Couture Flip-Flops: Havaianas Debuts First U.S. Location In Orange County

Where there is smoke, there is always fire. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox wear them lounging poolside at Pamilla resort in Cabo San Lucas. Gwen Stefani rocks a custom white pair while out and about in Los Angeles. And naturally, George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis don them while they stroll along the Lake Como shoreline. Havaianas flip-flops have truly taken over the globe one glitterati at a time.

Recently opened in Huntington Beach, a city synonymous with the easy-breezy “California casual” style we all love, the 1,250-square-foot store marks the ubiquitous brands first U.S. flagship. “Flip-flops are a staple of beach culture and Huntington Beach as the lifestyle hub of California is the perfect place for our first Havaianas outpost,” expressed Afonso Sugiyama, Havaianas president.

Nestled next to the beach and just opposite the pier, the store’s playful design aesthetic pays homage to its Brazilian heritage. Criacitta, a notable South American company, created custom and colorful modern furniture (think ’60s mod) that sits beneath a chandelier made from thousands of mini sandals.

The delightful interior isn’t the only feature guaranteed to put some pep in your step. For the many flip-flop fanatics, the store features more than 150 Havaianas styles including an eclectic array of limited edition sandals exclusive to the Huntington Beach location.

The piece de resistance is the “Make Your Own Havaianas” customizable station where buyers can create their very own couture flip-flops and even add Swarovski crystals to their selected pair. For those less artistically inclined, the pre-designed Slim Crystal Mesh retails for $148 while the Slim Crystal Metalisse is available for only $98.

Havaianas is located at 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, Calif., 714.536.0001