Fashion Island Celebrates Luxury Menswear in the California Riviera

Open-air luxury shopping plaza Fashion Island will celebrate its menswear business with an upcoming fashion showcase slated for April 30.

The Newport Beach, Calif.-based property will preview unseen collections and host activations from new and longtime tenants, including Chanel-owned resortwear brand Orlebar Brown, Australian men’s brand Joe Bananas and independent men’s retailer Garys.

The event aims to amplify its support for its retailers in the category.

“Fashion Island is Orange County’s premier coastal destination for style exploration,” said Gerard Widder, vice president and general manager, Fashion Island. “Our curated mix of heritage and emerging brands, world-class home design galleries, and stylish, one-of-a-kind boutiques is always evolving with the latest concepts.”

The brands benefit from its unique locale at Newport Center, a business, shopping and entertainment district overlooking Newport Harbor, where everyone from C-suite executives to tourists come together to dress for the occasion — the California Riviera lifestyle, the center believes.

Joe Bananas expanded its Australian roots to the U.S. with a store on Madison Avenue in New York in 2018, and headed to Fashion Island in 2023, finding the consumers to be a “natural fit with our Australian viewpoint,” said Evan Sturrock, owner and creative director.

“For the upcoming menswear event, we are excited to showcase how we merge classic style with creative and artistic vision, offering our clientele a new perspective on the possibilities for men — classic doesn’t need to be dull or boring,” Sturrock explained. “We’re also looking forward to engaging with customers and building lasting relationships through immersive, one-on-one interactions that highlight the Aussie character and hospitality we are so proud to represent with our brand.”

The shopping plaza, which opened in 1967, has had a history of introducing luxury fashion to affluent Newport Beach customers, and some of its brands have also evolved in tandem.

Garys, which opened in 1978 with a 3,500-square-foot shop that has since expanded to over 12,000 square feet, has served the posh enclave with a roster of niche and heritage brands for nearly 50 years.

“Garys aims to lead the conversation around modern menswear by emphasizing the importance of tailored clothing and personal style. During the upcoming event, we plan to showcase one of our favorite brands — Eleventy, allowing attendees to experience the Italian craftsmanship and modern take on men’s fashion,” said owner John Braeger. “We hope to inspire a new generation of men to embrace tailored fashion as a reflection of their identity and lifestyle,” he said, adding, “Events like this menswear celebration allow us to engage directly with clients, reinforcing our brand values and fostering an ongoing dialogue about style and fashion evolution.”

Fashion Island’s men’s retail portfolio, which includes Bonobos, Indochino, Rodd & Gunn, SuitSupply and Todd Snyder, welcomed its newest tenant last year with Orlebar Brown’s arrival.

“Fashion Island is our third store in California, with two more to come in the next year, but what attracted us to Fashion Island goes far beyond numbers — it is a completely unique experience with grand boulevards, striking architecture that transports you to the south of Italy or France at the height of summer,” said Trevor Hardy, chief marketing officer. “A magical mix that somehow makes shopping become a vacation. And that’s why it is an ideal home for Orlebar Brown as we encourage men to dress up for downtime.”