LOS ANGELES — The fashion-focused know about Tracey Ross, the directional contemporary boutique in West Hollywood’s Sunset Plaza. They may not be as familiar with the store’s manager-cum-designer Karen Zambos.
But that is changing.
Zambos, an eight-year employee of the store — which draws celebrities such as Tara Reid, Tori Spelling and Robert Downey Jr. — has tinkered with design since her arrival. She broke out this spring with orders from New York-based Scoop and Ron Herman/Fred Segal on Melrose for her Karen Zambos Vintage Couture line.
For a designer, it’s a dream come true to work at a sought-after store. Zambos can test her concepts at the boutique and even devote prime window space to them. “No doubt, the store helps — everybody shops here and I can even guide them to my line,” she said.
And, that’s just one of three projects she’s tackling. There is also the year-old T-shirt line called In-print that made its stamp with political phrases such as “Paris Hilton for President” during the U.S. presidential campaign and her vintage-inspired belt line, Elegantly Waisted, done in partnership with actress and friend Selma Blair.
”Every hour of my day is marked in my calendar,” Zambos said. “This morning I drove downtown to pick up labels and buy broaches. Then I had to be here by noon.…I go home at night and design.”
Those hours aren’t likely to let up soon for the Chicago native, who realized her calling when she turned a pillowcase into a slip to layer a see-through sweater dress 17 years ago. Orders are coming from Intuition in Los Angeles, Belle Gray in suburban Sherman Oak, Crush in Malibu and Distractions in Aspen, Colo. Hot stars Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and Eve are also fans.
Asked why she doesn’t leave retailing to pursue design full-time, Zambos said she’s pacing herself. “Nothing happens overnight and it takes 10 years to become an overnight success,” she said. “If I get a really big order from a store, that would push me to make a decision.”
Not that Ross is worried she may lose a valuable employee.
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“Karen is great…her line is hot,” Ross said.
The buzz around Zambos’ clothing line is its finite availability and unpredictable styles. She uses vintage fabrics, purchased from eBay or favorite haunts, in quantities that vary enough to create as few as three dresses to dozens.
Her latest designs are halter-style tube dresses crafted from colorful cottons and nylon metallics fastened with decorative broaches. Trousers were another hit in cottons and wools, worn low on the hips for a slimming effect on thighs and the backside. The line also offers one-of-a-kind pieces, such as the unfinished taffeta skirt layered over tulle with a metallic ribbon waistband and the gold sheath dress tied with a black sash. Wholesale prices range from $50 to $400. Sequined tops, boy-trouser shorts and tube tops are in the works for late spring and summer.