Perfect Pairing: Nordstrom + Surf City
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Courtesy of Nordstrom
As a general rule, California’s surf culture is inescapable. But those who shape it demand a certain authenticity that’s unique to the sport. In preparation for summer, wave rider Olivia Kim (who holds a day job as the director of creative projects at Nordstrom) has curated a Pop-In shop at the department store’s Union Square flagship in San Francisco called Surf City. “I’ve always been obsessed with Mavericks,” says Kim, noting that as she began to compile items for the project, she had an eye on gear from Mollusk, a beloved outpost located in the Bay Area’s Outer Sunset neighborhood near Ocean Beach. Such places inspired her concept for the temporary shop that remains open through the end of May. “I wanted to bring the surf lifestyle to places that don’t naturally have surf shops,” Kim says, noting that other locations for the Pop-In include New Jersey’s Garden State Plaza, Virginia’s Tysons Corner Center, and Texas’ NorthPark Center. “The surf lifestyle has become such a part of every day fashion whether you see it in prints or incorporated in women’s clothing,” Kim says. “Regardless of where you are, even in Dallas, there’s always one surf shop and we tried to partner with those guys too.”
Kim selected a wide range of clothes and accessories including trunks from Mollusk, Hobie T-shirts, market tote bags from Los Angeles-based Apolis, and espadrilles by Castañer. She also added Cynthia Rowley rash guards and Lisa Marie Fernandez designs that are actually used by surfers. “I have a Lisa Marie Fernandez bathing suit that I surf in when it’s really warm. Her tops don’t move. I actually need the bikini to function and she does an incredible job of designing them,” says Kim, though she admits that the best waves are sometimes found during colder seasons. “I grew up on the East Coast where the best surf season was after September. By November, we had to wear booties and full wetsuits,” she says. Kim’s hunting and gathering skills—honed over years spent working with the Opening Ceremony team—bring unique designs and products from independent boutiques to the department store for a few weeks, then everything gets changed out for Kim’s newest concept (next up is a Pop-In inspired by the great American road trip highlighted by the Cabazon dinosaurs, Yosemite Valley and many of the historic beach boardwalks located around the country). So ride the wave until June arrives.
By Elizabeth Varnell
Pictured: A black Lisa Marie Fernandez Lauren bikini at Nordstrom’s Surf City Pop-In.
Courtesy of Nordstrom
