Halpern: The Designer You Need to Know
He brings New York’s hedonism to London’s minimalist fashion scene
Designer Michael Halpern is a New York native. The Parsons graduate earned his stripes at J Mendel, Oscar de la Renta and even went on to get an MA from London’s Central Saint Martins. His designs won over eminent fashion critic Sarah Mower and Donatella Versace. Soon after, he found himself working his dream job, in the Versace Atelier. Ever since, he’s committed to channelling glamour through his creations. Through Halpern, he’s revisited a signature Studio 54 style.
He’s big on sequins
Halpern doesn’t care if you don’t think sequins are high fashion. He’s here to elevate them with his sculptural drapes and become the new age Sultan of Sequins, as British Vogue put it.
He’s inspired by his mother
In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia he revealed that Mrs Halpern was a Studio 54 girl and his prime source of inspiration were her colourful stories. “My mum was a Studio 54 girl. She was an incredible woman with a fierce job in New York as one of the foremost women at JP Morgan. Her story is incredible. She mentors young women in the industry. I started from listening to stories of she and her friends talking about going to Studio 54, and what the door was like, and what Steve was like, and seeing Liza Minnelli and watching Diana Ross perform, just incredible things. There aren’t so many pictures, but because of that, it turns into these incredible detailed, colourful, salacious stories from that time. And she has a lot of the clothes still, so I can look at them, and that’s really where the company began and that’s what I still reference.”
He’s got a major Topshop collaboration under his belt
November marked the release of his big ticket collaboration with Topshop. He translated the essence and emotive quality of his brand, to affordable pieces. He ventured beyond sequins, to introduce stretch velvets, prints, and embroidery to complete the ‘70s vibe.
