HILLS COURIER NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!— BEVERLY JANUARY 13, 2012-NYNY9 Lucy De Castenou Relocates Couture Salon To New Studio ucy De Castenou has relocated her popular couture boutique to a studio on South Beverly Drive. In her former Brighton Way location for almost 22 years, De Castenou is looking forward to the new year and greeting her local clientele—many who have been with her for 20 years. Known for custom, made-to-measure clothes, she is also kicking off the year launching a new number-two line of pret-a-porter garments along with her bridal collection, including gowns and mother-of-the-bride dresses. Featured in high-gloss magazines, De Castenou has a history of dressing the most elegant, most chic women in the world, including celebrities, dignitaries, royalty, lawyers and business and arts leaders. “I use very, very high-end natural fabrics,” De Castenou relates. Many are one-of-a-kind original prints on fabric. All pieces are also lined with silk. Her repertoire ranges from cocktail dresses and evening gowns to bridal parties. But she’s renowned for business attire, par ticularly her suits—“because of the fit and the fabrics.” Creating clothes is something De Castenou has been doing all her life. “It was a family trait that was passed on from my mother, a dressmaker. We learned sitting next to her; that was basic training.” She also attended design school in Mexico. “I am a designer and manufactur-
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er,” says De Castenou. Often when clients come in she makes a sketch right on the spot, taking into account the occasion and what details and style a client is looking for. She shows swatches and fabric for them to select, and before the final version, creates a mock up of the dress “to ensure everything is working well.” Clients keep coming back for the fit of her clothes, something they can’t get anywhere else. Once everything is perfect, she cuts the material and does the styling. All the manufacturing is done in Los Angeles by her staff of pattern makers, cutters and sewers. “Our garments are recognized for the high-end work and hand finishing,” De Castenou adds. “It’s wonderful to make people beautiful,” De Castenou enthuses. She was a stylist at the salon of iconic hair stylist Gene Shacove, the model for Warren Beatty’s character in Shampoo, before transitioning into fashion. “It was a natural thing,” she says.
Lucy De Castenou By Appointment Only South Beverly Drive 310-273-0880
Lucy De Castenou B E V E R L Y
H I L L S
W E R E L O C AT E D TO SOUTH BE VERLY DR ELEGANT CUSTOM COUTURE
for APPOINTMENT Call
310.273.0880 w w w. l u c y d e c a s t e n o u . c o m Klara Landrat, actress/model Rudy Valentino, stylist