RETAIL ROUNDUP:Boutique adds to selection

Knee-high boots, designer bags, perfume and even bath soap.

Between them, the two Harlow stores on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa offer just about everything a bohemian would desire.

For the last two years, the clothing boutique owned by Kerri Harlow has been a staple of the Lab alternative mall, offering hand-selected fashions for men and women.

In July, another Harlow location opened at the Camp shopping center across the street — this one featuring jewelry, candles, skin care and other accessories.

Both the Lab and the Camp are part of the SoBeCa District, an edgy retail center whose name stands for South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts.

Before the new store opened July 19, Camp officials used the space for a pair of art exhibits. Now, with the Harlow merchandise lining the walls, the room still looks arty.

“We carry nice, high-end things, but for a unique person,” said sales associate Jamie Daniels.

And if you’re a “unique” person, the store can help you find some company: the front counter by the cash register features a book where customers can write their e-mail addresses to get updates on coming events.

The Harlow store at the Camp is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

VARVATOS ADDS WATCHES TO MIX

If all goes according to plan, the John Varvatos store in South Coast Plaza should boast a new glass case today — with a number of sparkling items inside.

The men’s clothing boutique opted last month to expand its repertoire by selling Swiss watches designed by the aviator Ernst Benz.

The watches arrived mid-month, but the store held off on displaying them until it could present them in a fancy enough case.

General manager Robert Sammelius expected to have the timepieces out today.

“The main focus is that we’re a men’s boutique selling men’s clothing, and the layered aspect of the watches just completes the boutique,” he said.

The stainless steel wristwatches, which measure between 40 and 47 millimeters across, start at around $2,000 — and customers can live it up by having them specially made with diamonds and other jewels.