Now Open: Tavin Brings a Bit of Paris to Echo Park

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A mere two months after we first learned about it, Echo Park's new lifestyle boutique, Tavin, is officially open for business. The shop's owner, Erin Tavin, took us on a tour around her newly-transformed space last Friday, explaining that it was inspired by the back-alley treasure troves of Paris' Left Bank, with a little splash of Tuscan warmth thrown in. "There are a lot of stores in LA where I can buy a dress, but there aren't many where I can have an experience," she says, adding "I want it to feel like you're stepping into another world."

After stepping past the facade, which is now covered in salvaged wood and antique turquoise window frames, we were overcome by the sheer amount of merch on offer—clearly, minimalism doesn't do it for Tavin. Vintage garments from undisclosed Downtown LA locations and Indian bazaars alike are hung alongside pieces from up-and-coming designers; Peter Shire pottery and local jewelry designers like Mctega share shelf space with flea market tchotchkes and handbags sourced on Etsy; while LA-made books and bath products help round out the mix. "Eventually, I want to start focusing more on local designers—I don't want this to just be about vintage," Tavin explains.

A popular vendor at the Rose Bowl flea market, a boutique seems like the natural extension of Tavin's story. "Even in this economy, we all still want to buy something," says Tavin, who bounced between New York and LA as an actress and stylist until settling in Echo Park four years ago. "I'm such a romantic, and I want my clients to experience a little romance on their own while they're shopping." We think we're already in love.
· Storecasting: Inside Tavin, a Dreamy Den of Delights [Racked]
· Storecasting: Even More Vintage Coming to Echo Park [Racked]