May 7, 2010

fLuXuS boutique celebrates grand opening with the help of Jeffrey Sebelia

By MAGDA LISZEWSKA
For OCLNN
 
“There’s life, there’s art and between there’s fashion.”

So says fLuXuS boutique founder Martin Paquette, but when it comes time to throw a grand opening party, it doesn’t hurt to also have a famous designer and a gathering of OC fashionistas.

The store opened its doors last month at Fashion Island with an appearance from the brand’s head designer and “Project Runway” winner Jeffrey Sebelia, but the company held a more festive celebration of its venture into Orange County Thursday night.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2007, the boutique’s name and style come from an art movement that blurs lines between genres. The Orange County store is the third location after Larchmont Village and Brentwood.

Originally known for its knits, the company expanded with the help of Sebelia after a chance encounter between the designer and company founder. Paquette said they just get each other.

“Jeffrey and I share good spirituality,” he said. “I think we are both natural in what we do.”

Paquette said he believes he can succeed in Orange County, even at a time when many other companies shut down. He attributes his success partly to his decision to keep all elements of design and manufacturing in Los Angeles.

“I don’t believe in outsourcing production because by the time you return the product to the owner, the trend is over,” he said. “Fashion is all about timing.”

Judging by the feedback from partygoers, he might be onto something. A select group of special guests had a styling session with Sebelia earlier in the day and praised the experience at the party they attended decked out in fLuXuS frocks.

“Jeff is amazing,” Painter Jennifer Shaw said. “His clothes, they’re so soft, I don’t want to take them off.”

Kacey Bruno was also in the lucky group.

“It was great,” she said. “He just found a couple pieces that work well with my personal style and my body and put together a really cute outfit.”
Sebelia said he merely tries to encourage women to try something new.

“It’s so much fun to style people and dress them up,” he said. “They all look so good.”

The spring 2010 line is his first official collection for fLuXuS, but the designer said he’s already working on winter looks, some of which should start arriving in the store in July and August. Sebelia said shoppers will find edgy and dark pieces that are still soft followed by 50’s American sportswear and military-inspired frocks.