LOS ANGELES — Loree Rodkin has tapped into the local celebrity culture for her clients, and two other high-profile Los Angeles women are doing the same: Retailer Tracey Ross and singer Brigette Romanek have introduced exotic-skin bags.
Weeks after launching her first line, Romanek counted Demi Moore, Sheryl Crowe, Rita Wilson, Alexis Bledel and Courtney Cox-Arquette among those clutching her candy-colored bags.
Just last Christmas, Romanek tried crafting a clutch to give to her friends, including Jacqui Getty and Lisa Eisner. When others began pestering her for their own, she decided it might be worth going into business.
“I wanted something in between the red carpet and casual,” said Romanek, who attends her share of events with husband, music video director Mark Romanek.
Even without him, she’s often photographed because of her personal style, something she cultivated zigzagging around the country with her mother, a backup singer for David Bowie, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones and Luther Vandross.
Romanek also opened for Vandross, the late R&B superstar. Using her maiden name McWilliams, she was under contract with Virgin through most of the Nineties, even cutting a record.
“Bags happen to be one of my favorite things in the whole world,” she said. “But I don’t have a lot of them. So I wanted to create something that wasn’t a throwaway, but around for years.”
She went with B. Romanek for the label, a play on her surname, which sounds like “romantic.”
The five-style collection runs from the $465 lizard clutch to the $12,500 croc weekender bag.
Barneys New York in Beverly Hills and Manhattan sold out of more than two dozen of its first order in less than 10 days, and has since reordered for the two stores and catalogue. After receiving its first delivery in early July, Kirne Zabête in New York reordered twice. Imelda’s in Aspen, Colo., and Tootsies in Houston recently signed on, as well.
For holiday, Romanek is collaborating with jewelry designer Liseanne Frankfurt to embellish her otherwise simple styles. The pair also will launch a limited line of belts at that time.
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Tracey Ross is another person who will carry B. Romanek. Out of her Sunset Plaza shop in West Hollywood, Ross has broken many fashion unknowns over the last 15 years, including the brand Juicy Couture and designer Zac Posen.
Ross has a client base of boldface names, so creating a line of bags that also became an instant hit among shop regulars, such as Gwen Stefani, Eve and Fergie, was a natural step.
“Girls love them because they feel good, they’re sexy, they’re rockin’,” said Ross. “I think they’re just the perfect kind of bag.”
The clutches, totes and hobos are made of python, lizard, croc and other exotic skins and are detailed with horn handles, feathers and jewels. Retail prices run from $1,000 to $2,200.
Scoop in New York and Forty Five Ten in Dallas are among other retailers stocking the collection.
The bags are only Ross’ latest step in turning her name into a lifestyle brand.
In spring 2004, she and her younger brother, Michael Ross, introduced a line of stilettos and boots, retailing for $500 to $1,200 a pair.
“I’ve always given my ideas to others,” said Ross, who continues to be just as devoted to filling her store with fashion-forward, hard-to-get clothes, jewelry, accessories and gifts. “I just figured it was my time to do something for myself.”