Marie Redding, Senior Editor03.02.21
Fred Segal, designer and founder of his namesake stores, died on Thursday, March 25th, at 87 years old—but his influence on fashion, beauty, and retailing will live on.
When Fred Segal LLC (including all rights to the brand name), was acquired in 2019 by the licensing company Global Icons, CEO Jeff Lotman said, "I was drawn to Fred Segal...It's always changing and continues to be a destination and a pop culture retail icon that we will further invest in."
Lotman continued, "It's the birthplace of some of our favorite designers and most memorable fashion moments. I'm committed to preserving the history and integrity of the company while continuing to evolve the dynamic Fred Segal brand and experience."
Segal is credited with defining 'California style' with his curated assortment of form-fitting, trendy casual wear for women and men—including Farrah Fawcett's hip-hugging denim jeans. The NY Times says his clothing boutiques became "an emblem of Los Angeles cool."
Lotman told People in a statement, "Fred Segal defined LA fashion and sparked a revolutionary shift in style with the first-ever denim bar."
Lotman continued, "Fred pioneered the shop-in-shop concept and experiential retail, which remains the essence of our brand, 60 years later. His forward-thinking concept continues to discover and support up-and-coming designers and create iconic fashion moments: changing that face of retail forever."
Segal is credited with introducing brands synonymous with Southern California style, such as Juicy Couture and Hard Candy Cosmetics. The stores remain a destination to discover new beauty brands and are often a go-to source for creative inspiration.
"During the 2000s," Vogue reports, "paparazzi magnets such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan could be spotted leaving his stores carrying the iconic white, blue, and red shopping bags."
The first-ever Fred Segal boutique opened in 1961 on Santa Monica Boulevard— "and later moved to the location it is best known for, at Melrose Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard, and it drew crowds and caused traffic jams..." Hollywood Reporter explains.
The iconic ivy-covered Fred Segal store location in West Hollywood is shown above.
Reese Witherspoon's character Elle Woods, in 2001's Legally Blonde, mentions the store in the clip below.
