Shopping: Idol Radec’s beachy menswear
The O.C. has been headquarters for clothing rooted in action sports — think trunks and graphic T-shirts — from brands such as Katin and Ocean Pacific going back to the 1960s and ‘70s. In a different twist, the newer Idol Radec, conceived in a suburban ranch house in Orange County, infuses a surf sensibility into a dressed-up menswear collection that is free of board shorts for now.
Nick Thomas, Dave Hickman and Scott Barclay design Idol Radec in Thomas’ midcentury house in Villa Park. Thomas grew up in the area — his parents still reside nearby. He says his neighbors don’t know what to make of him and his Oxford-shirted twentysomething partners, who host occasionally raucous backyard parties. The 28-year-old Thomas bought the house when he was pursuing a career in real estate after studying at nearby Chapman University.
Thomas and his partners don’t have any formal design training. The three enjoyed dressing up and scouting the Long Beach and Rose Bowl flea markets for American brands such as Carhartt and Pendleton and parlayed that hobby into designing a collection. They founded the company in 2006 with their own money, designing eight polo shirts and shorts that they took to the Pool Tradeshow in Las Vegas, a boutique lifestyle event where store buyers meet emerging talent. Later, their parents and associates contributed financing to help them develop the line. They launched their first menswear collection in 2008.
And the name?
“Idol Radec doesn’t necessarily have a definition,” Thomas says. “To us, Idol Radec is a character who represents sophistication, education, masculinity, adventure, approachability and a respect for the arts.”
And “dressing well shows that you have respect for yourself as well as the people you encounter,” he says.
Thomas travels to downtown L.A. a couple of days a week — about half of the collection is made there — and he’s in New York once a month. The rest of the week he spends surfing in south Orange County.
“It’s a chilled-out unique existence,” Thomas says.
This summer, Idol Radec is offering warm-weather clothing that can transition from casual daywear to dressed-up dinner party by adding an Oxford tuxedo shirt ($225) and white dinner jacket ($880) to khakis, shorts or white jeans. The movie “Jaws” and 1970s New England beachwear also inform this season’s offerings of cuffed shorts ($160) and chinos ($80) to wear with a thin-cotton plaid short-sleeve shirt ($165) and a cropped trench ($575).
In August, Idol Radec introduces outerwear such as waxed cotton quilted jackets and leathers, including a bison leather saddle-brown bomber jacket with a shearling collar ($650) to pair with blue tweed slacks ($350).
Next summer, Idol Radec plans to delve deeper into its O.C. heritage by introducing three board-short styles, along with graphic T-shirts filtered through the trio’s love of classic menswear.
“Our customer hangs out in Malibu, Montauk, Laguna and Miami and we wanted to make sure he has the right wardrobe for every occasion,” says Thomas, adding that Idol Radec’s fits are tailored for more athletic builds. “He is the type of guy that goes to museum openings but also hangs out on the beach in a T-shirt and trunks drinking beer and surfing.”
Idol Radec is available at Bloomingdale’s and at smaller retailers, including Douglas Fir, 8311 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. (323) 651-5445; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
EVENTS
Splendid and Kimmel Kids Saturday: Spendid celebrates summer with a family craft workshop at its Robertson Boulevard flagship. Create unique art and accessories and receive a Kimmel Kids stencil kit. Receive a 10% discount on store styles, plus Ciao Bella gelato. RSVP to splendid@trachtenberg.com.
111 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 860-0334. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SAMPLE SALES
Ella Moss and Splendid Warehouse Sale Friday and Saturday: Sample sale at Cooper Design Space in the L.A. Garment District features clothing for the entire family. Major credit cards accepted.
860 S. Los Angeles St., 8th Floor, Los Angeles. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thomas Wylde Friday through June 6: Blowout sample sale at 80% off retail (such as a Swarovski embellished T-shirt for $100) featuring high-end women’s spring/summer fashions by former model Paula Thomas. The sale will be in the Soft Studio at Smashbox Studios.
8538 Warner Drive, Culver City. (213) 617-1458. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
SALES
Stella McCartney Wednesday and ongoing: Pick up off-the-runway spring and summer 2010 styles for 40% off. The selection includes a wisteria-print silk pleated dress for $2,877 and a $141 zebra-print T-shirt dress.
8823 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 273-7051. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
https://www.stellamccartney.com
OPENING
Red Bag Boutique: China Robinson and Candance Simmons have opened a 1,600-square-foot boutique in Culver City featuring new and vintage fashions plus high-end designer finds from Robinson’s daughter, model Chanel Iman. New fashions and accessories are from labels Parker, Hobo and Junior Drake. Vintage finds include a Chanel suit for $1,000 and goodies from Iman’s closet, such as a $75 Peter Som shirt and a $7,500 Balenciaga dress. (Most prices range from $200 to $500 for designs from Doo.Ri, Jason Wu, Anna Sui and others.)
10754 W. Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. (310) 559-7332. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
https://www.theredbagboutique.com
