Veronica Parra
Practically Family
- Messages
- 569
Hi everyone! My name is Marc, and I'm a big fan of OVIATT'S (previously ALEXANDER & OVIATT), the greatest Los Angeles menswear store of the Golden Age. The best vintage suits, shirts and ties I've ever found -- and they're hard to find! -- were made for OVIATT'S.
Below is some information about the now-defunct store. My question is: does anyone here have vintage menswear items from OVIATT'S? I'd really be interested in knowing!
"In 1906, at the age of 18, the talented and ambitious James Oviatt left his native Salt Lake City for Los Angeles, where he began a career in haberdashery at Desmond?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Department Store.
After rising rapidly through Desmond?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ranks, he opened an exclusive men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shop with business partner Frank Alexander in 1911. Their goods were so supremely elegant that the clientele of Alexander and Oviatt became a veritable Who?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Who of Los Angeles celebrities and socialites.
In 1925, on one of his many trips to Paris in search of fine fabrics, Oviatt attended the landmark Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes (from which the term Art Deco was derived). Instantly captivated by the beauty of Art Deco, Oviatt commissioned the leading European designers and craftsmen, including renowned jeweler and art-glass designer Rene Lalique, to ornament a magnificent building that would be the new home of Alexander and Oviatt.
The Oviatt Building, erected in 1927, was the first Art Deco building in Los Angeles. Designed by Albert Walker and Percy Eisen, it was lavishly embellished with French marble and more than 30 tons of Lalique?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s art glass ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù the largest shipment of its kind ever to pass through the Panama Canal.
The Penthouse, created for Oviatt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s own use, was outfitted with Lalique?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s custom lighting treatments and exquisite floors and cabinetry by the celebrated French firm Saddier et Fils. It was recognized as a masterpiece from the moment of its completion. The splendor of the interior was matched by the bi-level rooftop gardens, which boasted a swimming pool, tennis court, putting green, clocktower and ?¢‚Ǩ?ìbeach?¢‚Ǩ? of imported Riviera sand.
Hailed by Oviatt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s contemporaries as ?¢‚Ǩ?ìa castle in the air?¢‚Ǩ?, the Penthouse was the site of legendary parties for decades. Oviatt and his wife Mary entertained lavishly, and signed photographs of their friends and clients ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù including John Barrymore, Errol Flynn, Leslie Howard, Charles Boyer and Howard Hughes ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù still grace the Penthouse walls.
By 1969 the era of Alexander and Oviatt was over. The haberdashery closed, but the Oviatts continued to occupy the Penthouse until their deaths in the early 1970?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s."
Below is some information about the now-defunct store. My question is: does anyone here have vintage menswear items from OVIATT'S? I'd really be interested in knowing!
"In 1906, at the age of 18, the talented and ambitious James Oviatt left his native Salt Lake City for Los Angeles, where he began a career in haberdashery at Desmond?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Department Store.
After rising rapidly through Desmond?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ranks, he opened an exclusive men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shop with business partner Frank Alexander in 1911. Their goods were so supremely elegant that the clientele of Alexander and Oviatt became a veritable Who?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Who of Los Angeles celebrities and socialites.
In 1925, on one of his many trips to Paris in search of fine fabrics, Oviatt attended the landmark Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes (from which the term Art Deco was derived). Instantly captivated by the beauty of Art Deco, Oviatt commissioned the leading European designers and craftsmen, including renowned jeweler and art-glass designer Rene Lalique, to ornament a magnificent building that would be the new home of Alexander and Oviatt.
The Oviatt Building, erected in 1927, was the first Art Deco building in Los Angeles. Designed by Albert Walker and Percy Eisen, it was lavishly embellished with French marble and more than 30 tons of Lalique?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s art glass ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù the largest shipment of its kind ever to pass through the Panama Canal.
The Penthouse, created for Oviatt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s own use, was outfitted with Lalique?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s custom lighting treatments and exquisite floors and cabinetry by the celebrated French firm Saddier et Fils. It was recognized as a masterpiece from the moment of its completion. The splendor of the interior was matched by the bi-level rooftop gardens, which boasted a swimming pool, tennis court, putting green, clocktower and ?¢‚Ǩ?ìbeach?¢‚Ǩ? of imported Riviera sand.
Hailed by Oviatt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s contemporaries as ?¢‚Ǩ?ìa castle in the air?¢‚Ǩ?, the Penthouse was the site of legendary parties for decades. Oviatt and his wife Mary entertained lavishly, and signed photographs of their friends and clients ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù including John Barrymore, Errol Flynn, Leslie Howard, Charles Boyer and Howard Hughes ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù still grace the Penthouse walls.
By 1969 the era of Alexander and Oviatt was over. The haberdashery closed, but the Oviatts continued to occupy the Penthouse until their deaths in the early 1970?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s."
