Lily Et Cie

Lily Et Cie is The CREME DE LA CREME of vintage couture fashion in the world (no doubt!). Imagine this, a fully restored 1967 Ferrari 275GTB/​4 owned by Steve McQueen (what a man’s man) with a matching chasis & engine #10 621 that went for more than $ 10 million at the Monterey Car week in Pebble beach just 2 years ago. That’s Lily Et Cie (Lily). Lily’s collections include some of the rarest and finest pieces from the 1920s to today. Rita, the owner of Lily has detailed documentation of these pieces to proof their authenticity like no other! This is not a store where you find your rare rock concert t shirts or your last year’s Chanel or Herme bags. If you do see these pieces, for sure they are a one of a kind of a one of a kind for Lily to carry them in the store.
I have to agree with Jared G., and I quote «Do not think you can just stop in, popping your bubble gum and tear through the racks.» That’s because these vintage pieces are so well groomed and cared for to such immaculateness that if they were in your closet, you wouldn’t want anyone to touch them either. Rita is NOT a snob like many reviewers have put it. She is simply just taking extra extra care of her collections as well as her clients’ consignment pieces, that’s all.
Lily’s clients come from every corner of the world. She has clients fly in on a whim on their personal jets to average walk-​ins like you and me because she has pieces that will suit every occasion and event. However that being said, most people that do come to Lily, almost always already know what they want and have done their homework. This is not like a Neiman or Barney’s, and sure enough not your season to season collections at Herme or Chanel where you just walk in and can try everything on. Let’s put it this way, Rita invented «personal shopping». She has been in the business so long that she knows if you are a serious shopper or just a looky loo.
Besides serious buyers come to LIly, world renown designers come to Lily from Paris, Milan, London and New York and stay in Beverly Hills for weeks if not months for inspiration while they send their designer teams to other well known vintage stores merely to take notes.
I love Lily and its rich culture and history of fashion. Rita is truly a one of a kind entrepreneur. You will not find anything or anyone like Lily Et Cie and Rita. I am so proud that this one of a kind gem is not in anywhere in the world but here in Beverly Hills, CA! Eat your hearts out, NYC, Paris, Milan & London!

Okay, The store owner is by far the rudest person I have ever met. She kept telling me not touch her dresses then told me to «get the f*** out of my store». I was being very polite and she pushed me out of her store telling me she’s going to call the cops. This started only because she did not want me sliding the dresses out to look at. She is by far the rudest lady I have ever come across in my life. She has no idea what customer service is about. RUDE! Never go there

This is my first review ever, so this should speak volumes in itself. DONT GO TO THIS STORE!!! I do not say this because of the merchandise but because of the owner. She is the RUDEST person I have ever been in contact with and does not deserve any customers. If you don’t believe me you can go for your self and see how she treats you. She was rude when we walked in, harassed my friends and I around the store and cussed us out on our way out while threatening to call the cops. Call the cops for WHAT? She deserves no ones business. I have never been treated like that in my life. And on top of that she attempts to over state prices and rip you off. I found this out because I called her out on an item of clothing and she knew I knew how much that item was really worth. Lastly, every one else in the previous reviews were correct about her only thinking that models and celebrities are the only worthwhile humans who should be in her store, which i don’t get cause she is fat and an ugly human being both inside and out … All in all no one this rude and this crazy should own a store. I don’t care that we live in a free society where people have the freedom to do what ever they choose, some one in that mental state should not work in customer service. She needs to take her unnecessary, crazy, rude a** attitude and shove it up her you know where… The end

A true original and a once In a lifetime experience.
Lily and it’s owners are the stewards of one of the most aggressively curated and spectacular collections of IMPORTANT garments in the world. Do not think you can just stop in, popping your bubble gum and tear through the racks.
Lily et Cie. is closer to a museum, and the articles within must be closely guarded and cared for. Alterations are actually done in house because they can’t be entrusted to anyone who is not trained in old world couture techniques. Rita has helped struggling designers, consulted for museums and publications, and holds court with the world’s most influential people in fashion.
Rita and her staff only sell life changing garments for life changing moments. There is something incredibly magical about this service. I believe we must all respect the history and relevance of Lily. I am a lowly school teacher, and I have never been treated with such kindness and warmth… and I have never purchased anything.
Lily is not really a retail store, it’s an opportunity to change your life and be surrounded by pure inspiration and delight. Rita is a vanguard and suffers no fools, so disregard all the shit talking of the bargain hunters and poorly informed.
Hint: don’t show up empty handed… I baked cookies.

Rita is truly DISGUSTING human being. She might have impressive pieces, however nothing you can’t find at her competitors who are much more pleasant. She is rude and uncalled for. The store looks like a junk yard with clothing jam packed into a rather large space. My friend walked and stepped on a flattened cardboard boxes that looked like trash on the floor. It was an accident, but Rita freaked out. She is truly an AWFUL person I have never experienced someone so revolting in my life. I would never go back to this store and would never recommend it to anybody. She is poor excuse of a human being.

Recently was at Lily Et Cie for a presentation by the owner Rita Watnick as part of a fashion inspiration class through my university. For a fashion designer this place has a wealth of vintage pieces that make the mind salivate. Rita and her team were welcoming, friendly, and generous with their time, and valuable information. It was truly a wonderful and inspiring experience!

I did not enjoy my encounter at this place and did not feel welcome. I actually felt sad and that is just not me.

Well, you all did better than I did… at least you all got in. When I showed up to the door, they took one look at me and for some reason the door was locked (guess they saw me coming) and when I knocked on the door, «homechick» looked me dead in the face and turned away. I don’t know… ya’ think maybe it had something to do with me being BLACK? I guess they figured I DID NOT belong in there.
P. S. I did try and call to curse them out… no answer.
If you really want to check out a really cool vintage store, try Y. Bynu on Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. The owner, Janel Glover, has some of the best vintage stuff in there. You’ll love it. Better prices, better fashions and better customer service.

its so sad when people have it all wrong. i have had wonderful experiences at lily and with rita (the owner). my bank account isn’ fat and i’m not demi moore– i have always always been treated with respect, and when i try things on (which by the way– she has the MOST AMAZING selection of couture) i appreciate her honesty. she is funny and honest-​i respect that. people are too sensitive. walk in with a good attitude an it might surprise you that others react to you with a good attitude. you get what you give. have fun shopping at lily if your lucky enough to go.

I went here once and will never make the mistake again. I concur with all the reviewers about the illtempered owner, and will only add that she also has the charming habit of namedropping celebrities from the moment you walk in to the moment you escape her awful company! I happen to know one of the actresses she was bragging about dressing when she was trying to get me to tell her «the most I was willing to spend». This actress hates when people use her name like this: to intimidate people. This is the worst of retail. Go to Shareen Vintage or Decades. Don’t go here!

Lily et cie is undoubtedly one of the finest shops in the world.
Rita Watnick is genius.

This vintage store is so EXPENSIVE, if you are not a millionaire, you can’t afford their dresses! The owner is super mean lady!
They have a lots of designer couture but sizes is way too big for me!