Matrushka Construction

Hmm. Never have I ever been treated so badly at a store in my life.
I was looking for this bag that my friend has and I couldn’t remember the store she got it from but when I saw this store, I thought maybe this was it. I walked in and quickly realized it wasn’t, but thought I’d walk around and see what else they had. I was on my phone (yes I know merchants hate this, but it’s also my right to talk on my own phone and I was waiting until my friend finished her story before cutting her off) and I was perusing and stopped to look at the jewelry. Then Barbara, an employee there, says «can I help you?» But in a tone that was more like «why are you here?» No smile, no «hi I’ll be right over here if you need me» nothing. Now, for the record, I don’t care much if I’m greeted, ESPECIALLY if I’m on the phone, but this wasn’t a greet, it was a very passive aggressive way of showing me she didn’t want me there.
I was immediately turned off by her negative energy, so I started to leave when I caught sight of the these pictures on the wall that I wanted to buy. SINCE I WAS ON THE PHONE and didn’t want to purchase something while on the phone (cuz I know merchants REALLY hate that) I quickly put my friend on speaker, snapped a pic of the frame I wanted, so I could come back and buy it. Right as I’m bringing my phone down to take my friend OFF speaker, Barbara goes, «um can you take your phone off speaker?» …I look at her confused and I just shake my head and say «ok.»
She then continues and goes «it’s rude to have your phone on speaker» I reply with «I had it on speaker for like less than 10 seconds, but ok.» Then I say «what is your name?» And she goes «Barbara. You can complain about me, that’s fine.»
I’m blown away by the level of bitchy-​ness this girl has and I say «ok. I will. I don’t know what your deal is, but you think next time you could try at least saying ‘hi’ before passively ordering me to take my phone off speaker?» Then Barbara starts yelling at me, like hand in the air, yelling at me about ‘if I want to be helped I shouldn’t walk into a store on my phone.“
Wanting help while on my phone is not the point I was trying to make. I actually needed 0 help. I would just appreciate a little warmness, kindness, you know… the basic standard stuff that retail stores expect of their sales associates. But there was no warmness in there. I trust what I felt was very similar to what Julia Robert’s character felt in Pretty Woman.
And about the yelling… is it that serious to YELL at a customer? I did the ultimate customer service job by signing my life away in the military for 6 years. I wish every time an American pissed me off, I could just yell at them and use that as reason to justify not protecting their freedom and life.
Ok back to the story. So after being yelled at while standing in the doorway of the store… I reply with «do you know what job you’re in? You essentially are in a form of customer service. You can’t yell at the customer «
I turn to walk out the store and she yells «then get off your phone!»
I’m pissed now, I turn around and go «where do you get off telling me to get off my phone? Ever since I walked in here you have been nothing but rude to me.»
She then replies with, «well then maybe you should be respectful and not walk in here on your phone and expect to get helped!» She’s barking other rude comments to me but I honestly had to tune her out… so I cut her off and replied with «and maybe you should be nicer to your customers and not be a bitch.» I don’t go around calling people bitches but her nasty energy toppled on top of being yelled at was toooo much.
Barbara – it took everything in me to not tear you apart with my words and read you up and down. But unlike you, I have a level of class and a level of composure that doesn’t cause me to lose my cool on random people who irritate me with their «lack of manners».
Newsflash Barbara– It’s 2016, everyone is on their phones! Find something bigger to get mad at… like idk, the 20.9 million adults and children who are human trafficked; 2 million of which are children who are sold into sex slavery with L.A. being one of our nations HIGHEST rated areas for child sex trafficking.
Being originally from SoCal, I’ve come to learn that in LA especially, people who aren’t from here, move here and have something to prove to everyone, making for a stank attitude; i find it common in the entertainment and fashion industry. Having started my own business in the past and having multiple successful business owners in my circle of family and friends, I know that none of that can be possible without building relationships with people…
So Barbara, try smiling and don’t ruin the success of a store that isn’t even yours. You’re fcking toxic to the growth of Laura’s store.

Even greater experience thanI was expecting!
I have been looking at their website for a couple of months, waiting for an occasion to drive to Silver Lake. I guessed from the Unilocal reviews that wouldn’t be disappointed and I was right.
I recently decided to stop buying cheap crappy clothing and go for locally made and good quality. I’ll buy less but better. Matrushka Construction is exactly the place I was looking for.
I like the declination of each fabric in the different shapes, and yet the uniqueness of each piece of clothe. You can tell straight away it is very well tailored.
The Veronika Lake dress is indeed flattering, even for my post baby body.
Now that I know which size fits me, I might not wait my next trip to Silver Lake and order online.
The shop is very beautiful. I love that we can see where the owner works and sews, and the spools wall is very pretty. The racks are not packed and the overall atmosphere is super nice. It’s a shop where it feels good to shop.
The owner is very friendly and helpful. And she had a great sense of humor. She is very professional (and I admire her work) but very accessible.
I could go on and on about this place, I just love it! I highly recommend it!

AMAZING!!! I LOVE this store and will be back VERY soon! I wore my new dress today and felt like a million bucks! Laura was awesome — so helpful and down to earth. She made me feel comfortable immediately. I have a special occasion coming up and am definitely going to get my dress there!

I cannot say enough about how this was a shopping dream come true. If I could have, I should have gone earlier in the day, to avoid a crowd. Great individual attention and gorgeous dresses that would be flattering on anyone.

The clothes are beautiful, accessible quality pieces that are unique. Laura will even tailor things to fit you perfectly right on the spot. I found this awesome bird dress and she fit it to my body in just a few minutes and was so kind and patient with all my requests. The customer service is just as special as the clothes…

Great designs, fabrics, and they last. I bought a brown floral dress four years ago and it still looks new even though I’ve worn it close to a 100 times. I recently bought a 1960s era butterfly dress that is a compliment magnet. I love that the dresses are made in LA.

I bought a dress that was the perfect dress but not the perfect fit. Laura, the owner at the shop reworked the dress and not it fits great and I’m thrilled. The service is great, the dresses are great. I highly recommend Matrushka!

The best… designs that really look good on a curvy and non-​curvy female body… and they will recreate any piece of clothing in the shop to fit you individually…

If you want clothes that truly fit and flatter while giving you a unique look no matter your size and shape, Laura will rock your wardrobe year round with a never ending array of styles and fun fabrics.
Her clothes are effortless letting you look your best with the least amount of effort and the highest level of comfort I have yet to experience.
If she doesn’t have what you want she will make it just for you and quickly.
Simply an amazing designer!

My friend bought me two of these cool dresses for my birthday and I can’t recommend this shop highly enough! The dresses fit amazingly well, they are flattering, comfortable, self-​confidence-​inspiring, reasonably priced, machine washable and when traveling, you can roll them into a ball in your carry-​on and still looks great when you put them on! My friend tried to get me to this store forever and now I see why! You’ll be SO glad you got one (or more!) of these fabulous dresses!

I’ve bought a few of Howe’s skirts over the years. I love that you have the option to bring in your own fabrics if need be and having something altered to her styles and existing patterns.
Everything is unique, handmade, and unconventional but beautiful, and important: comfortable and flattering.
Quality fabrics, reasonable prices, and what style.
I’m tempted to sell my non-​Matrushka wardrobe just to reinvest in buying more clothes from here.

I love Matrushka Construction! Since I discovered this place, I have acquired a wardrobe of dresses that have been customized for my measurements. I am able to choose the styles I like and have them made in fabric I select. In general, as a size plus with an eclectic taste, it’s always a challenge to find clothing that I feel reflects my style. It’s been such a blessing to find a place I can count on any time I like to add something new to my wordrobe!

What a wonderful place! The clothing is amazing and the prices are just as good! A lot of time is spent looking for the perfect fabric to make truly special dresses, jackets etc. If you get a chance check it out. You will walk away with something that you will be truly excited about.

Went in needing a dress for a wedding. I wanted something cool that I could wear for more than one occasion. I tried on a few dresses, found a cut that I liked and had a dress made for me with another fabric.
This was last Friday. I’m writing this review from Seattle, where they shipped my dress and I received it TODAY! It was just as beautiful as I could’ve hoped for.
Babs was so friendly and helpful and made all of this possible! I couldn’t be happier with my decision to go to Matrushka Construction!

Amazing. Seriously. Babs was extremely helpful and super accommodating. The prices are very reasonable. My friend had a dress made to order that was perfect and I will totally be back to get one made for myself soon.
The attention to detail in their blazers is SO hot.
Again, I will be back.

A dangerous store for me. I am a curvy (I mean curvy, not a euphemism for overweight) girl and I can’t get enough of the dresses here. Wonderful fabrics, amazing fit. Can wear them casually or dressed up.
Poor Anthropologie store won’t know what hit them since I have been shunning them this spring for Matrushka.

I have been looking at this shop’s website and Unilocal reviews for a long time, but it is a long drive for me. Yesterday I made the hour trip and it was definitely worth it. I have been looking for cute summer dresses everywhere to no avail, but here I walked out with three of them.
I will be back — I love how everything is unique and limited run, and the designs are very flattering for a wide range of figures.

I’m so inspired and impressed by Laura Howe. My friend and I were drooling over dresses in Matrushka Construction, and I didn’t even notice Laura behind her sewing machine, working away.
My friend asked, «Do you design and make these dresses?»
Laura kept sewing but said, «Yes, I do.»
Wow!
Some of the gowns were like flowing liquid, molten silver in ‘30s style simplicity… so Jean Harlow-​esque, they screamed glamor. Absolutely stunning! Others were wonderful and eclectic prints of cotton in flattering styles.
I must have one of her dresses!

My husband and I were in LA for the weekend in June. We spent our Sunday afternoon at the Eagle Rock Brewery, and decided to check out Silver Lake since we were on that side of town. I did a search for women’s clothing stores on Unilocal,and Matrushka Construction was one of the first places to come up. I was very intrigued by the concept — flattering styles in interesting fabrics, tailored to your body (I’m super short, and everything has to be altered anyway). So, I sent my husband to a comic book store that I saw nearby, and made my way to Matrushka right before it closed.
I was very happy with what I found. The saleswoman didn’t rush me, and I found a very flattering style, the «Bettie Page» dress, in a very cute, fall-​like red plaid. Since I was leaving for NY a couple days later, the saleswoman said they could either tailor it and ship it to me, or let me take the pinned garment to my own tailor, and let me save on tax. I chose the latter option, and I am very happy with my dress. Wish I had a place like this in NY!

I had a bad experience the first time i visited Matrushka Construction, and after writing a Unilocal review, the owner contacted me because she was concerned about my dissatisfaction with her store and she offered to change that experience for me.
Her email was very humbling and kind so after a year of walking by without going inside, a few weeks ago i visited the store yet again, a fresh start.
From the window the dresses were very inviting, the patterns were current and the fabric designs very exciting, summery, and colorful as well.
When i entered the owner greeted me from behind the counter where she was sewing and offered to help me. She was very helpful and very polite, even after I tried on almost every item in the store (because everything looked so cute on the hangers).
I found a long red dress that i LOVED but it was only in the size Medium left so she altered it for me on the spot, taking her time to make sure it was done well, but with much skill and agility, she turned a size Medium into an Extra Small.
I was able to return an old dress (unworn of course) which i had not been satisfied with in the past, in exchange for the new red dress that i was in LOVE with. There was a $ 30 difference on the new dress and she let me have it without paying the difference for the exchange.
I left feeling really good about my dress, but more importantly about my experience at the store. It was very personal and Laura went out of her way to make sure i left a happy client, maybe even a life-​long client.
If you have a unique sense of style and like to stay current, modern and comfortable, Matruskha Construction is the place to shop. It is definitely a neighborhood store, and the owner makes it a point to know her clients and work with them so that they are satisfied and excited about their dresses.
there was also a new line of 50s inspired little jumpsuits that were very very cute, in fresh summer fabrics.
i will most definitely be coming back to Matrushka for unique dresses and a most pleasant and personalized shopping experience!