DUBAI — Mischa Barton is turning her focus to fashion design.

The sometime actress and regular tabloid fodder launched her contemporary collection, Mischa, at an event in Dubai Mall’s Rivaage Boutique Wednesday night.

The signature apparel line, a collaboration with her mother, Nuala, is reminiscent of the retro Bohemian style the actress made famous while starring on the hit show “The O.C.” from 2003 to 2006.

The collection features feminine dresses, vintage-style skirts and cardigans, jumpsuits, leggings and signature pieces like the Mischa jacket. Barton said she’s still very much focused on acting, but the fashion line “gives me an opportunity to take out my creative energies.”

The pieces, manufactured in China, retail for between $45 and $450. The collection had a soft launch two months ago online, selling out within days without any marketing. “It’s for women ranging from 15 to 35. There are different pieces that will appeal to different styles, but the main thing is I wanted it to feel functional and easy to wear,” Barton told WWD. “My sister, who’s 36 and a barrister in London, wears a lot of it.”

This is Barton’s second trip to Dubai. She came for the lavish launch party of the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in 2008. She described her visit as “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”

She returned to Dubai to launch her collection because there was a strong demand for her accessories line, which she has been designing since 2009. “It wasn’t even available in this market, but women really made a great effort to get the bags,” she said.

Next up for actress-turned-entrepreneur is a 1,000-square-foot store opening in London’s Spitalfields area next month.  The store, which she said has a “vintage feel,” will carry her clothing and accessories line as well as a range of Mischa Barton-branded cosmetics. “I’m not looking at being mass market. I’d like to grow the business organically,” she said.

This venture is very much a family business for Barton. Her mother is managing the business aspects of the brand and said it is fully a family-run business and, at the moment, they have no outside investors. They plan to grow the business in whatever direction the demand dictates. “Before we’ve even launched the London flagship, we’ve gotten requests for franchises in China,” said Nuala Barton.

She added they hope to bring the line to the U.S. by the end of the year.

Source: WWD

Some social media photos of Mischa at a media lunch in Dubai to promote her clothing collection (MischasPlace.com) have been added. Doesn’t she look outstanding?!?!

These photos shared by @sarahdeath @CosmoMiddleEast @BazaarArabia.

After touching down in London last week, it wasn’t long before Mischa was on another plane, this time to Dubai where she was on hand to launch her clothing collection at Rivaage Boutique for their store opening at The Dubai Mall.These photos shared by @dipeshdepala, @redvelvetnation and @lamodemimi.

While in Dubai, Mischa also attended the Katch Launch Party at Cirque Du Soir Dubai. These photos courtesy their Facebook page.

Additionally, Mischa made time for a photoshoot with Grazia Middle East. These shots shared by @MischAmazing and @Grazia_me.

Finally, here are some other pictures shared of Mischa’s trip on Twitter. Credits underneath the pics.

The folks over at Inanch London uploaded some photos on their Facebook page of Mischa having her hair touched up and some extensions put in. Mischa was also a client of Inanch London during her last trip to London where she attended a Pia Michi event. Check out Mischa’s updated look in the pics below.

   

The Stunning @MischAmazing Barton at #INANCH (6 photos)

We are delighted to welcome back our lovely client Mischa Barton who arrived in London earlier this week. Looking as gorgeous as ever, Hollywood star and dress designer Mischa had a full set of Great Lengths hair extensions applied by Inanch in 3 golden shades of blonde, brown and toffee colours – all mixed together for a natural and elegant look. We wish Mischa great success with the launch of her new line of clothing and accessories at the newly opened Rivaage boutique in the Dubai Shopping Mall where she will be attending next week.

Check out the trailer for Mischa’s upcoming horror movie with Devon Sawa and Michael Clarke Duncan called The Sibling. I can’t wait! This movie looks like a blast.

A bunch of additional behind the scenes photos of Mischa’s upcoming spread for Idee Fixe magazine have been added. Photos from the Facebook page.

Photos of Mischa at the Women for Women International Gala in London have been added.

I’ve also added some candids of Mischa following the event.

And I’ve finally added the extra photos from the BritWeek event that I mentioned would be added in the initial update. We’ll also hopefully have at least a couple more events to look forward to in the near future. I’m not sure in which order they’ll fall, but we should see Mischa out for her store opening in Spitalfields plus the Rivaage Boutique opening in Dubai on May 9th. Hopefully both events are covered by media.