For some, denim is a language — especially for Kiya Babzani. Four years ago, Babzani began his denim takeover by opening Self Edge in San Francisco’s Mission district. Last year, he furthered his reach into New York, gaining notoriety as the supreme purveyor of unique, top-quality denim.
Now, they’re marking their territory in L.A. with a new store that opens today. Dedicated to offering sought after vintage style denim, Self Edge has become the go-to retailer for hard-to-find jeans and Japanese-made clothing that’s nearly impossible to find barring a visit to Tokyo. Similar to their existing locations, they’ll offer in-house chainstitch hemming services on their vintage machines, free for jeans purchased there and for a small fee for pre-owned pairs. They’ll also have the same all-star roster of labels, plus one more to be revealed in a few weeks.
Though this is a store made by and meant for the truly denim obsessed, their team of experts would be hard pressed not to make you one of them after just one visit.
Self Edge, 144 N. La Brea Ave. at Beverly Blvd., 323-933-9000. www.selfedge.com
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This must be a first. Oh sure, plenty of retailers have an outlet, usually in a hot desert-like atmosphere where you inevitably ask yourself at the end if the heatstroke was worth it. However, it’s rare for an outlet to literally be sandwiched next to its regular storefront counterpart. But that has just changed thanks to Madison’s new outlet shop.
Gentleman’s Breakfast, one of our absolute favorite vintage spectacle spots that 
I prefer my bodies of water to face the right way. Which is probably why I’ve never been to the Hamptons. But if I ever were to visit New York’s answer to Malibu I’d be sure to stop by Edition, Brooklynite Peter Hananel’s pair of low key, beachside boutiques. With two locations — one in East Hampton, the other in Montauk —the stores are a nod to the younger, cooler, downtown Manhattanites summering at the shore (you know, the ones who aren’t named Muffy and don’t yet carry a Judith Leiber jeweled asparagus).
My black Havaianas flip flops are like my heart and soul. Since buying them years back (and they are only my second pair ever), they have molded to my feet like a big rubber sock. And even though I now live in a place where I can wear them year round, it always feels like summer when I put them on.
