As A’maree’s turns 50, we spotlight seven boutiques defining California style
Words by MAX BERLINGER and ELIZABETH VARNELL
newport beach
A’maree’s
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, A’MAREE’s is a longtime destination for the Orange County elite, offering up a mix of Europe’s most sought-after eveningwear (Alaïa, Dries Van Noten) alongside an edit of the very best homegrown California brands such as The Elder Statesman cashmere and jewelry from Spinelli Kilcollin and Irene Neuwirth. Housed behind soaring windows that look onto the Newport Beach harbor, the sun-dappled water casts an all-day glow within that makes for an unmatchable shopping experience. “The boutique functions as a cultural hub,” says Dawn Klohs, who runs the shop with her sister, Denise Schaefer. “We host art exhibitions, designer trunk shows, and philanthropic events, reinforcing our role as a gathering place for creative minds and tastemakers. We approach fashion the way one might collect art — thoughtfully, intuitively, and with a long view.” The siblings, who inherited the business from their mother, cater not to a singular customer but rather a lifestyle of “freedom and authenticity.” To that end, this spring they are excited to stock The Row’s buzzy Margaux top-handle bag in both leather and casual canvas. “It’s one of those pieces we’re endlessly inspired by,” Schaefer says. “That balance of desire and rarity is very much part of what excites us: carrying pieces that feel special, considered, and truly covetable.” 2241 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949-642-4423; amarees.com. M.B.
“We approach fashion the way one might collect art —thoughtfully, intuitively.”
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los angeles
Just One Eye
At the airy temple of high fashion JUST ONE EYE, customers have come to expect a “curation from the avant-garde,” 
says founder Paola Russo. Her keen selection services her loyal Angelenos, many of whom she met in her former life as the fashion director of Maxfield by appealing to their “laid-back attitude,” but she warns it’s not to be mistaken for laziness. “There’s passion,” she says, “for wellness, for the arts, and for fashion most of all.” Art and fashion are what make the boutique so appealing. Upon entering the gallery-like space (which boasts a hair salon and fitness studio), you are confronted by a twisted John Chamberlain sculpture and a giant Damien Hirst cherry blossom painting. The setting has attracted international brands — including Giorgio Armani and Yohji Yamato in recent years — that call the store their West Coast home for exclusive collections. (Dario Vitale’s one and only collection for Versace, at right, arrives this season.) This spring, Russo is eyeing the bohemian allure of faded jeans and garment-dyed sweatshirts from local brand Antik Denim: “It’s hip and funky without trying too hard.” She’s also excited about the plush cashmere in rich colors and prints from God’s True Cashmere, cofounded by Brad Pitt. 915 N. Sycamore Ave., L.A., 323-969-9129; justoneeye.com. M.B.
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san francisco
Sherri McMullen
Intentionality, ease, freedom — these principles guide SHERRI McMULLEN when selecting pieces for her self-named boutique. “There’s an openness to mixing worlds: heritage craftsmanship with modern silhouettes, luxury with everyday wear, global designers with a distinctly West Coast sensibility. It’s about dressing for a full life,” she says. McMullen opened her Oakland shop nearly two decades ago and moved to Presidio Heights in 2024. In a purple-fronted store with large windows she welcomes passersby into the elegant space that includes skylights, moldings, and large artworks. Each season is about perfecting the mix. “We’re known for blending established luxury designers, like Proenza Schouler, with emerging and often underrepresented talents such as Zankov and Diotima (at right). This creates an assortment that you can’t easily find elsewhere,” she says. Championing diverse voices is a key tenet: “I was one of the first retailers to carry several designers who are now highly celebrated. This gives my boutique a distinctive point of view rooted in representation and storytelling.” This season, she’s excited about soft suiting from Kulson, which she pairs with a halter vest from Heirlome, both emerging, female-founded designers. “There’s an ease and sensuality to these pieces that will really resonate.” 3687 Sacramento St., S.F., 415-754-5310; shopmcmullen.com. M.B.
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St. Helena
Elyse Walker
“When you live in a place that is warm or hot 10 months a year, that will impact your wardrobe choices,” says ELYSE WALKER, owner of the eponymous boutique she founded in 1999, which now has locations in Napa, Newport Beach, Calabasas, and, soon to rise from the ashes, the Palisades. Walker prides herself on a personal touch. The brick-clad building on Napa’s Main Street has a footfall made of locals and visitors who come for the wine but stick around for her wares. “Our stylists work to understand their lifestyles and then help create looks that will have them feeling confident,” she says. The store stocks a wide range of clothes ideal for romantic nights out at The French Laundry or languid afternoons sipping Sauv Blanc at a tasting room. For spring, that translates into thonged sandals from Alaïa (heeled), Christopher Esber (jelly), and Gianvito Rossi (woven). “No matter the occasion, we have the perfect sandal,” she says. Of the perennial cool Miu Miu (at right), she’s bringing in a summer-ready crocheted dress and a sporty-chic windbreaker in the very on-trend color, lemon yellow, which her shoppers “can’t get enough of.” 1381 Main St., St. Helena, 707-968-6105; elysewalker.com. M.B.
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san francisco
MAC
“In San Francisco, we are a clothing-optional town, so that opens your options a lot,” says Ben Ospital. He is a co-owner of Modern Appealing Clothing (known as MAC) in Hayes Valley with his sister, Chris. For more than 40 years, the duo has been known for personal service and mix of eccentric and utilitarian clothes. And although the techies may have replaced the hippies over the years, the knowledgeable Ospitals cater to a still-vibrant scene of kooks, artists, and outsiders who remain the beating heart of the city. “We live in an area that honors a life near nature, culture, and food,” Ben says. The pair tries to provide a “sense of discovery” upon entering the store. That translates to Belgian and Japanese labels (Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Dries Van Noten) plus leather shoes from 150-year-old Sanders in the UK and suede boat shoes from Italy’s Marsèll. Cecilie Bahnsen’s modern take on evening clothing was chosen because “her couture-like dresses and beaded sneakers are meant to be worn with her North Face jacket designs — anytime, anywhere,” Chris says. For men, they’re thrilled to stock Sacai out of Japan — everything from designer Chitose Abe’s collaboration with Carhart to her main line, which is workwear and outdoor classics spliced and diced with avant-garde flair. 387 Grove St., S.F., 415-863-3011; macmodernappealingclothing.com. M.B.
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montecito
Wunderkind
“It’s rare to have the owner personally choose every item in the store from more than a hundred brands,” says Philip Manghisi, proprietor of the plush, creamy shop WUNDERKIND, which is tucked into Montecito’s picturesque Upper Village. “Montecito is a monochromatic dream. Most clients don’t love clothing that screams; they prefer pieces that whisper.” Manghisi, who worked at Jeffrey New York before striking out on his own on the West Coast (with two stores in Montecito plus an outpost in Scottsdale, Ariz.), says “comfort is key” when it comes to pulling together the selection for denizens of this tony beach enclave. “California style is a bit more laid-back than East Coast style — the clothing tends to be more unstructured and unfussy, especially in Santa Barbara and Montecito.” Looks lean toward dreamy femininity (Chloé, Hellessy, Christopher John Rogers) or sleek urbanity (Khaite, Savette bags), catering to the local celeb-heavy clientele. Expect a lot of matching sets this spring, which Manghisi says can be styled together or on their own. He’s excited to carry Phoebe Philo’s Pot Cabas Tote in both toffee suede and black leather. “I’ve been a huge fan for years, and this bag captures everything I love about her design sensibility.” Keep an eye out for the Chloé Kick Logo Low-Top Sneakers. “The ballerina sneaker is a big trend right now, and this version strikes the perfect balance,” he says. “It’s chic, it’s comfortable, and it goes with anything.” 525 San Ysidro Rd., Montecito, 805-590-9007; shopwunderkind.com. M.B.
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los angeles
Dover Street Market
The brainchild of Rei Kawakubo and Adrian Joffe and home to Comme des Garçons, DOVER STREET MARKET is launching a private label collection helmed by Noir’s Kei Ninomiya, with other creators and projects envisioned for seasons ahead. Ninomiya, known for his intricately gathered avant-garde designs, is paring back his aesthetic for the launch of DSM label. He has created separates for women and men, a mix of branded team gear that’s chic, yet also designed for daily use. There are letterman sweaters and vests, striped sweats, skirts, ties, blazers with hoodies, roomy overalls, and other wardrobe building blocks with unique silhouettes that are anything but basic. The idea is to build on the mix carried at the six worldwide boutiques, filling out various essential categories with staples from visionaries. 608 Imperial St., L.A., 310-427-7610; losangeles.doverstreetmarket.com. E.V.
Feature image: Amaree’s in Newport Beach. PHOTO: Ryan Northrup.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of C Magazine.
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