First-lady footwear comes to L.A.
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Jack Rogers sandals, popularized by Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s, are tiptoe-ing into L.A. on Saturday.
Steven Stolman, the line’s charming design director, is having a trunk show at Mecox Gardens on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. He joined the company a little over a year ago, after Jack Rogers was purchased by a New York-based investment group, to spiff things up for the 21st century, building on the resort-chic whip-stitched ‘Navajo’ sandals from Jackie’s day.
He’s added new footwear -- 4-inch metallic linen espadrilles ($178) and patent leather high wedges ($148) that are completely sexy; the Navajo style redone as a jelly sandal ($68); and ballet flats reminiscent of moccasins ($198) to take you into fall.
Stolman, who cut his chops with Pauline Trigere and Lilly Pulitzer, has also introduced clutch purses and clothing playing on the shoe’s classic design elements, such as a white guipure lace tunic with a pinwheel motif ($458) and a tangerine maxi dress with a pinwheel eyelet border ($348).
The brand seems to be off to a great new start. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s got heritage (which is what everyone wants in retail now), an heiress creative director (Lauren Dupont, formerly of Vogue magazine) and accessible prices.
Little known fact: Though he started his line in Palm Beach with the Miami Footwear Co. in 1960, Jack Rogers -- a former resort-wear buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue -- was from Los Angeles!
If you don’t pick up a pair this Saturday (Stolman has limited styles; others can be ordered), you can find Jack Rogers shoes online here, or at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Jack Rogers at Mecox Gardens, 919 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday (July 10), (310) 358-9272.
--Booth Moore
Top: First Lady Jackie Kennedy exiting Good Friday services in Palm Beach, Fla., in 1961. Credit: Archival photo courtesy of Jack Rogers USA.
