Shelley Beckett: Sophistication Meets Casual Style
Feminine and sophisticated with a touch of sparkle—that is the Shelley Beckett high-end contemporary line of knitwear and coordinating wovens.
Designer Shelley Deguzman said the look is “New York trying to be L.A.” Her collection meshes New York’s style and sophistication with Los Angeles’ casual wearability.
The Australian designer studied at Parsons School of Design in New York, where she later designed knitwear for various Seventh Avenue companies. She also worked in Hong Kong prior to relocating to Los Angeles nearly eight years ago. Deguzman said she started her own business because it seemed like more of a Los Angeles thing to do than to work for a large company.
Shelley Beckett, which launched for Spring/Summer 2005, was named after the designer’s grandmother, who taught her couture sewing techniques.
Deguzman’s passion is knitwear. She begins the design process with knits and develops wovens to complement the collection. Tops are key items and are meant to be worn with jeans.Her novelty fabrications bring a sophistication to the style that epitomizes Los Angeles’ casual-chic look.
“A bit of shine doesn’t hurt,” she added. “We’re like magpies—we sort of get drawn to shiny, sort of sparkly things.I think women love that kind of thing.”
The collection includes 16- to 18-inch fine-gauge sweaters and skirts made from precious fibers, such as cashmere and Japanese silk, and Lurex. Silhouettes include long-length strappy tanks, slouch-neck and V-neck long-sleeved sweaters and asymmetric-hem skirts.Wovens—such as velvet wrap tops, silk charmeuse camisoles and dresses, silk chiffon tiered skirts, and low-slung wide-leg pants—are also part of the collection. Asymmetric seaming, torn edges, beading and lameacute; velvet details add a subtle glamour, and knit trims on the wovens complement the knitwear.The look is casual elegance with a touch of couture.
While Deguzman designs for each season, the collection has a transitional feeling, with fabrications that are suited for California’s temperate climate. The designer added a group in a rich color palette of petrol, evergreen, vicuntilde;a and blackberry for Holiday.Contemporary boutiques—including Big Drop in New York, Lisa Kline and Blonde in Los Angeles, and Fred Segal Flair in Santa Monica, Calif.—have already picked up the line.
Wholesale prices are $26.50 to $54 for tanks, $50 to $80 for Lurex sweaters, $95 to $132 for cashmere sweaters, $75 for knit skirts, $92 for pants, $168 to $172 for woven skirts, and $96 to $138 for tops and dresses. For more information, call Kathy Walker Sales, located in suite 504 in The New Mart, at (213) 489-3055. —N. Jayne Seward
