Upscale and Romantic : Jessica McClintock Adds Whimsy to Exclusive Designs for Her Latest Store
Jessica McClintock, the San Francisco designer of romantic, affordable special-occasion clothing, has taken on Beverly Hills.
She planned on making her arrival in the Two Rodeo retail complex official Thursday night with a posh benefit co-hosted by actress Jane Seymour. McClintock--known for feminine, dressy mass-market concoctions under the Gunne Sax, Scott McClintock and Jessica McClintock labels--hopes to shine with merchandise designed exclusively for this store, the 10th in her retail chain.
But the goal of her new upscale line, she says, “is to design something more creative, more fun, more of my own whimsy. I would just like to extend myself more.”
In a setting of monogrammed marble and bas-relief cherubs, she offers evening wear in luxurious European fabrics, such as a black-velvet cocoon coat ($2,500) covered in a sea of tiny sparkling caramel-colored bears that wear red scarfs.
In addition to whimsy, the 60-year-old designer is partial to evening separates, including her personal choice for a black-tie event: silk-velvet pants, a silk-velvet camisole and an embroidered or brocade jacket.
“I’m not about to wear a ball gown,” she says.
The most expensive outfit in the house is a richly ornamented, crushed-velvet dress and blazer for $3,000. At the lower end, there are silk blouses trimmed in imported lace for $183 and coordinated silk pants for $260. Velvet sheaths start at $313 and short silk trench coats at $365.
Bridal gowns, for which McClintock is famous, are missing. “I’ll do bridal, but when I want to,” she says. She promises something different--maybe even bridal shorts--early next year.
Obsessed with the store’s details, she designed shoes and handbags for the collection, selected an “approachable” sales staff and clothed them in five different outfits, including lace tops and silk-crepe shorts.
Even the room freshener has been a concern. Although a men’s cologne named for son Scott McClintock will be in stock, his mother says it won’t be spritzed freely. That honor goes to the fragance bearing her name. “This is a very feminine store,” says the designer.
