Shipley & Halmos to launch spring collection in L.A.
After two years in New York, designers Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos are returning to L.A. to meet and greet customers as they launch their new spring collection at Confederacy on March 18.
“It’s fun coming back to L.A.,” Halmos says. “I’ve been back only once for a quick weekend trip. We can listen to LL Cool J’s ‘Going Back to Cali’ on the way.”
Along with John Whitledge and Josia Lamberto-Egan, Halmos and Shipley founded Trovata eight years ago in Newport Beach. After winning the CFDA Swarovski Perris Ellis award for menswear in 2006, the duo left the label — now designed by Whitledge — but they retain an ownership stake in Trovata in addition to designing the Shipley & Halmos line. Leaving the O.C. was easy, since neither Halmos nor Shipley are natives. Halmos hails from Florida and Shipley is from Colorado. “It’s a common misconception,” says Halmos, explaining why they always get lumped in with California designers.
Halmos says he envisions the Shipley & Halmos line as day-to-night clothes that a twenty- to thirtysomething hipster can wear to work and then on to hit the city lights. “We’re not making red carpet dresses,” he says. “If you live in Venice and work in Echo Park, you don’t have to leave stuff in the car” to change into and go out in.
Shipley & Halmos looks have a youthful bent, since the designers are both 30. Halmos says he and his design partner are conscious about whether hipsters can afford the collection: “We spend a lot of time thinking about price and about accessibility. We offer a T-shirt for $50 — the cheapest — up to leathers that are less than $1,000.”
The Shipley & Halmos spring collection for men and women, available at Confederacy, is a play on pairing structured garments such as blazers with unstructured ones such as dresses, Halmos says. He’s fond of the label’s leathers, including a men’s gray motorcycle jacket ($850) and a women’s black snap-front cape with cinched neck ($795). The duo still designs a strong menswear collection (last year Shipley & Halmos was nominated for the GQ/CFDA Best New Designer Award for menswear) featuring casual separates such as striped polos ($98), tanks ($65), slim jeans ($185) and pleated cotton pants ($225). As a nod to their Orange County days, Shipley & Halmos also designed color-blocked board shorts ($145).
Shipley and Halmos are collaborating with Confederacy owner Ilaria Urbinati on uniforms for store salespeople, which will debut at the meet-and-greet.
And what does Halmos miss most about Southern California? “Mexican food, In-N-Out, daily 70-degree weather and the beach.” Oh, and the Lakers. While in L.A., Halmos says, the duo will attend the Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game at Staples Center. “We assume the Lakers are probably going to win that game,” he says.
4661 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 913-3040. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
https://www.shopconfederacy.com
Opening
Loehmann’s Friday: The designer discount store, which takes 30% to 65% off department store prices, opens a new outlet at Costa Mesa’s Metro Pointe Center. In addition to offering fashions, bags and shoes, the 40,000-square-foot Loehmann’s will feature the Back Room’s selected finds, from casual looks to evening wear, and a complimentary Personal Shopper service (by appointment) to assist busy customers in finding that one necessity or an entire wardrobe. On Friday, the store will open at 8 a.m. On Saturday, Band From TV — a musical group that features television actors such as Adrian Pasdar and Greg Grunberg of “Heroes” and Jesse Spencer of “House” — will perform a benefit concert at 8 p.m. in front of the new store, with a portion of the proceeds going to charities the band supports. Tickets are $35 and are available in other Loehmann’s stores or online at https://www.loehmanns.com. More information about the band is available at https://www.bandfromtv.org.
901 South Coast Dr., Costa Mesa. 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday; 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Events
Diane von Furstenberg Monday: The New York designer releases a limited-edition compilation CD, “Proud to Be Woman,” featuring tracks from Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Estelle, Tegan & Sara and Santigold to mark International Women’s Day. It’s available at DVF boutiques, DVF.com and iTunes, and 100% of the $15.99 purchase price benefits Vital Voices, an organization dedicated to mentoring emerging female leaders in more than 150 countries.
8407 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 951-1947. 11 a.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Sales
Tourneau Watch Sample Sale Wednesday through March 14: Tourneau, the world’s largest watch store, holds its first sample sale in Los Angeles at the Hotel Sofitel after six years in New York. Sale items include famous brand-name watches, starting at $200, excluding Rolex and Patek Philippe. The selection includes new and pre-owned watches at 50% to 70% off retail prices. Major credit cards accepted; all sales are final. A photo ID is required to enter the sales area. No children under 12 admitted.
8555 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (718) 747-1656 (phone-staffed 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.). 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
