Contemporary Clothing Store Opens on Sunset

Margano, a contemporary clothing store offering moderate prices, opened last Saturday at 15228 Sunset Blvd., next to Philips French Cleaners. Owner Larissa Love, who also has a boutique shop on Montana and 11th Street in Santa Monica, will carry dresses, skirts, shirts, shoes and accessories. ‘I focus on basics,’ she said. Love has wanted to open a store in Pacific Palisades for a while”I love the people here,’ she said, ‘and the vibe of the community’–but was waiting for the right opportunity. When the owners of Philips, who are friends, decided to downsize, Love seized the opportunity. ‘It just came up that way,’ she said. ‘It was meant to be.’ Although the interior of the store is completely finished, Love is still waiting for furniture for a front sitting area, her first shipment of shoes and additional shipments of clothing. ‘I wanted to bring in good-quality clothes for good prices,’ said Love, who has priced the most expensive items in her stock at between $100 and $125. A basic yoga pant retails for $32, tank tops range in price from $12 to $20 and shoes will retail for $38 to $68. Love has chosen styles that accommodate mothers and daughters. Her long skirts might be more appealing to the older generation, while her mini-skirts are geared towards the younger crowd. In addition to clothes, she has a large selection of hair accessories, including jeweled bobby pins, clasps, and combs. She also plans to give students with ID cards a 10-percent discount. With so many high-end clothing stores in the Palisades, Love opted to go into a lower price range and give local shoppers more choices. ‘I didn’t want to compete with anyone,’ she said. ‘My neighbors should be happy because I’m not going head to head with any of them. I like everyone to be happy’I like a serene environment.’ In the 1990s, Love had a Palisades pet store, Bel-Air Pet 2 Pat, which was located just up the block, next to Kay ‘n’ Dave’s Cantina. She eventually closed the store because she was going to college at the same time and the demands were too high. In addition, she had a tough time parting with the pets. ‘Every time I sold a pet, I cried,’ she said. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with a degree in business and art history, Love went into fashion. She still loves animals and designs high-end pet beds, pet handbags/carriers and matching outfits. That are all made in the United States. Samples will be available at her store and available for order. Initially, Love and her mother or sister will be in Margano to welcome customers. ‘I like my clients to feel as if they belong to a family,’ said Love, who added that the response from women who have stopped in the store so far has been positive and that many are pleased with the affordability of her clothing. In addition, she will also offer a gift-wrapping business. Love plans to keep her shop on Montana, which leaves little free time for her personal life. ‘I’m an aunt of three and a mom of a Chihuahua,’ she observed. Margano is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Telephone: (310) 454-7021.