about happy LA
happy LA opened its doors during the Summer of 2007 in the Pacific Palisades Highlands, a beach suburb of Los Angeles. With its “mod beach” look and décor, the boutique features a range of sought-after designers including Hudson, Genetic Denim, Chan Luu, Me & Ro, Gypsy 05, and Velvet, as well as emerging designers such as Fiel and Brochu Walker.
With an interior design that brightens your mood and a collection of designs that will liven up your closet, the shop is the happiest 1,065 square feet in the area. Owned by Los Angeles native Dawn Baker, happy LA conveys the easy elegance that the Palisades made famous.
happy LA shoppers benefit from Baker’s 15 years in fashion merchandising and production with J.Crew, Isaac Mizrahi, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Nicole Miller. Baker was also nominated for an Emmy for her work as costume designer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Like its target clientele, happy LA is fresh and fun, thanks in part to collaboration with interior designers Lara Fishman and Nina Perry of Storm Interiors. The décor is sleek and modern, with beachy accents and surfside style. The stained turquoise floor resembles ocean waves, and dressing rooms are enclosed with colorful and inviting Missoni beach towels. Hot pink patent leather tufting hugs the cash wrap to add retro glamour chic to the store. The high ceilings feature steel cables that connect to free-floating clothing racks to finish off the breezy, beachy vibe.
happy LA avoids carrying collections that are oversaturated in the Los Angeles market, and are respectful not to let high prices alienate their clientele; high priced items are kept to a minimum. “We are a clothing store first,” says Baker, “but we also carry the perfect elements to complete every look. It’s all about accessorizing with layers.” Baker offers “happy closet therapy,” her own personal closet rejuvenating service for all happy LA clients.
As of fall 2010 we are proud to launch the signature lifestyle brand dawn baker to the fashion scene.
Dawn Baker
OwnerDawn has more than 15 years experience in fashion merchandising and production as well as styling television personalities. Baker opened happy LA in 2007 and oversees all aspects of the boutique’s operations. In August of 2010, Dawn opened her south bay outpost in Manhattan Beach, aptly named dawn baker.
Prior to launching happy LA, Baker worked as the costume stylist for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She later took on the role of personal stylist for both Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. Baker styled both women for special events, including The GRAMMYs, the Emmy Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards awards, and The People’s Choice Awards. In 2007, Baker was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design and Styling for her work on the show.
Before becoming a stylist, Baker graduated from Arizona State University in 1992 with a degree in textiles and clothing. She began her fashion career in New York City. Baker’s experience began in wholesale sales at CP Shades. From there, she moved into production with JCREW and onto merchandising for the ISAAC Isaac Mizrahi women’s wear line, where she helped develop the collection from conception to the end of the line.
Baker also worked with renowned designers Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, where she made her mark as an intricate part of each designer’s women’s wear division, acting as a liaison between the design, production, and sales teams. She created and planned the fabric and garment buys for each season and produced the market line lists for both Calvin Klein’s and Donna Karan’s sales teams.
In 2000, Baker ventured into the global fashion world as the merchandise liaison for Nicole Miller in Japan, while with Sankyo Seiko Co. Ltd. In this role, Baker worked daily with Nicole Miller to create seasonal concepts, themes, trends, and general direction for all licenses. She traveled seasonally from New York to Japan to approve all licensed and sub-licensed products.
Back in her native California, Baker and husband David have two children and reside in Malibu.