It's the end of (another) era for L.A.'s retail scene. The latest to shutter permanently is iconic Malibu-born retailer Planet Blue — a.k.a. the mid-aughts stomping grounds of practically every reality star — is closing all of its doors.
In an Instagram post earlier this month, the quintessential Cali-boho boutique chain announced that it was closing all of its locations "in the upcoming weeks." The silver lining is that everything online and in stores is 50 to 70% off, including Planet Blue's in-house Blu Life and True Blu labels alongside beloved boho brands and cult-cool names such as Cami NYC, Frame, Indah, LNA, Mother, Nightcap, Rolla's, and others.
As seen in the Instagram post above, the brand says "it's not goodbye; it's see you later." The company has made no mention of the pandemic's role in decision to shutter; Business Insider reports that this year alone has seen at least 8,300 stores close across the U.S.
Founder Ling-Su Chinn opened her first Planet Blue location in 1995 in Malibu, and eventually expanded across L.A. Known for its Cali beach bohemian aesthetic, the retailer was a frequent backdrop for retail therapy paparazzi snaps (and Coachella wardrobe restock spot) of celebrities like Britney Spears, Lana Del Rey, Paris and Nikki Hilton, Alessandra Ambrosio (who even designed a swim line for the brand), Sofia and Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens, Bella Hadid, Emma Watson, and many, many others.
Chinn left the company in 2018 to focus on a new line, vintage-inspired swimwear brand Sun Becomes Her.
The retailer currently has 12 stores in the U.S., including locally in Beverly Hills, El Segundo's The Point, Malibu Country Mart, Santa Monica, Venice, and Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach (a Westlake Village store closed in 2012); and beyond the Golden State in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, New York (now closed), and Texas. It opened its first overseas outpost in Tokyo in 2013; that store has since shuttered.
Got any memorable shopping moments at Planet Blue? Feel free to share in the comments below.
