A sibling revelry for shopping

Andrew Edwards

A pair of women’s boutiques in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa are owned

by two sisters who grew up in Southern California stores.

The first Lola Rouge store opened in Costa Mesa in 2002, and the

second is in Fashion Island. The shops are owned by sisters Sandy

Johnson and Debbie Askew, both graduates of Corona del Mar High

School.

“Ever since we were little we loved shopping,” Johnson said.

The pair opened their Fashion Island store after Thanksgiving, but

winter storms delayed the boutique’s grand opening until Thursday.

The sisters donated 15% of their Thursday night sales to Children’s

Hospital of Orange County.

The longtime shoppers only fill their boutique’s racks with

clothing that matches their personal styles.

“We just buy what we like and what we love,” Askew said.

“For something to be in our store Debbie and I have to be crazy

about and in love with it,” Johnson added.

Though the sisters buy inventory that fits their individual

interests, Johnson said the pair’s age difference helps them manage

to stock a variety of fashions. Johnson, 39, is 14 years older than

Askew.

“We have similar tastes, but obviously, [Askew is] going to dress

a lot differently than I do,” Johnson said.

Lola Rouge’s bright red walls were inspired by stores Johnson

visited while traveling around Europe when she lived in Berlin for

four years. She thinks the color makes the shop look friendlier than

stores she shopped at when she was younger.

“The red feel’s really inviting and welcoming,” Johnson said.

“Growing up in Newport, sometimes the stores were really intimidating

to go into.”

Johnson considers the 2,100-square-foot Fashion Island shop to be

like a mini department store since the sisters sell makeup, perfume

and lotion in addition to clothes. However, the pair try to carry

hard-to-find products they don’t see around malls.

“A lot of our perfumes and lotions you’re not going to find in

most department stores,” Johnson said.

Recently, the sisters have spent much of their time selling prom

dresses to teenagers, though many of their customers have moved well

beyond high school dances, Johnson said.

“Very chic women in their 60s are shopping with us, too,” Johnson

said. “I think our oldest customer is 90 years old.”