I
was so scared of this house,” says Pamela Skaist-Levy while sitting in the media room of her expansive 1930s home. Built by noted Los Angeles developer Burton E. Green, who also constructed The Beverly Hills Hotel, the estate appears on the local register of historic properties, and occupies a sweeping corner lot bordered by a towering hedge and concealed by a massive gate. Beyond the imposing stone façade, the seven bedrooms and grand public rooms within are every bit a construct of formal scale. “It was so dark and intimidating. There were three layers of curtains on every window. And it was in Beverly Hills.” Its history is as dramatic as the two centauride statues that flank the front entrance. Merv Griffin was a former owner, and it’s said that the proper garden on the north side of the lawn was one of Nancy Reagan’s favorite spots for clipping roses. SkaistLevy, 50, whose long, blond hair has ends expertly dipped in blue dye, is Southern Californian to her very core, but she and the former First Lady don’t exactly share the same tastes. SkaistLevy is one-half of the founding duo behind Juicy Couture and now, Skaist-Taylor. She and Gela Nash-Taylor have been business partners and best friends since they met working at L.A.’s trendy Diane Merrick boutique in the late ’80s. “We were filling in for a friend who happened to be in rehab,” she says, drily. “How’s that for an L.A. story?” Skaist-Levy and Nash-Taylor started Juicy in 1995, and their popular velour tracksuit, replete with its signature logo on the tush, has been credited with putting California casual on the map. Though the brand was acquired in 2003 by Fifth & Pacific, formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc., the friends (who are often spotted wearing matching over-the-knee boots and micro mini-dresses to events) still embody the Juicy legacy. SkaistTaylor, the pair’s newly launched collection of affordable dresses and separates, is a mature incarnation of their style, more grown-up glam than laidback loungewear. The brand represents their personal evolution from fun-loving party girls to successful businesswomen. Skaist-Levy grew up as a “kooky kid” who worshipped surf and skate culture. She found work as a costume designer on small projects and independent films before Juicy. She’s unapologetic about her eccentricities—particularly her love of the ’70s in the San Fernando Valley. “I do. I love the Valley. I loved growing up there,” she says. Her husband, director/producer Jeff Levy, grew up on the other side of the hill. “He’s from Beverly Hills, so buying the house was his idea.” Skaist-Levy agreed to take the risk, realizing that the topography of the lot surrounding the estate was unusual and special. >>
Feature (House)
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