Swatch: Time for a comeback, company says
Sun 02 Aug 2009
NEW: Floating Away
If you were a teenager in the 1980s, you probably wore a Swatch or two or five. And since this decade's designers have been rehashing '80s fashion trends (shoulder-padded blazers, baggy "boyfriend" jeans and wide belts), the timing is right for the Swiss watchmaker to make its resurgence.
Swatch, which made the late graffiti artist Keith Haring a household name, again looks to the street for its latest artistic collaboration this summer. The watchmaker enlisted New York's Billy the Artist and Matthew Langille, along with Europeans Ted Scapa and Grems, to channel the decade's mix of street and sleek for its Artist Collection, which debuted in 1985 and has featured work by Yoko Ono, Annie Leibovitz and Robert Altman. (The original Haring Swatch watches still sell on EBay for as much as $499.)
"Swatch, although iconic, it kind of lost its edge," says Patricia Higgins, brand president of Swatch USA. "With this [collaboration] we're really going back to our roots -- it reeks Swatch, it's what we were known for."
Langille, 27, who also does T-shirt graphics for Marc Jacobs, drafted three designs for Swatch -- Snuggle Bunch, Floating Away and Germaholic -- featuring Haring-esque graphics, teddy bears and primary colors.
Langille says the funniest is the Germaholic "because I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. It's a hypochondriac germ screaming at the top of his lungs because he's surrounded by other germs and having a panic attack." Although the design looks retro, it suits our swine/avian flu pandemic times.
Of course, what made teenage girls able to stack Swatches on wrists like bangles was their price. And the watches are still affordable. The Artist Collection runs $55to $95 and the timepieces are still made in Switzerland, same as a Rolex.
And you probably wouldn't want to wrap a ponytail with a diamond-encrusted Audemars Piguet.
swatch.com
OPENINGS
Panty Raid The lingerie shop has relocated from Silver Lake to Los Feliz with a "girlier" shop decked with fuchsia curtains and Moroccan/Hollywood Regency fixtures. The store stocks nearly 30 lingerie and lounge-wear lines, including Huit, Cosabella and Hanky Panky. Prices start at $20, for Mary Green all-silk briefs, and go to $130 for Hanro nightgowns.
1953 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 668-1888. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Grey Handbag designer Allison Burns and Caprice Gray has opened an accessory shop, described as the nexus of high-end fashion meeting the soul of rock 'n' roll inside Silver Lake's Pull My Daisy. The store-in-a-store showcases Burns' line of handbags ($25-$250). Grey also carries scents from ZuzuzPetalz ($38-$48) plus jewelry from Joseph Brooks ($60-$300), 28KTS by Juliana Eshaya ($300) and White Trash Charms ($18-$800).
3908 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 663-0608. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Sunday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Montblanc Monday: The maker of fine jewelry and writing instruments unveils its new Golden Triangle flagship. The spacious boutique spotlights its Haute Joallerie collection plus the launch of the Diva collection honoring Ingrid Bergman and the 85th anniversary of the Meisterstuck fountain pen. There's also the Signature for Good charity initiative, through which 10% of the purchase price of a special Meisterstuck ($410-$690) will be donated to UNICEF. On Monday, there is a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m.
323 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 275-3665. 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
www.montblanc.com
SALES
The Circle Sunday: The Silver Lake designer outlet has a sample sale, with prices 40% to 80% below retail. Lines on offer include Black Halo, Guy Baxter, Vava ($70 yellow dress, regular price $175), Voom by Joy Jan ($80 purple dress, regular price $285), Jenny Han (all styles priced under less than $80).
2395 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 665-5336. Noon to 6 p.m.
www.thecircleoutlet.com
Camarillo and Desert Hills outlets Ongoing through Monday: Brand-name outlets are lopping off additional discounts on prices already-discounted 25% to 65%. Deals to look for at Camarillo include J.Crew ($29.99 on women's chinos and men's button-downs), American Apparel jersey dresses (three for $30) and Joe's Jeans (women's denim starting at $49.99, receive an additional 10% off from 10 a.m. to noon). Desert Hills features deals at Elie Tahari (shoes and handbags, $79-$199), Nine West (buy one, get one 50% off) and Timberland (men's boat shoes starting at $39.99.)
Camarillo, 740 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo. (805) 445-8520. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
www.premiumoutlets.com/camarillo
Desert Hills, 48400 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. (951) 849-6641. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
www.premiumoutlets.com/deserthills
Trina Turk Saturday and Sunday: Colorful, casual LA-based designer has a weekend sample sale in conjunction with the Third Street Sidewalk Sale. Women's clothing samples start at $40. The signature boutique will also have other select styles marked down.
8008 W. 3rd St., (323) 651-1382. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
max@maxpadilla.com
Swatch, which made the late graffiti artist Keith Haring a household name, again looks to the street for its latest artistic collaboration this summer. The watchmaker enlisted New York's Billy the Artist and Matthew Langille, along with Europeans Ted Scapa and Grems, to channel the decade's mix of street and sleek for its Artist Collection, which debuted in 1985 and has featured work by Yoko Ono, Annie Leibovitz and Robert Altman. (The original Haring Swatch watches still sell on EBay for as much as $499.)
"Swatch, although iconic, it kind of lost its edge," says Patricia Higgins, brand president of Swatch USA. "With this [collaboration] we're really going back to our roots -- it reeks Swatch, it's what we were known for."
Langille, 27, who also does T-shirt graphics for Marc Jacobs, drafted three designs for Swatch -- Snuggle Bunch, Floating Away and Germaholic -- featuring Haring-esque graphics, teddy bears and primary colors.
Langille says the funniest is the Germaholic "because I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. It's a hypochondriac germ screaming at the top of his lungs because he's surrounded by other germs and having a panic attack." Although the design looks retro, it suits our swine/avian flu pandemic times.
Of course, what made teenage girls able to stack Swatches on wrists like bangles was their price. And the watches are still affordable. The Artist Collection runs $55to $95 and the timepieces are still made in Switzerland, same as a Rolex.
And you probably wouldn't want to wrap a ponytail with a diamond-encrusted Audemars Piguet.
swatch.com
OPENINGS
Panty Raid The lingerie shop has relocated from Silver Lake to Los Feliz with a "girlier" shop decked with fuchsia curtains and Moroccan/Hollywood Regency fixtures. The store stocks nearly 30 lingerie and lounge-wear lines, including Huit, Cosabella and Hanky Panky. Prices start at $20, for Mary Green all-silk briefs, and go to $130 for Hanro nightgowns.
1953 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 668-1888. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Grey Handbag designer Allison Burns and Caprice Gray has opened an accessory shop, described as the nexus of high-end fashion meeting the soul of rock 'n' roll inside Silver Lake's Pull My Daisy. The store-in-a-store showcases Burns' line of handbags ($25-$250). Grey also carries scents from ZuzuzPetalz ($38-$48) plus jewelry from Joseph Brooks ($60-$300), 28KTS by Juliana Eshaya ($300) and White Trash Charms ($18-$800).
3908 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 663-0608. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Sunday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Montblanc Monday: The maker of fine jewelry and writing instruments unveils its new Golden Triangle flagship. The spacious boutique spotlights its Haute Joallerie collection plus the launch of the Diva collection honoring Ingrid Bergman and the 85th anniversary of the Meisterstuck fountain pen. There's also the Signature for Good charity initiative, through which 10% of the purchase price of a special Meisterstuck ($410-$690) will be donated to UNICEF. On Monday, there is a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m.
323 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 275-3665. 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
www.montblanc.com
SALES
The Circle Sunday: The Silver Lake designer outlet has a sample sale, with prices 40% to 80% below retail. Lines on offer include Black Halo, Guy Baxter, Vava ($70 yellow dress, regular price $175), Voom by Joy Jan ($80 purple dress, regular price $285), Jenny Han (all styles priced under less than $80).
2395 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 665-5336. Noon to 6 p.m.
www.thecircleoutlet.com
Camarillo and Desert Hills outlets Ongoing through Monday: Brand-name outlets are lopping off additional discounts on prices already-discounted 25% to 65%. Deals to look for at Camarillo include J.Crew ($29.99 on women's chinos and men's button-downs), American Apparel jersey dresses (three for $30) and Joe's Jeans (women's denim starting at $49.99, receive an additional 10% off from 10 a.m. to noon). Desert Hills features deals at Elie Tahari (shoes and handbags, $79-$199), Nine West (buy one, get one 50% off) and Timberland (men's boat shoes starting at $39.99.)
Camarillo, 740 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo. (805) 445-8520. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
www.premiumoutlets.com/camarillo
Desert Hills, 48400 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. (951) 849-6641. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
www.premiumoutlets.com/deserthills
Trina Turk Saturday and Sunday: Colorful, casual LA-based designer has a weekend sample sale in conjunction with the Third Street Sidewalk Sale. Women's clothing samples start at $40. The signature boutique will also have other select styles marked down.
8008 W. 3rd St., (323) 651-1382. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
max@maxpadilla.com