Since I knew I wanted a store and my dad is a CPA we used to run numbers. He would always tell me to work in the business and learn on someone else’s dime. I worked at retail clothing stores where I grew up since I was 15, then went to Syracuse University to study fashion design. While studying design and traveling to New York City to see the trade and fashion shows, I realized that I didn’t really enjoy designing clothes. I found that I would rather buy and sell clothes. So after graduating I came back to Los Angeles and worked at a shoe store for a few years, all the while scouting locations to open my first boutique. I was determined to open my store by the time I was 25 years old. Being from Los Angeles I knew all of the cool shopping areas and really thought about where I wanted to open shop. I went with my instinct and picked Robertson Blvd, which was a quaint pretty decorator’s street with no competition. The first Lisa Kline (the flagship store) was opened August 5th 1995. Now Robertson Blvd is one of the hottest streets in LA, as well as the country.
Since day one Lisa Kline has had a celebrity following. Perhaps it is a combination of being conveniently located near the famous Ivy restaurant, easy parking right in front of the store, and being drawn in by the stylish window displays. Once they came I helped them and styled them. A few of the celebrities that frequent the store are Liv Tyler, Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria, Jessica Biel, Carmen Electra, Halle Berry, Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba, Brittney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Leanne Rimes, Lindsey Lohan, Jillian Baberie, Resse Witherspoon, Debra Messing, Julianna Marguelis, Tori Spelling, Lauren Graham, Carla Guguino and many others!
Lisa Kline Inc. has had the opportunity to put designers on the map. These designers have included Foley, Project E, Rebecca Taylor, Katayone Adeli, Ingwa Melero, Cosabella, Rory Beca, By Francine, St Grace, Scrapbook, Charlotte, Chip & Pepper, Joe’s Jeans, Rich and Skinny, Rachael Pally, Nola Singer, and many, many more.
Lisa Kline has been dressing many of the hit television shows over the years like, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Frasier, Malcolm in the middle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Will and Grace, Friends, the Gilmore Girls, Ally McBeal, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and Access Hollywood. The stores locations as well as myself have been featured on CBS, ABC, Good Day LA, the national Good Day Live, E!, Style Channel, E! Fashion Emergencies, E! 40 Worst Fashion Crimes, MTV Punked, Extreme Makeover, Cupid, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Fox 11 News Style File, and TV Guide Channel’s the Fashion Team.
On April 17th, 1999 I opened up my second store Lisa Kline Men directly across the street from Lisa Kline. I always had men asking me when I was doing a men’s store and my response used to be, “Never!” But after 4 years of building the women’s store, I had figured out the formula and realized I needed another challenge. I love buying for men because it is challenging and there aren’t as many choices as in the women’s business. It’s rewarding to dress men because they need help and guidance just like women do and it is so fun to dress a man and change his life! My husband Robert Bryson gets the credit for making the men’s store super cool and masculine. There’s a 70” projection TV, a full bar, playboys, killer silver jewelry and a great staff of smart, hot, stylish women and men. It is just an incredible place to shop. Lisa Kline Men was just voted Los Angeles Magazines “Best of LA” August issue, “The Best Men’s Store”.
In 2002 Robert took on a new project and created www.lisakline.com which has been selling men’s and women’s clothing since its inception.
In 2003, when I was pregnant with my first child I was so bored that I opened a Men’s Store in Malibu. I had always been interested in opening a kids store but I didn’t really understand kid’s fashion until I had my own children. After having a really difficult time finding cute clothes for my daughter Dylan and being pregnant with my second child I found that I was ready to take on the challenge to begin my next venture, Lisa Kline Kids. Since I’ve had the women’s store for so long, a lot of my good customers have kids now and feel so comfortable shopping there.
One of the coolest things is that many of the vendors that we carry at Lisa Kline and Lisa Kline Men also do kids lines now, which has made Lisa Kline Kids very fashionable and sophisticated. The parents know these brands and wear them themselves so it’s natural to dress their kids in lines that they love.
In 2005 expansion continued with the opening of Lisa Kline Beverly Hills, the new and improved Lisa Kline Men just two doors down from the original location. With the success of Lisa Kline Kids, we integrated kids and women’s clothing into the Malibu Store.
On a personal note, Robert and I got married in August 2001. He is the Vice President of Lisa Kline Inc. and I couldn’t have expanded the company without his unconditional love, help, advice, inspiration and support. When we are not working together we are hanging out with our 2 kids, Dylan Rose who is 3 years old and Colt Alexander who is 15 months, our 2 huge English Mastiffs, (Hercules and Savannah) and my infamous Moluccan Cockatoo, named Vargas. We reside in Malibu, California and love to wine and dine with friends, cook, get massages, race sports cars, exercise, train, scuba dive, snowboard, and shoot at the gun range and hang at the beach!
My advice to anyone who wants to start their own business or store is this: You have to really want it. You need to have drive and passion that comes from within, as well as vision and stamina. You must trust your instincts and come up with your own formula that works, don’t copy anyone, be a leader. Building this business and growing the Lisa Kline Empire has been so rewarding. It makes my life very full and enjoyable. If it wasn’t for the love and trust my parents have in me, Lisa Kline would not be what it is today. My parents always believed in me and knew I would be successful. They gave me the tools to succeed and I always let them know that.
This company has been so successful in large part due to the dedication of employees that have shared my passion for Lisa Kline Inc. I could have never expanded or grown if it wasn’t for the help of some of them and my husband. They have all been there for me and the company with guidance and support and trust, believing in me and my vision. In turn they teach that vision and use my approach to fashion to operate the stores on a daily basis and keep us at the top of our game. I love supporting so many people and giving so many people opportunities to shine. In order to grow you must give up some control and trust others. I attribute the success of Lisa Kline to allowing others to shine and that always puts a smile on my face and makes coming to work so much fun.
Thanks for reading!
Lisa Kline