Clothespin Boutique Opens in West Hollywood

A new town meant a new venture for Gale Parker.

After moving from Northern California to West Hollywood, Calif., in March, the veteran designer started plans to open her first boutique for her Clothespin label. On Nov. 10, the Clothespin boutique bowed at 8654 Melrose Ave.

The Clothespin boutique is the latest chapter in a life in fashion for Parker, who designed for Valentino and Halston in the 1970s and worked as afashion editor for Vogue in 1976. Since then, she has raised a family, traveled the world, and sought to create a line that could be eco-friendly and unique.

Clothespin hopes to be environmentally conscious by making clothes out of vintage fabrics or 1940s-era rayon. Retail price points will range from $700 to $1,200. Also available will be Parker’s refurbished vintage fashion line, called Clothespin V.

To ensure a one-of-a-kind look, Clothespin customers can have their dresses custom-tailored at the store. She hopes her boutique will resemble the bespoke shops she remembers decades ago that instilled a sense of community to shoppers. “You can talk with the designer,” she said. “If you want to have fun and hang out in a different environment, you can do that there. It’s a lovely place to be.” —Andrew Asch