Galia Lahav Couture West Coast Flagship store opens in Los Angeles
Written By Ariel Paz
February 1, 2016
Celebrities, stylists, fashion tastemakers and members of the media flocked to 169 N. La Brea Avenue for the Jan. 28th opening of Galia Lahav Couture’s Los Angeles store, and it was truly an evening to remember!
Galia Lahav herself was there along with daughter Osnat and designer Sharon Sever to greet guests that included actresses Angela Bassett, Moran Atias, and Bar Paly, top stylists, and representatives from top bridal magazines as models showed off exquisite gowns from the bridal and evening collections as guests
enjoyed the free-flowing food and spirits and upbeat party music by DJ Lindsay Luv.
A family business for many years, Galia’s big L.A. night was truly the ultimate mix of luxury, joy, family and style!
BELLA LOS ANGELES
Beautifully decorated with slate-blue walls, cathedral ceilings, comfortable leather furniture, oversize mirrors and recessed and spotlight lighting to perfectly showcase the gowns, the two-story store is elegant, inviting and the height of Hollywood glamour. “We love it. It’s warm and it’s chic and very unique, like our couture dresses,” said Osnat Lahav. “It’s the perfect spot.”
“It’s the first Galia Lahav store that carries our name, so it’s a great honor, it means a lot,” added Sharon Sever. “It means that we made it!”
“We’re just excited to be here and to be partnered with Galia. We believe so strongly in her and the brand and the family behind it,” said Brielle Fisher, who co-owns the store with Marlis Fyke, proprietor of The White Dress in Corona De Mar, California that also carries the Galia Lahav line.
...Galia Lahav has undoubtedly cemented their reputation as a top wedding dress designer on a global scale, with a strong foothold in the American bridal market with the opening of their flagship store in Los Angeles.
STRICTLY WEDDINGS
Fisher explained that they’d considered several locations. “We’re not a traditional brand and we didn’t want to be that cookie-cutter, all white store,” she said. At 5760 square feet, the chosen space, a former furniture store, was spacious and had a cool, edgy, elegant vibe. Of course, they had to do a top to bottom remodel, adding interior walls, the second floor, a kitchen, VIP fitting rooms and an alteration atelier so all custom fittings can be done on-site.
“The space speaks for itself. It’s got such a grand entrance and the gowns really stand out. I think we’ll get more of that unique bride who’s willing to go that extra step for over-the-top fashion,” Fisher said. “The L.A. customer has a little bit more high fashion sense and is a little more risky.”
The body-conscious L.A. bride will love Galia Lahav’s sheer styles that plunge deeply in front and back, Fisher believes. “She wants something sexy, something that hugs her figure. She’s looking to wow her guests. She doesn’t want something that’s everywhere else.”
That’s especially true of celebrities, whether they’re shopping for a wedding gown or a showstopper for the red carpet. An Olympic figure skater will be married in a Galia Lahav gown, and so will a reality TV bride, for her Valentine’s Day wedding. In the midst of awards season, nominees, presenters and performers are reserving gowns from the Black Pearl evening wear collection for the Grammys and the Academy Awards.
Michelle Woodward, the PR liaison who handles celebrities and media for the brand, explains why celebrities and Galia Lahav gowns are a perfect match. “If you’re a celebrity, your #1 goal on the red carpet is to stop everybody and to have every lens on you, and this is the dress that will do that.”
But she’s quick to add that everyone will be treated like a celebrity at the store. “For the brides that are coming here, it’s a once in a lifetime experience for them, and we treat them in a luxurious way.”
Osnat Lahav agrees. “I think all the celebrities will want our sexy dresses,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons we opened in L.A.”
As for further expansion, they’re in no rush. “Everything we do is custom made so it’s scary to expand too much because you want to maintain the quality,” explained Sharon Sever. “We’re taking it slowly,” Osnat Lahav concurred. “We’re selling all around the world now. We want to become an established company everywhere.”