I've seen the Amiri line floating around online and in various department stores, and i've always had mixed feelings about the aesthetic - some things I adored, other things made me cringe. Thankfully, with the opening of the first-ever Amiri boutique on Rodeo Drive, I was able to get a much better picture of the brand.
I had called the boutique the day before to secure some Skele-Tops, which always seem to sell out in my size. Thankfully, a helpful staff member found them and put them aside for the next day. It turns out you can't buy items over the phone (at least not yet), but once you visit the boutique you can leave your card and ID on file for them to use later on.
Arriving the next day, I was struck by how different the store was compared to the others on Rodeo Drive. There's no pretentiousness or stuffiness here, which is appropriate considering the brand's general aesthetic. Everyone I encountered was pleasant enough, including the guard outside, and there wasn't a typical Rodeo Drive attitude to any of the employees. This was especially true for Eric, who I worked with on getting my purchase together - shoes are always tough for me, so I took a minute in ensuring they were perfect. Perfection is definitely needed considering the... "investment" required for the purchase. Thankfully everything fit well and I was done and out for my impending dinner reservation in good time.
And yes, I left my card on file for later. read more