FRONT Retail Shop ‘n’ Fly THE TOM BRADLEY TERMINAL GETS A RETAIL MAKEOVER The new and improved Tom Bradley International Terminal was unveiled in September 2013, but for those of you who don’t fly from the international terminal very often, here is something you probably didn’t know: No matter which terminal you fly out of at LAX, if you have a boarding pass, you can gain access to the Great Hall at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Next time your flight is delayed and you have an urge to go on an upscale shopping spree, or to ingest a fancy meal, head over to TBIT and enjoy their collection of luxury retail and sophisticated dining. TBIT is impressive, and for that, a big shout goes out to Westfield, the company that has managed the redevelopment of TBIT and oversees the dining, retail and amenities. Westfield manage terminals 1,2,3 and 6 at LAX as well, plus they’ve helped shape numerous other airports including, JFK airport and Chicago’s O’Hare. The TBIT experience starts the minute you line up at the security screening area because you’re funneled right underneath artist, Mark Bradford’s “Bell Tower.” Look up to view the inside of this 12,500 pound creation and you’ll see the intricate interior design of architect, Chris Oberle, who figured out how to safely suspend this mammoth jumbotron made up of plywood construction barriers collected from around LA. Apparently when you stand directly underneath, the sound diminishes around you as you enjoy a moment of peace – like being in the eye of the storm. Once done with security, a 25,000-square-foot duty-free shopping area beckons you with fashion & watches, Gucci, Burberry, Beauty & Spirits and Hermes. You are now in the Great Hall where a selection of the world’s best known luxury International designer brands mix in with LA based designer stores, giving LAX a distinctly Los Angelian flavor. The Great Hall is designed to provide an open flow throughout the stores, while making use of natural light with plentiful windows and high ceilings. The Great Hall lives up to its name, and as an extra bonus, because of all the light, the sunsets here are gorgeous. For dining there are many choices from Umami burger to Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar, or Jame’s Beach to III Forks Steakhouse. At the dining terrace, 800 Degrees Pizza actually have an 800 degree wood burning stove on site, which, as you can imagine, was not an easy object to get permission for in an airport. The line up of luxury retail is as follows: Bvlgari - Italian jewelry, watches, and luxury goods Michael Kors - Jet-set styles from this celebrated designer Fred Segal - Upscale designs from renowned LA boutique Kitson - The latest fashion craze at this LA based boutique Coach - Classic designer bags and leather goods Porsche Design - Timeless and functional luxury Tumi - Superior products for the discerning traveler Victoria’s Secret - Intimate apparel and women’s clothing Hugo Boss - Authentic luxury from the German style house XpresSpa - Luxury massages, facials and nail treatments. And then there’s “Starbucks Evenings”, meaning you can order wine and craft beer as well as shareable small plates from Starbucks in the later part of the day - who knew? There’s plenty to enjoy without spending any money. There’s the clock tower with its ever changing façade, and the gigantic Story Board that screens non-stop images of LAX. There’s Ball-Nogues multicolored “Air Garden,” a curtain-like suspension of roughly 90 miles of metallic chain where the shifting light creates a changing atmospheric environment, and Pae White’s “Woven Walk” installation, a matrix-tapestry laced across the corridor ceiling at arrivals. All the artist’s are locally based designers in keeping with LAX ‘s commitment to the city of Los Angeles. TBIT further offers live Jazz bands 2x a week, has five airline lounges for you to enjoy, and newsstands that supply a variety of papers, plus Book Soup for more reading material (and worth mentioning are the lovely bowler-hat lights here). To top it all, there is the ExpresSpa if you desire a massage, facial or mani/pedi. Last but not least, a 7/11 greets you at arrivals - the first 7/11 included in a US airport. LAX and Westfield want to ensure that the 60 million + travelers filtering through TBIT each year, enjoy their pre-flight time. Next up, the transformation of Terminal 2. Standby Please. www.lawa.org 22 The LA FASHION MAGAZINE
Made by Franz LA’S best kept secret, photographer Franz Szony wears his art