Life Goes On

In the most symbolic sign possible that life indeed does go on in the wake of national tragedy, A Pea In The Pod, the maternity fashion retailer, opened its new Beverly Hills flagship boutique, at 352 North Beverly Dr., on Saturday.

The two-story location provides 2000 square feet of space, featuring a modular fixture concept that showcases fashion with all the store stock on the floor. The sleek, minimalist decor utilizes brushed stainless steel fixtures, frosted glass shelving and micro-miniaturized, nickel spotlights. The eggshell white walls and ceilings, with accents of cool steel, gray and black, will be warmed with revolving art components, including photographs of women and a celebration of anticipated motherhood.

The Beverly Hills flagship is the first of the retailer's nationwide rollout of five new stores and renovations to the existing 41 boutiques now underway over the next 24 months to open. Cowan & Associates (Worthington, Ohio) designed the new concept; Fleetwood Industries (Reading, Pa.) designed and manufactured the fixtures.

A Pea In The Pod is involved in a complete brand renovation that encompasses the fall 2001 fashion collections. The company's design team, which produced the collections, says “they feature looks inspired by runway trends without compromising the elegance and luxury that appeals to the fashionably pregnant customer.” In addition to its core label, A Pea In The Pod also offers designer apparel from Marc by Marc Jacobs, La Perla, Wolford, Elie Tahari, Anna Sui, Nicole Miller, Chaiken, Tibi, Lilly Pulitzer, Girlfriend and 3 Dots.

A Pea In The Pod is a member of the $400 million parent corporation, Mothers Work, Inc. (Philadelphia), which operates 770 stores in 50 states under the A Pea In The Pod, Mimi Maternity and Motherhood Maternity nameplates.