At the highly anticipated Clare V. sample sale last month at Row DTLA, designer Clare Vivier exuded calm as she walked through the packed aisles, smiling and offering assistance while hundreds of frenzied shoppers snatched up her discounted handbags, colorful accessories and apparel. (Shout-out to the stranger who offered me tips on how to clean my ink-stained Clare V. leather wallet from a few years back!) So when we chatted recently about her ideal Sunday in Los Angeles, I couldnât resist asking Vivier where she likes to shop when she has a day off.
âI love to shop for vintage goods,â Vivier said. âMy go-to vintage shop is Luxe de Ville in Echo Park on Sunset. And just two doors down, thereâs another great vintage store, Wilder. In Atwater, thereâs the Curatorial Dept. on Glendale Boulevard and the Gift of Garb consignment shop in Silver Lake is wonderful â itâs like having your own private the Real Real, which I love.â
As for her perfect Sunday, sheâll stick close to Glendale, where she and her family have recently moved. âWe are loving Glendale so far,â she said. âItâs fun to move within your own city â itâs a change, but not overwhelmingly so, as youâre still close to work and your friends.â
Vivier recently remodeled and expanded her flagship Clare V. showroom on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. The sunny showroom now features two spacious rooms filled with Vivierâs signature handbags and colorful âbits, bobs, straps and fobs,â according to the storeâs window. Vivier, in a personal touch, acknowledged she might stop in on a Sunday, but only after enjoying a few of her other favorite spaces in L.A.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
9 a.m.: Shop for vintage goods at local flea markets
A perfect Sunday usually starts with going to one of the flea markets â either the Pasadena City College Flea Market or the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Sometimes, we visit the Long Beach Antique Market and the Santa Monica Antique and Vintage Market, but those are really our go-to favorites. We just moved to Glendale after 24 years in Echo Park, so when Iâm shopping with my husband, we are usually looking for home decor items.
If we split up, Iâll look for vintage clothing inspiration for Clare V., including vintage handbags and clothing, as well as anything else. I love vintage clothing and accessories, and use them as inspiration for my collections. I enjoy selling my clothes and buying new ones; I have a huge closet. Sometimes I sell my items on Clareâs Closet Purge on Instagram. Or Iâll post about them on my personal Instagram then sell my items there, which is really fun. Iâll then donate the money to a worthy organization.
11 a.m.: Light lunch
On the way home from the market, we would stop for lunch somewhere like Little Ripper in Glassell Park. Either weâd get some food to go or we would eat there. Their open-faced toasts are great â their John Dory Tuna Toasts are always delicious.
Noon: Get outdoors
On Sundays, I enjoy doing something outdoorsy, such as playing tennis at Nibley Park or taking a walk through Deukmejian Wilderness Park in Glendale, which is truly beautiful. I had never heard of it until I moved there. They have great walking trails, and youâre welcome to bring your dog if youâd like.
2 p.m.: Shop for groceries at neighborhood markets
Usually, we would go shopping for food for dinner because we love to have Sunday dinners at our house and host our extended family and friends. We would probably go to Cookbook market in Highland Park â we used to go to the one in Echo Park when we lived in the neighborhood. Weâd get some great cheeses, baguettes, vegetables and wine. They have it all. On the way home, weâd stop by Fish King Seafood in Glendale and pick up some great fresh fish, then come home and make dinner. Sometimes I would stop by one of my stores â usually the Silver Lake one, because itâs the closest to where I live. I love to drop by and visit, talk to customers, and see how the store is looking, especially since itâs new.
4 p.m.: Shop for houseplants in Highland Park
I love to shop for plants at Echo Garden, a family-run nursery on York in Highland Park. Iâve been trying to nurture my green thumb so Iâve been buying houseplants for our new house there. I like to support small businesses. They have a nice selection of houseplants there and have outdoor plants as well. I havenât perfected my green thumb, but Iâm working on it. I love having the energy of plants inside my home. I find it to be calming. They are like little animals. They enjoy being dusted and taken care of. Itâs fun.
5 p.m.: Early Sunday dinner
If weâre not hosting dinner at our house, I love having an early dinner at a restaurant thatâs open from lunch to dinner. I especially enjoy a 4 or 5 oâclock dinner on Sunday, when you can meet a friend and have a glass of rosĂ© and something light to eat. Itâs kind of my favorite time to be at a restaurant. It feels like youâre on vacation when youâre at a restaurant at that time of day and there arenât many people there yet, and itâs outside of your routine.
If Iâm going to have an early dinner somewhere, one of my favorites is L&E Oyster Bar on Silver Lake Boulevard in Silver Lake. I love their oysters, but they also have a great burger, pastas and salads. Another one of my favorite restaurants right now is Bar Etoile on Western, but unfortunately, itâs closed on Sundays.
11 p.m.: Late-night TV viewing
After everyone leaves and we clean up from dinner, weâd probably watch a show around 11 or midnight. Unfortunately, I am more of a late-night person than I should be. Iâm not a reality TV person, so I wonât be watching âLove Island,â but there is a Danish show that we just finished called âThe Secrets We Keepâ on Netflix. I loved that. Iâm looking forward to âThe Morning Showâ coming back. I like Reese, Jen and Mark Duplass; the cast is so good.

