If boho chic is the county’s official style, then its mecca is Modern Romance at Fashion Island. Opened in this spot in 1994 by Theresa Johnson, above, the boutique carries “It girl” clothes that flaunt the flirty festival style. The Emerald Duv jewelry is from former O.C. reality star Kristin Cavallari ($30 to $90); the leather goods by Huntington Beach’s Cleobella ($52 to $159); the caps by O.C.-based Mother Trucker & Co. ($25); and the handmade printed bell-bottoms ($139) by Novella Royale in San Clemente. But the aesthetic is straight from Johnson’s closet. “Give me anything in floral or lace,” she says with a laugh. When her store opened, distressed denim, vintage-style florals, and oversized silhouettes seemed a trend, but “it has become a movement,” she says. The style’s new slimmer fit and sexier details are the basis of her own line, Stevie Sister, launched last year and sporting bell-sleeved mini-dresses ($189), Coachella-ready rompers, ($139), and floaty floral tops ($130). Designing was natural for Johnson, who lives in Coto de Caza. “I’ve always edited designers’ lines to fit my customers’ tastes, so I thought, ‘Why not do this myself—just start from scratch!’ ”
Modern Romance
Fashion Island
949-640-5477
shopmodernromance.com
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