For some, denim is a language. Especially for Kiya Babzani. Four years ago, Babzani began his national 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, he’s ventured into L.A. with a new store opening today on La Brea. 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. —Sydney Pfaff

Self Edge, 144 N. La Brea Ave. at Beverly Blvd., 323-933-9000. www.selfedge.com

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Last week we reported that International Playground, the multinational-focused boutique out of New York’s Lower East Side, is opening in the old Mohawk General Store space in Echo Park. And owners Johnny Pizzolato and Virginia Craddock are officially saying hello to their new neighborhood with a party on Thursday night featuring complimentary Bandit wine, treats from Babycakes Bakery and 20 percent off all purchases. But Style Section L.A. readers get 25 percent off  through August 21st, just by mentioning our name. No need to thank us, it’s all in a days work.

Thursday, August 12. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 1102 Mohawk St., Los Angeles. internationalplayground.com

Photo: STUDY dress, $160. internationalplayground.com

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Talk about a crowd. If opening day at the new Santa Monica Place is any indication, people are shopping. If you’re in the mood for some retail therapy of your own, here is our list of opening day/weekend activities that are worth checking out. And a full list of the mall retailers can be found here.

Have you guys stopped by the mall yet? What do you think?

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Mohawk General Store, the awesome Echo Park boutique owned by Generic Surplus co-owner Kevin Carney and his wife, Bo, has officially moved to a new location at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake. But like good neighbors should, they found a suitable new tenant before leaving.

New York-based International Playground will be moving in on August 12. And they’re bringing their stable of up-and-coming design talent from across the globe.

International Playground’s John Pizzolato was at the Designers & Agents trade show with partner Virginia Craddock earlier this summer, where they ran into the Carneys and discussed the plusses of retailing in L.A. A couple weeks ago, Pizzolato got a phone call from Kevin asking if he was interested in opening in their old location. And though it was, uh, kind of short notice, it didn’t take much for him and Craddock to make a snap decision to expand.

“We just kind of looked at each other and thought, ‘yeah,’” Pizzolato said from outside his new digs, where he and Craddock were busy building out their new store over the weekend.

Like their location on Manhattan’s lower East side, the new space will also act as a wholesale showroom for many of the underground, conceptual brands they carry at retail. Expect to find pieces from Swedish designer Helena Fredriksson, Denmark’s Vibe Johansson and Russian-born Yelena Konovalova’s Cut-it-Out label. There’s also great work bags from New York brand Ernest Alexander, jewelry by Martine Ali and — not to be missed — a series of garment cages by Chromat, a line founded by an urban planner and an architect.

“And of course we’re going to get some L.A. designers in, too,” Pizzolato assured. And the duo is also busy trying to pay their good real estate fortune forward by finding a fellow New York friend to move into the old Sirens & Sailors space next door.

Hey, the more the merrier.

1102 Mohawk St., Los Angeles. internationalplayground.com

Photo: International Playground owners John Pizzolato, left, and Virginia Craddock

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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.

Located in the rear building of the boutique, Madison outlet is now home to past seasons’ merchandise from designers such as Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander Wang, Elizabeth & James, and many more — all at 50 – 80 percent off retail prices. The outlet carries merchandise consolidated from all the Madison boutiques, which are known for carrying an extensive collection of carefully selected designer clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Outlet shopping without the killer desert heat? Yes, please.

Madison Melrose: 8115 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 651-3662. Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

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Like something Steve Martin would say, the new look books are here! The new look books are here! And can you say obsessed? We just got Ever’s new holiday look book featuring the local label’s standard clean, cool wardrobe staples. And things are looking even more polished than usual. We want it all. Like, now. Fellow fans should start gearing up for Ever’s fourth freestanding retail store, opening at the renovated Santa Monica Place Mall on August 6. But for those impatient shoppers left drooling over the clothes in the below photos, you can get your Ever fix at the brand’s store on Melrose (The holiday line won’t be there for a bit. But even though it’s a bit more rugged, their fall stuff is just as good —we promise).

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Gentleman’s Breakfast, one of our absolute favorite vintage spectacle spots that we wrote about in April, is hosting a fun promotion every Sunday in July — buy a pair of shades, go home with a cowboy hat. Simple, silly and oh-so-fun. The shop’s stellar selection of rare, vintage sunglasses is worth checking out whether you’re yearning for a cowboy hat or not. Yee haw.

1101 Mohawk St., Los Angeles. (323) 306-6766. Tuesday through Saturday noon to 7 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.; Monday by appointment. Gentsbreakfast.blogspot.com

Photo: Owner Van de la Plante enjoying a nice little Cowboy Hat Sunday with a buddy on the stoop of his shop.

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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 Southampton, 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).

Edition’s well-curated collection of breezy, casual gear will appease both sexes with labels including Band of Outsiders, Steven Alan and Unis, along with a stellar selection of shades from Selima Optique. And for those who prefer their Hamptons time to be spent, you know, at the beach, 28 year-old Hananel has sourced surf boards and an offering of reading material that includes Brett Easton Ellis novels and copies of Monocle Magazine. Rumor also has it that Society for Rational Dress designer Corinne Grassini is designing the uniforms at the Solé East Resort, where Edition’s Montauk outpost is located. Even more reason to check it out.

This is all good news for East coasters. But what about we-with-the-better-sunsets?

“I’m definitely looking at spaces in L.A.,” Hananel says.

We’re waiting with baited breath.

Edition Southampton, 38A Jobs Ln., Southampton, NY and Edition Montauk at the Solé East Resort, 90 Second House Rd., Montauk, NY. editionnewyork.com

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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.

And now, those hoping to get that same warm, fuzzy flip flop feeling are in luck. The Brazilian sandal maker has opened its very first U.S. store in Huntington Beach, featuring 150 styles and a station where budding Brian Atwoods can customize their own pairs.

I’ll have to pay the store a visit in a few years when I’m ready for pair number three.

300 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. 714-536-0001. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. havaianas.com

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Santa Monica jewelry designer Margaret Rowe — whose costume pieces have appeared at LACMA and are sold at the oh-so-rad Church boutique in West Hollywood — has opened her first namesake shop in Beverly Hills.

The store plays host to Rowe’s full collection of oversized cocktail rings, opera-length necklaces and statement-making chandelier earrings, most of which utilize vintage materials and are priced under $1,000. And now that wedding season has arrived with a vengeance, it’s the perfect time to pick up pretty, black-tie worthy creations that won’t drain your future kid’s college fund while allowing you to have Facebook photos you can be proud of.

Also on display in the minimalist space are pieces from Rowe’s past collections stretching back to 2002 as well as art by her pop art painter husband, Bret.

420 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills. 310-804-8056. margaretrowe.com

Photo: Florenza teardrop earrings, $795.

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