Wednesday, May 21, 2008  04:04 PM

shipley & halmos: old space, new tricks

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If the venerable National Arts Club, housed in the historic Tilden Mansion off Gramercy Park, is trying to update its somewhat prim image (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Dwight D. Eisenhower were past members), last night was a decent start. Party types like Jessica Joffe and Kate Schelter gathered beneath the Greek urns and antique busts to air-kiss friends Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos who were on hand to receive the club's Inaugural Young Designer Award. Before the award presentation (at which the rowdy crowd was shushed by the club's president), the designers indulged in a little nostalgia, recalling their first-ever fashion show at the very same Tilden Mansion, as half of the one-time Trovata foursome. "It feels like we're coming full circle," Shipley said. "That [show] was such a huge, huge moment in our career; it was kind of the start. So to come back here and be honored by the fashion committee is really great." And where would the mise-en-scène-loving duo be showing for Spring? Would they take to the runway? "We've definitely talked about it," Shipley said evasively. "We haven't made any decisions." Fine. In the meantime, you can look for the designers at the club; they've been given an honorary year-long membership, which, if last night's temporary Champagne scare is any indication, means the mansion might want to restock the bar.

Photo: Marcio Madeira