Elie Tahari*

Newport Beach, California

At the Fashion Island location, this New York-based clothing brand creates an inviting atmosphere by placing mid-century design elements into an updated setting. The result feels more like a luxury home than a retail boutique. Period sunburst mirrors, capiz shell pendants, and mod floor lamps lend a contemporary aura. Bleached hardwood floors accented with natural area rugs further the high-end residential aesthetic. Classic modern furniture pieces in neutral tones set a mood of residential familiarity in the fitting lounge. Blackened-steel hang bars hover in front of Venetian-plastered walls, framing the clothing in a simple, yet elegant composition. Floor-to-ceiling displays of extra clear glass boxes dazzle as bags and mannequins appear to float weightlessly in mid air.

* Gruen Associates is the Executive Architect.