That California feeling
With five stores in Mexico and Colombia, the guys behind lifestyle and footwear brand Romero + McPaul decided it was time for a U.S. flagship. And Los Angeles, said label co-founder Hernan Junco, was the perfect locale.
“Most of our online orders are from the West Coast, and the spirit of the brand feels very Californian,” he said recently. “The light colors and leathers work with the California weather.”
In early August, the brand opened a 600-square-foot boutique on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood near the Pacific Design Center. The space is a showcase for relaxed, European-made shoe selections for men and women and other goods. (Patricio Jourdain, a partner in the 7-year-old brand, said that some 70% of sales are in footwear.)
Junco, who designs the collection with co-founder Raul Gonzalez, said inspiration comes from three core elements: sailing, royalty and the Ivy League, hence the casual yet upscale leather slip-on shoes; the monogrammed velvet slippers, a style first worn in the court of Queen Victoria; and the preppy, collegiate style of the loafers. Simple Tshirts as well as swim trunks in fun prints (think ice cream cones or an image of people lounging poolside) round out the offerings. The local store will also provide a velvet slipper customization service. Footwear prices start at $220, and T-shirts are $40. Romero + McPaul, 8627 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, usa.romeromcpaul.com