Des Kohan's Globally Curated Boutique Finds a New Home in West Hollywood

Over the 16 years that owner Desiree Kohan's eponymous boutique welcomed fashion followers into its expertly curated Miracle Mile location, the spot earned a reputation as a trusted space to find a balanced blend of emerging and established designers and items that looked beyond the trends in favor of timeless but elevated style. And as of April 15th, the newly relocated Des Kohan aims to build of this success and offer its clientele all that — and more — in a sprawling gallery-like space in West Hollywood.

Though Kohan has earned a cult following (frequent shoppers include L.A.'s most in-the-know fashion lovers, like celebrity stylist Karla Welch and writer/editor Crystal Meers) during the boutique's tenure, her expertise at finding treasures began well before she opened up shop. A veteran trend forecaster, she traveled the globe, inspecting vintage gems and learning about the latest labels. Then, after spending some years living in Europe, she eventually came back to her native Los Angeles and allowed her travels to inform what would become Des Kohan.

In the new 5,000 square-foot space on a creative stretch of Fairfax Avenue — around the corner from Laurel Hardware and New Image Art and across the street from Ysabel — Des Kohan still stocks a mix of affordable and luxurious brands for its clothing, accessories, and home goods offerings: Think Richer Poorer tanks and tees alongside Le Kasha linen dresses, jewelry cases that shimmer with Gabriela Artigas pearl barrettes and Eriness bejeweled bands, and recessed shelves curated with Aesa glass and bronze candlesticks, artwork, ceramics, books, and even Kohan's own candles.

"We pride ourselves on having a great range of price points and sizes; never excluding anyone," Kohan explains. "When I started the DK store more than 16 years ago, my mission was to bring accessibility to my clients, teach them the European way to shop; which is to invest in pieces vs. disposable fashion; not only is it eco-friendly but our clients end up saving at the end of each season!" When shopping the store — or the e-commerce business, which has been booming over the past year — you can expect to find higher-end pieces $1,000 and upwards, but there's a wealth of goods and gifts for under $100, too.

The new space is also an opportunity for Kohan to show off her eye for interior design. She worked closely with friend and designer Pegah Anvarian Watson, curating vintage furniture finds like Frank Lloyd Wright chairs and travertine tables, plus contemporary pieces she helped create as part of her capsule collection.

And the gorgeous table and chairs that greet you upon entrance to the shop aren't purely for admiring. Kohan says that as COVID-19 becomes more managed and safety regulations relax, she plans for it to function as a Japanese style tea bar.

It's this kind of intimate detail that differentiates the retail experience at Des Kohan. Other ways the shop owner presents a more personalized approach include one-on-one styling and custom closet edits as well as complimentary tailoring. And in this new globally-inspired, gallery-esque space, customers are sure to feel even more as though they're having an elevated shopping moment — which is especially refreshing after a year of mostly making purchases online.

Below, find the new store's hours and address.

Des Kohan, 914 North Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood, 90046; Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; (323) 857-0200