Balenciaga Goes Beachy

Portfolio.com's Fashion Inc. has learned that Balenciaga will open its third U.S. boutique (outside of West 22nd St. in New York and Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles) in the South Coast Plaza mega mall in Costa Mesa, California, early this fall.

Now, it's not odd for an edgy European highend designer to open a shop there - Marni opened last fall, and there are boutiques from Bottega Veneta, Valentino, Jil Sander, Burberry, etc. But Balenciaga's women's clothes are beyond edgey: the fall collection is severly space age-themed - and Orange County women are known for wearing simple suits and soccer mom uniforms: expensive jeans, shoes and handbags - and t shirts. But Balenciaga already thought of that: the store, opening the third week of September, will be heavy on handbags, shoes, sunglasses - and light on apparel. Need some clothes to go with those bags and shoes? We smell a new concept retail trend.

by Merle Ginsberg

Caption: Balenciaga's Fall/Winter 2008 ready-to-wear runway show in Paris. Photo by Bruno Pellerin/Maxppp /Landov .