Paul Smith to open first US boutique

Sir Paul Smith is opening his first store in America - a rectangular, concrete building painted bright pink - in West Coast, Los Angeles.

But the 5,000-square-foot store at Harper and Melrose Avenues is more than mere eye candy. It is the first U.S. door to carry Smith's women's, men's, accessories and homeware lines under one roof. The store was designed by Smith himself in the style of the late Mexican architect Luis Barragan, who is famous for colorful, graphic shapes.

As for the pink, "I wanted it to be a landmark," Smith said in an interview at his Covent Garden headquarters. "L.A. is a car city, and it's a way to get people to recognize the store quickly. There can only be one bright pink store near Fred Segal."

Smith plans to open pending a city building inspection, and a premiere party is planned at the store on Dec. 8.