A Quarter Century and Lofty Aspirations: Shipley & Halmos is Only Appropriate

The time between my last post and now has been filled with several celebrations.  I celebrated a quarter century of existence while our country celebrated its 235^th birthday.  (I guess relatively speaking, I’m still a baby).  Keeping with the July 4^th weekend, the Paperdoll herself, Taryn and Lesa took me over to the American Girl store for lunch, including the doll who sat in the chair next to me, fake whip cream cake, and embarrassing birthday stickers and song that you could hear across the entire store. It was amazing.  

Later that night, we continued the celebration with good music, good friends, and a few good drinks. While I was so excited to do all of those things, I was equally as excited to  enjoy a perfect summer evening and even hit the beach (if for only a few short moments) in a perfect summer dress.  I had been counting down the days that week not until my birthday, but until I could finally wear this dress.

Every now and then (particularly on your birthday, no matter how old you are) a girl wants to feel like a… well, girl. Not just any girl- a floating, ethereal princess with the slightest hint of audacity  to put a little muscle behind that newly acquired “I’m older, if only by a few hours” swagger.  Shipley & Halmos’ Nomad Cascade dress fits that bill to a T. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, the co-designers of the label, have said they feel that, “clothing should never be a disguise, but rather as a means to reflect honestly the character of the wearer.” In my case,  (for that day at least) that happened to be whimsical, playful, and maybe even a little bit cheeky- all embodied in the dress with its soft perforated leather top attached to a delicate flowing skirt with asymmetrical hem and open back detailing.  The abstract burlap pattern in varying shades of sand, rose, and desert rock flows over the cascading layers of silk creating subtle layers of intricacy as you stroll across the sand, waltz down Newbury St… or take things to a more rock star level… clearly the perfect birthday dress.

Shipley & Halmos though a relatively young company has already established a strong foothold in the industry.  Their unique vision, sense of style, and approach to business has already earned the duo the inaugural Young Designer Award from the National Arts Club in 2008 and a nomination in 2009 for the GQ/CFDA Best New Designer Award. These accolades come with good merit.  Shipley & Halmos has earned a reputation for clothing that is smart, warm (in an inviting kind of way, not temperature) and somewhat indefinable (from a style label standpoint…  not surprising given their many inspirations), yet consistently delivering a thoughtfulness in design where form marries function, laced with attention to (often tongue-in-cheek) detail.

Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos (from the Shiply & Halmos Website)

The Shipley & Halmos story goes back a little further than 2007 though. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos met in Boulder, Colorado while at college. They have been friends and business partners ever since. (Their first venture was the company Trovata which they co-founded with two other college friends).  They moved first to California while developing the Trovata brand and apparent love for Mexican food.  The pair decided to sacrifice their favorite burritos and beaches for studio space on Canal and Green St. in New York City a year later when they started Shipley & Halmos. Starting off in men’s wear, they are now so much more than a fashion line. They are makers of “things crafted with hand, health, and heart” (as their label reads). These “things” include books, art supplies, and even furniture.

The Shipley & Halmos label as it appears on my dress
Image from the Shipley & Halmos Wesbite

They are currently my latest obsession. There have been a few companies in my short professional life that have made such an impression on me, in a way that I have said, “It doesn’t matter in what capacity, but I would love, love, love to work for them just because of what they stand for.”  Shipley & Halmos is one of those companies.  They have such an amazing creative vision that really covers the gamut. From clothing to print media, to music their inspiration is limitless, and they aren’t afraid to dabble into everything.  You’ve heard me talk before about how I feel like I’m creatively… let’s say “eclectic,” and Shipley & Halmos is a testament to how great doing a little bit of everything can be.  I would say take a quick look at their website, but I can almost guarantee you’ll be sucked in for hours on end like I continually am. It’s definitely one of the coolest websites by not only any fashion label, but in general.  To get the privilege of working with these guys is definitely now on my long list of lofty aspirations… but for now I’ll settle for celebrating my birthday with them in style and spirit.