name: Lisa Kline
occupation: Owner of Lisa Kline boutiques
hometown: Encino, California (the Valley)
homebase: Malibu - but I also have an apartment
in Hollywood that I stay at a couple times a week
what first drew you into fashion and how old were you? At about age 9, I realized that I wanted to own my own store. But ever since I was a little girl I loved clothes and had a knack for fashion and style, it's very innate for me.
in 1995, you were the pioneer of transforming Robertson Boulevard into what is now the "It" girl's shopping mecca. what was so special about Robertson Boulevard back then?
Robertson was a quaint and beautiful tree lined street. It was mellow with a great energy that I was drawn to immediately. Even though it wasn't trendy, I could sense its burgeoning appeal. My dad thought I was crazy to open a fashion retail store in a design district, but I had a feel about the street. Once I opened my store, others followed and since then has transformed from a quiet designer's street to an upscale shopping haven with swarming locals, visitors and paparazzi.
what are three major ingredients to being business savvy in the fashion industry?
1. Passion and a drive to work
2. Sense of style. You have to be unique and eclectic to stand out.
3. Confident and creative
how important are celebrities to your business?
Celebrities are really important in driving my business and contribute to the success that my store has achieved. The evolution of the celebrity has been integral to my business especially because of my stores are in Los Angeles and the paparazzi line the street. When the tabloids publish a photo with a celebrity wearing an item that can be found in my stores, or they snap photos of a celebrity in my stores, it creates more buzz and brings more shoppers. I've always dressed celebrities since the inception of the store. Not only do I sell to individual celebrities, but I dress them for events, stylists coome and pick clothing out for their clients and I've work ed with wardrobe supervisors from Gossip Girl, Beverly Hills 90210, Friends and other popular shows.
when Samantha Jones wore the Lisa Kline mudflap girl logo on Sex and the City everyone wanted that necklace. that gave you such a wider audience and created such an iconic craze just having it on the show. how did such a brand presence help sales?
I designed that logo to create a brand and it worked. People on both east and west coasts associate the Mudflap girl with Lisa Kline. I picked the particular image because of its sexiness and appeal to both men and women. Men like sexy women and I love to dress women to be sexy, so it works for everyone!
are you ever going to venture east?
I recently revamped the Lisa Kline website, where we have a lot of east coast customers. Honestly, it's so hard to even run a store in my own backyard that I have no plans yet. However my store seems to be a destination spot and I am getting a ton of east coast clientele.
what are the staples for every Californian girl to have in her wardrobe?
Hudson jeans and an L.A. tank like C&C or LnA.
what do you look for in a designer's collection?
I love when designers really make their pieces stand out by paying attention to details. I love a mix of trims, tons of color and mix fabrics. Grommets, lace, buttons, etc...are things that make an item stand out. Feminine and sexy are what draws me and what I find sells the best.
what are your favorite L.A. brunch and dinner spots?
The Ivy on Robertson or Jeoffries in Malibu for brunch and Dan Tanas for dinner.
what is your bag and what's in it?
Right now I am using Morgan Okley patent leather bag with gold buckles. Inside I have my Louis Vuitton wallet, business cards, sunglasses, keys, camera, baby wipes for my kids, Purell, gum, orders, pens, my checkbook, receipts, cell phone and blue tooth.
Yesterday, Fashion for Life 2008 in support of Friendly House (an L.A. non-profit residential house for women in recovery from alcohol/drug abuse) presented Lisa Kline with a Vision Award for all her efforts, dedication and hard work have helped women discover a fashion trend fit for L.A.'s lifestyle.
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