Search by product, designer or category
US
0
0
  • Women
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      • New In Bags
      • New In Clothing
      • New In Shoes
      Edits
      • Bestsellers
      • Best Dressed Guest
      • Bridal
      • Essentials
      • Exclusive
      • Gifts
      • Party
      • Spring Wardrobe
      Shop KENZO POPPY Collection
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • Amina Muaddi
      • Balenciaga
      • Balmain
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Burberry
      • Chloé
      • Fendi
      • GANNI
      • Givenchy
      • Gucci
      • Jacquemus
      • LOEWE
      • Manolo Blahnik
      • Valentino Garavani
      • Versace
      Shop Jacquemus
    • Clothing
      Clothing
      • New In
      • All Clothing
      • Activewear
      • Beachwear
      • Coats
      • Denim
      • Dresses
      • Jackets
      • Knitwear
      • Lingerie
      • Nightwear
      • Shorts
      • Skirts
      • Tailoring
      • Tops
      • Trousers
      Shop Dresses
    • Shoes
      Shoes
      • All Shoes
      • Ballerina Flats
      • Ankle Boots
      • Boots
      • Loafers
      • Mules
      • Pumps
      • Sandals
      • Slides
      • Slippers
      • Sneakers
      Shop Sneakers
    • Bags
      Bags
      • All Bags
      • Bucket Bags
      • Belt Bags
      • Clutches
      • Cross Body
      • Mini Bags
      • Shoulder Bags
      • Tote Bags
      Designers
      • Balenciaga
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Chloé
      • Gucci
      • Jacquemus
      • LOEWE
      • Valentino
      Shop Shoulder Bags
    • Accessories
      Accessories
      • All Accessories
      • Belts
      • Bridal
      • Face Masks
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Gloves
      • Hair Accessories
      • Hats
      • iPhone Cases
      • Make Up Bags
      • Scarves
      • Ski Accessories
      • Sunglasses
      • Travel
      • Wallets & Purses
      Shop Sunglasses
    • Jewellery
      Fashion Jewellery
      • All Fashion Jewellery
      • Fashion Bracelets
      • Fashion Earrings
      • Fashion Necklaces
      • Fashion Rings
      • Fashion Watches
      Fine Jewellery
      • All Fine Jewellery
      • Fine Bracelets
      • Fine Earrings
      • Fine Necklaces
      • Fine Rings
      • Fine Watches
      Shop Fine Rings
    • Conscious
      Conscious
      • Conscious Edit
      • Conscious At Browns
      • Conscious Delivery
      • The Restory For Browns
      • Thrift+ For Browns
      More On Conscious
    • Stories
      Stories
      • All The Stories
      • Fashion
      • Culture
      • Lifestyle
      • Happenings
      The Checklist: Summer Staples
  • Men
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      Edits
      • Bestsellers
      • Essentials
      • Exclusive
      • Gifts
      • New Designers
      • Occasion
      • Spring Wardrobe
      • Tailoring
      Shop KENZO POPPY Collection
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • adidas Originals
      • Amiri
      • Balenciaga
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Burberry
      • Canada Goose
      • Fendi
      • Givenchy
      • Gucci
      • Moncler
      • New Balance
      • Nike
      • Palm Angels
      • Rick Owens
      • Versace
      Shop Palm Angels
    • Clothing
      Clothing
      • All Clothing
      • Coats
      • Hoodies
      • Jackets
      • Jeans & Denim
      • Knitwear
      • Loungewear
      • Polo Shirts
      • Shirts
      • Shorts
      • Sweatshirts
      • Swimwear
      • Suits
      • T-Shirts & Vests
      • Trousers
      • Underwear
      Shop Jackets
    • Shoes
      Shoes
      • All Shoes
      • Sneakers
      • Boots
      • Brogues
      • Derby
      • Loafers
      • Sandals
      • Slides
      Shop Sandals
    • Bags
      Bags
      • All Bags
      • Backpacks
      • Belt Bags
      • Cross Body
      • Shoulder Bags
      • Suitcases & Travel
      • Tote Bags
      Shop Tote Bags
    • Accessories
      Accessories
      • All Accessories
      • Belts
      • Face Masks
      • Bucket Hats
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Hats
      • iPhone Cases
      • Scarves
      • Sunglasses
      • Ties
      • Travel
      • Wallets & Card Holders
      • Washbags
      Shop Sunglasses
    • Jewellery
      Designer Jewellery
      • All Designer Jewellery
      • Bracelets
      • Earrings
      • Necklaces
      • Rings
      Fine Jewellery
      • All Fine Jewellery
      • Fine Bracelets
      • Fine Earrings
      • Fine Necklaces
      • Fine Rings
      • Fine Watches
      • Pre-Owned Fine Watches
      Shop Bracelets
    • Active
      Active
      • All Activewear
      • Accessories
      • Jackets
      • Shorts
      • Shoes
      • Skiwear
      • Tops
      • Trousers
      Designers
      • Descente ALLTERRAIN
      • District Vision
      • Moncler Grenoble
      • Pas Normal Studios
      • Rapha
      • Snow Peak
      • Soar
      • The North Face
      Shop Performance Shorts
    • Conscious
      Conscious
      • Conscious Edit
      • Conscious At Browns
      • Conscious Delivery
      • The Restory For Browns
      • Thrift+ For Browns
      More On Conscious
    • Stories
      Stories
      • All The Stories
      • Fashion
      • Culture
      • Lifestyle
      • Happenings
      The Checklist: Summer Staples
  • Kids
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      Edits
      • Gifts
      • Skiwear
      • Sneakers
      • Vacation
      Shop New In Today
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • Axel Arigato Kids
      • Arizona Love Kids
      • Chloé Kids
      • Dolce & Gabanna Kids
      • Donsje Kids
      • Givenchy Kids
      • Golden Goose Kids
      • ERL KIDS
      • Marysia Kids
      • Off White Kids
      • Palm Angels Kids
      • Stella McCartney Kids
      • Versace Kids
      Shop Burberry Kids
    • Baby (0-36mth)
      Baby (0-36mth)
      • All Baby
      • Baby Accessories
      • Baby Clothing
      • Baby Shoes
      • Nursery
      Shop Baby Tops
    • Kids (2-12yrs)
      Girls
      • All Girls
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Dresses
      • Tops
      • Shoes
      • Swimwear
      Boys
      • All Boys
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Tops
      • Tracksuits
      • Trousers
      • Shoes
      Shop Boys Tops
  • Home
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      Shop New In Today
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • Anissa Kermiche
      • Fornasetti
      • HAY
      • Helle Mardahl
      • Jonathan Adler
      • Les Ottomans
      • L'Objet
      • Medicom Toy
      • Missoni Home
      • POLSPOTTEN
      • The Elder Statesman
      • Tom Dixon
      • TRUDON
      • Versace
      Shop Anissa Kermiche
    • Bath
      Bath
      • All Bath
      • Towels
      Shop Towels
    • Candles
      Candles
      • All Candles
      • Candles
      • Candle Holders
      • Incense & Diffusers
      Shop Candles
    • Decorative Accessories
      Decorative Accessories
      • All Decorative Accessories
      • Decorative Objects
      • Plates & Dishes
      • Trays
      • Vases
      Shop Vases
    • Soft Furnishings
      Soft Furnishings
      • All Soft Furnishings
      • Bedding
      • Blankets & Throws
      • Cushions
      • Pillow Cases
      • Table Linens
      • Towels
      Shop Blankets & Throws
    • Tableware
      Tableware
      • All Tableware
      • Barware
      • Cups & Tea Sets
      • Cutlery
      • Glassware
      • Plates & Bowls
      Shop Plates & Bowls
    • Tech
      Tech
      • All Tech
      • iPhone Cases
      Shop Music
  • Boutiques
    • Our Boutiques
      Our Boutiques
      • Browns Brook Street
      • Browns East
      Browns Brook Street
    • Our Services
      Our Services
      • Boutique Personal Shopping
      • Virtual Personal Shopping
      • The Restory For Browns
      • Thrift+ For Browns
      • Made To Measure
      • Made To Order
      • Native At Browns
      Thrift+ For Browns
    • What's On
      What's On
      • The KENZO Poppy Collection
      • In Focus: Charlotte Kidger
      In Focus: Charlotte Kidger

Brand Stan: Crystal Rasmussen On Halpern

Crystal Rasmussen knows a thing or two about glamour. As one of London’s most fabulous and outrageous personalities, her wit is surpassed by just one thing: her sixth sense for sniffing out the most daring and decadent designs that Britain has to offer. We asked her to tell us more about her enduring love for Halpern...

Nothing makes you invest in a brand like the person behind it. I don’t mean financially — I can afford six items of clothing a year at best, and that’s when the drag gigs are plentiful. No, I mean emotionally. I mean follow every move a designer makes, and praise a collection, a garment, an editorial as if it were your own child winning the egg and spoon race at school. 

For me this brand is Halpern. It was Fall 2017 when Michael and his eponymous brand made waves in an industry that had been obsessed with oversized hoodies for about two seasons too many (although don’t get me wrong, I love me some humongous casualwear). 

But here we were, stood at Halpern’s show, feeling the buzz of those in the know but not knowing what was about to (re)enter fashion’s world stage with a glittering thwack: glamour. Out came the looks: detailed, dramatic. Everyone in attendance breathed a sigh of relief. Here was fantasy, dreaming, thigh-high boots, and sequin trains which swept the floor like Grace Jones at Studio 54 — the same place, I later found out, Michael’s mother learned the art of glamour, a regular on those hallowed tiles. Of course, she taught him everything he knows, which he admits freely: “from such a young age, she possessed an incredible sense of self that oozed glamour and confidence; this is the basis of where I come from when I speak about clothing.” 
 

At the time I was tired of fashion: worried about the environment, capitalism, the state of the world (I still am). But this show — and every single one since — made me sit up in my seat. It reminded me why I’d fallen in love with this absurd industry in the first place. It wasn’t clothes I’d fallen in love with as a young drag queen in Lancashire, it was the fantasy they could offer. “It's a feeling of escapism, of luxury, and knowing one's incredible self worth,” as Michael puts it. “Glamour is allowing yourself to feel that full fantasy, and truly knowing the value of what that can do for you."

But with great glamour comes great responsibility. This is the reason Halpern has so many fans. Because glamour, sequins and sparkle isn’t frippery — it’s not foolish, or dumb, or shallow. Much the opposite: it’s about feeling wonderful, and knowing you deserve to. I was lucky enough to meet Michael at Port Elliot festival after his second season, and after we’d got past my fan-girling (what do you expect?) it turned out that Michael’s understanding of glamour isn’t solely about the garment and the feeling it gives you — it’s about the story, the references, the incredible people who came before. 
 

Having since visited his studio, these references are everywhere — like a history book which weaves its way into every single thread. “Being able to celebrate the people I respect and love so much by marking their impact on me is something I really love to do with the shows,” Michael explains when I ask him about these rich references he’s such a master of. “Allowing oneself to pay respect in such an overt and extravagant way is something that brings me, and hopefully others, so much joy. Plucking out moments that had such impact on myself and the world in terms of fashion history, times of opulence, and social change is where I feel a truly extraordinary show can be made.”
 

Crystal wears clothing by Halpern


Crystal Rasmussen is the alter ego of writer, performer and media personality Tom Rasmussen, author of 2019’s bestselling Diary Of A Drag Queen.

 

 

Related Reading:


A Family Affair: Guest Edited By The British Fashion Council
Brand Stan: Pam Boy On Richard Quinn
Comfort Foods With Denai Moore
Mix It Up: Asai And Carrie Stacks

Share:
Good things come to those who subscribe.
We’ll treat your inbox to 10% off your first purchase, plus regular updates on your favourite designers, new drops, exclusive offers and much more.
By clicking 'Sign Me Up', you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy. If you want to opt out later we won't be offended, just click 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of our emails.
Analysing your picture...