Trúc Linh Joins the Cast of Melrose
Melrose Avenue's newest resident, Trúc Linh, owner of Sen Boutique, is no stranger to the limelight. The well-known Viet pop singer blessed with drop-dead gorgeous looks has been performing on the big stage ever since she was a teenager. Google Viet entertainment and you will find Trúc Linh and her sister Trúc Lam still headlining many of the biggest Viet concerts throughout the U.S, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Vietnam. At the present, her latest venture into Hollywood is a modish boutique named Sen (means Lotus) sitting right smack in the middle of the trendy Melrose area.
Trúc Linh (bottom) and her equally gorgeous sister Trúc Lam (top), still headlining Viet shows
Trúc Linh and her business partner Trang decided to open the boutique late last year to take advantage of the low rental price due to the stagnant economy, and also to get a piece of the last-minute holiday shoppers. Trang, a Regional VP for a pension company, has the business savvy with a passion for fashion couture and design. Trúc Linh, on the other hand, has an undeniable sense of style and smarts, from years of being one of the hottest acts in the fashion-conscious Viet showbiz.
Their boutique specializes in costume jewelries (priced from $30 and up), fabulous hand-picked dresses ($250-$800), and an eclectic collection of to-die-for clutches ($400-$800)....(uhhhh...I'm starting to sound like one of the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). According to the girls, their jewelries have done "really well," especially with the older crowd, while their form-fitting dresses attracts the younger demographic. If I were to put Sen in a class, I'd say that it is more Neiman Marcus in looks and feel but perhaps with Macy's or Bloomies pricings. As such, in just a few months, Sen Boutique already boasts an impressive list of Hollywood clients such as: Monique Coleman (from the Disney Channel), Bridget Marquardt (from The Girl Next Door), Debbie Matenopoulos (from E Entertainment, The View), and Catherine Adair, the costume designer for the hit show Desperate Housewives who picked up a few things for her Housewives.
On the drive to our rendezvous at the boutique last Sunday afternoon, as I got closer to the destination, I quickly recognized the streets and landmarks made famous by the cult-classic TV show Melrose Place. Although I did not search for the famed garden apartment complex occupied by Dr. Michael Mancini, Amanda Woodward, and the rest of the unusually good-looking Melrose cast members, I could definitely feel the distinctive Hollywood vibes of the area. Not surprisingly, I spotted a Lamborghini and a Ferrari from my rearview mirror prancing around the block as I was searching for a parking spot near the shop. Right across the street sits a spacious Fred Segal store known for carrying funky distressed jeans and boots in the vicinity of $1000....for each pair; and next door is Madison, another very high-end specialty store for women that carries a ton of shoes that would satisfy the gals of Sex and the City. Of course, they come with a median price tag around $500.
The foot traffic in the area was light that time of day, but the folks that did come in looked well-heeled and definitely had style. Trúc Linh greeted us looking especially chic in a black linen jumpsuit that looked modern and yet could have come from the '90s...but girl....it worked on her! Actually, in all my years of knowing her, she's always been a fashionista who seems to have a natural flair for mixing vintage and current trends. To prove my point, when we met later on for dinner that evening, she told me that a customer actually ordered her exact jumpsuit even though it wasn't for sale at her shop. "No problem" she exclaimed, she had gotten on the phone and ordered one for her customer. Pretty and smart! My gal is in the right business.
Consequently, I felt a little under-dressed with my mall-inspired getup. I realized then and there that I wasn't going to impress anyone in this swanky of a neighborhood. Luckily, Sen Boutique doesn't sell men's clothes, same with Madison, and I wasn't about to dish out a grand for a pair of anything at Fred Segal, so I was safe for the moment. On the other hand, Kỳ Duyên (another famous face in Viet showbiz), who was my tag-a-long photographer for the day, couldn't resist the stage-ready dresses that Trúc Linh picked out for her. She tried on 4 dresses and ended up buying 3. Hmmmm....a 75% kill rate for Trúc Linh, I thought very quietly to myself. This place is going to do well...
"That's the one!"
"...and this one too!"
When asked how she finds time to manage Sen Boutique with her busy performance schedule, Trúc Linh said that she has Trang, and a couple of employees to thank for, because they cover for her when she's on tour. She admits that she can't be at the shop every day, but she and Trang take turn to make it work. In case you want to meet Trúc Linh at her shop to check out her collection (or just to get one of her CDs autographed), do call ahead to make an appointment, she suggests.
The undersigned took "notice" of Trúc Linh
Sen Boutique is located at 8111 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Tel. (323) 782-4320.
Latest update: Trúc Linh and Trang are working on launching their own designer line called S Couture; and Kỳ Duyên was so smitten with the selection that she plans to feature some of Sen Boutique's items on her shopping network (KDSN) and on her online shop (kyduyenhouse.com).
Duy Hân
March, 2010
Duy Hân is a Supervisor in the advertising department of a large financial organization. He earned his B.S. from the University of Maryland and is an MBA graduate. Duy Hân lives in the Washington DC area and has a beagle named Alaska that likes to take long walks on the beach. He can be reached at AskDuyHan@gmail.com.
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