
years ago, and they are still going strong! My favorite heels to work
in are Dries van Noten. He always designs comfortable shoes. My clients
laugh at me and call my Dries van Noten shoes my "shop shoes." |
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Here she is, in her Dries "shop shoes"!
If you can't make it into the store, you can shop all of Des Kohan's amazing finds on the website. |
