ThirdLove has opened its first West Coast store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
The lingerie store got its start in 2013 online and touts a “size-inclusive” line of undergarments that includes 70 bra sizes, including “half-cup” sizes for women who fall outside the traditional fitting model.
The San Francisco-based company was co-founded by CEO Heidi Zak, formerly at Google, and Chief Operating Officer Ra’el Cohen.
For its grand opening celebration, which started Feb. 11 and ends today, ThirdLove said it will accept a trade-of an old bra, replacing it with a free ThirdLove 24/7 Classic T-shirt bra.
The T-shirt bra is the company’s top-seller, according to Zak, who was at the store for its grand opening Friday.
The retailer sells a complete line of lingerie that includes bras, underwear, lounge and activewear. ThirdLove’s undergarments were engineered for comfort, made with soft fabric, ultra-light foam padding and no aggravating tags, Zak says.
ThirdLove said it has donated more than $50 million worth of bras to women in need.
Warby Parker opens at Brea Mall
The trendy eyewear shop Warby Parker is opening a store Saturday, Feb. 12 inside the Brea Mall.
Warby Parker launched first as an online-only eyewear retailer, offering customers a chance to try on five sets of frames from home at no cost. The company moved into brick-and-mortar stores in 2013.
Customers can select from a wide variety of frames and lenses, including light-responsive gray, green and brown options, as well as non-polarized prescription lenses for sunglasses. A collection for children is available in-store and not on the company’s website.
Frames, minus their lenses, are priced from $95. Progressive lenses at Warby start at $295. The cost for all of Warby Parker’s prescription eyeglasses also includes a scratch-resistant treatment, anti-reflective and superhydrophobic coatings and UV protection.
The company is also expanding for the 2021-2022 school year its Pupils Project, which works with organizations and local government agencies to provide free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to schoolchildren throughout California.
Address: 1065 Brea Mall, Suite 1012
Free tax prep, filing is available for lower-income families
Orange County United Way is offering free tax preparation and electronic filing for low- and moderate-income people and families.
The OC Free Tax Prep program helps low-income Californians utilize earned income tax credits that often go overlooked.
The program offers three ways to file:
Drop-off: Make an appointment where an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparer files for you;
Virtually: Upload tax documents to a secure online portal with a mobile device or do it yourself online at MyFreeTaxes.com.
Pick a site: There are more than 20 VITA sites in Orange County, with locations at community resource centers, churches and schools.
Multilingual preparers will be available in most locations.
For households earning less than $30,000 in 2021, the expanded California Earned Income Tax Credit may qualify them for hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars in their tax returns. Filers also may be eligible for the federal EITC if they earn less than $58,000.
Households that earned less than $60,000 in 2021, but don’t qualify for EITC, may still be eligible for free tax filing services.
In partnership with the city of Irvine and the county, free tax prep also will be available in the parking lot of Cypress Community Park through a mobile E-bus complete with Wi-Fi and computer stations. Tax prep takes place every Wednesday through April 6. To make a (required) appointment for the E-bus, call 888-434-8248.
A full list of VITA locations can be found at ocfreetaxprep.com/locations. Masks are required for all drop-off locations.
The deadline to file is April 18.
Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to make deliveries
Meals on Wheels Orange County is urgently seeking volunteers to help with its home delivery meal program.
The program helps older adults by keeping them in the homes they love and lessening the loneliness many face each day.
Meals on Wheels Orange County serves 2 million meals to more than 20,000 at-risk older adults each year, a number that doubled during the pandemic. It needs volunteers to deliver meals in Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Midway City, Stanton, Seal Beach and Westminster.
Volunteers pick up meals from local senior or community centers and hand-deliver them to seniors’ homes on weekday mornings. They can choose to volunteer once a week or more frequently, and each route takes about one to two hours to complete.
Home visits are a COVID-safe experience, with social distancing and masks required. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age, have their own transportation, and commit to a minimum of eight weeks of service. Background checks are required.
To learn more or volunteer, go to mealsonwheelsoc.org/volunteer-sign-up.
People on the move in Orange County
Laurie Dodge has been promoted to provost at UMass Global in Irvine, replacing Charles A. Bullock, executive vice chancellor of academic affairs and provost, who is retiring. Dodge will assume the role of executive vice chancellor and provost on April 1. She is a key figure in developing the university’s academic catalog.
Susan Valen has been named director of sales for Visit Huntington Beach, the marketing organization for the city. She most recently served as the national sales director for the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for the past 13 years.
Civil defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP has promoted attorney Emily Meeson to partner from senior counsel. Meeson is based in the firm’s San Diego and Orange County offices and focuses on employment practices litigation defense, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims.
Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
