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historical landmarks
December 11, 2015

RIP, Kitson, Temple of the 2000s Famewhore

By Allison P. Davis

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Photo: The Grosby Group/Corbis

Holly Golightly had Tiffany’s, Santa Claus had Macy’s, and Paris Hilton had Kitson, the Los Angeles boutique that became the mecca for the celebrities of the ‘00s. Sadly, despite the store’s legacy in the annals of famewhore history, the company has announced that it will close all of its 17 stores in California, Oregon, and Nevada, as well as its online shop, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The memories will live on.

Back in 2008, when Britney Spears showed up at Kitson  for a 2 a.m. shopping spree on a random Tuesday night — pantsless and speaking with a fake British accent — Us Weekly documented the adventure. When Lindsay Lohan left Kitson, got in her black Mercedes, and immediately collided with a Chevrolet Astro van half a block away, that too was caught by the paparazzi. (Was it also caused by them? Eh.) During the period from 2001 to 2012 (the long-’00s, if you will), Nicole Richie, Rachel Zoe, Kimberly Stewart, Denise Richards, Sienna Miller, Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Eva Longoria, Kevin Federline, and Rihanna all had Kitson photos in People or on TMZ.

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RIP, Juicy Tracksuits, Famewhore Uniform of the 2000s

If you had a movie coming out, a reality show premiering, an album about to debut, a new hair color or tiny dog, Kitson was there. If your agent was ignoring your calls, you weren’t getting enough media attention, or you wanted someone to think you were famous, you’d put on your flared jeans and your D&G aviator sunglasses, pull your trucker hat low like you were somebody, and pop by Kitson to remind people you existed. Because anybody who was (or would be) anybody had at least one paparazzi shot with that baby-blue bag dangling from their arm.

Kitson was more than just an effective publicity venue for ambitious starlets at the dawn of the reality era; it was also a celebrity in its own right. Photos of the store were frequently featured in all the gossip rags, including People, Star, and Us Weekly, along with blogs like Gawker. The company’s presence in the celebrity ecosystem was reported in The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. (In fact, in 2006 the company sued Us Weekly for not mentioning its name when it ran photos of celebs at the store. Diva.) And in a sort of weird outgrowth of the store’s celebrity status, Kitson sometimes acted as a Greek chorus, commenting on celeb scandal and gossip — for example, in 2003, it sold those “Team Aniston” and “Team Jolie” T-shirts that Nicki and Paris were photographed wearing.

In the end, the boutique will be remembered for its starring role in the American Dream circa 2004: going to the Ivy for a chilled crab salad, and then stopping by Kitson for an outfit so you could meet up with Paris Hilton and Kimberly Stewart at Hyde Lounge later that night. There, you’d both dance at Wilmer Valderrama’s table wearing matching Stila eye shadow and M.A.C Lipglass, until you finally left the club stringy-haired, glassy-eyed, totally bombed. The next day, you’d end up on TMZ. You’d be wearing an L.A. Clippers jersey or a Mrs. Kutcher T-shirt and a pair of Hudson Jeans, or a Juicy Couture sweatsuit with Uggs. Or you could wear some layered C&C California t-shirts and pair them with your Ed Hardy jeans. Or just toss on a “boho-chic” dress that Sienna Miller was recently seen wearing with cowboy boots. Regardless, you’d be in a Cosabella thong, and you’d toss your bejeweled Sidekick in your Botkier bag.  

Even though nobody wears Juicy Couture any longer and Grumpy Cat is the biggest recent celebrity to get paparazzi attention at a Kitson location, it’s sad to see the store close — especially since Paris Hilton is still alive and kicking. But the L.A. Times notes that interested parties can still step in to save the store. Might we suggest turning the Robertson location into a Museum of Aughts-Era Fame?

Sources

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1 / 26 Photos
Kevin ‘K. Fed’ Federline, 2006  Photo: Malcolm Ali
Paris Hilton, 2010  Photo: The Grosby Group/©2010 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Paris Hilton, 2009  Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/2009 Jean Baptiste Lacroix
Paris Hilton and her $10,000 Pomeranian, 2010  Photo: ©2009 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2009 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, a.k.a. "Speidi," 2009   Photo: David Aguilera/2009 BuzzFoto
David "the Hoff" Hasselhoff, 2010  Photo: revolutionpix/REVOLUTIONPIX/©2010 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Britney Spears, 2008  Photo: Zavar Manokian, John Doe/©2007 BuzzFoto.com
Serena Williams, Kelly Rowland, and pets, 2005  Photo: ©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/E/©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/EL WOODY
Victoria Beckham, 2007  Photo: ©2007 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2007 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Lindsay Lohan, 2009  Photo: Derek Steele/2009 BuzzFoto
Courtney Love, 2006  Photo: ©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Toni Braxton is on Team Aniston, 2005  Photo: ©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Kim Kardashian, 2010  Photo: KOKO BALYAN/©2010 RAMEY PHOTO 3/KOKO BALYAN/©2010 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2005  Photo: ©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/E/©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/EL WOODY
Miley Cyrus, 2009  Photo: TIM CELMER/©2009 Phil Ramey/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Nicole Richie, 2005  Photo: RAMEY PHOTO AGENCY/E.L. WOODY/©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Ashlee Simpson contemplating Missoni Havaianas, 2012  Photo: Charley Gallay/2012 WireImage
Stylist Rachel Zoe, 2011  Photo: David Aguilera/2011 BuzzFoto
Kathy Griffin, 2009  Photo: Alfredo Guzman/2009 BuzzFoto
Brooke Hogan, 2009  Photo: David Aguilera/2009 BuzzFoto
Perez Hilton, 2007  Photo: Jasper Jazlo/2008 Buzzfoto
Kate Beckinsale, 2005  Photo: ©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2005 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Halle Berry, 2002  Photo: Frazer Harrison/2002 Getty Images
Ashley Tisdale, 2008  Photo: ©2008 Phil Ramey/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Jessica Simpson, 2005  Photo: ©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445
Tori Spelling, 2006  Photo: ©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/E/©2006 RAMEY PHOTO 310-828-3445/EL WOODY
1 / 26

Tags:

  • paris hilton
  • fashions
  • celebs
  • end of an era
  • early aughts
  • kitson
  • hilary duff
  • lindsay lohan
  • nicole richie
  • britney spears
  • fame
  • relics
  • historical landmarks
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