OCCUPATION: Fashion consultant; designer for my handbag collection, Hayward; trustee of the Dennis Hopper Art Trust
MY STYLE: My clothes are really just a backdrop for my accessories. I love to focus on shoes (Pierre Hardy), bags (Hayward), boots (Margiela), and my signature jewelry (gold cuffs, David Webb bracelets, antique gold and turquoise bracelets, or a pair of mesh gold braided bracelets). I am a magpie at heart. I love metals—gold, silver, you name it. I am always attracted to either wearing them, creating custom Hayward hardware with them, or collecting pieces of furniture that are made of them. As a result, John and I collect Paul Evans furniture. My favorite piece is a cabinet that is made up of a midcentury modern patchwork of gold and silver. Heavenly!
I LOVE L.A. BECAUSE: It is incredible how much you can experience of the different areas of Los Angeles in a day. You can wake up in Hollywood, go hiking up Runyon Canyon, and then have lunch near the beach on Abbott Kinney in Venice, having seen two major art exhibitions along the way at LACMA and the Getty. End your day at MOCA and have dinner at one of the great new restaurants downtown. Los Angeles has it all, from the wonderful weather and outdoor nature of the city to being a place where the worlds of film, fashion, design, and art collide.
Gjelina
Communal tables, shared plates, and a lively atmosphere have made this Venice Beach eatery one of the most competitive spots on Abbot Kinney. It might also have something to do with the wholesome, unique, and somewat addictive Mediterranean cuisine—including stuffed pasilla chiles, mole chicken in banana leaves, and zucchini tamales.
Free City
Despite the company’s origins in Malibu, Free City’s flagship store operates from Hollywood, where shopping is enhanced by Breadbar bread, hand-pressed almond milk, KindKreme vegan ice cream, and Bike Friend cycles. We like to stop in and check out the new collaborations in stock, such as Native American jewelry from Lisa Eisner.
Hennessey + Ingalls
The largest bookstore in the western United States that deals solely in visual arts books, this 8,000-square-foot temple of art, architecture, and design is still family-owned. Hennessey + Ingalls also runs a small publishing house, which reprints classic titles on modernist architecture, among other California styles.
Noodle Stories
Since 1995, proprietor Caryl Kim has stocked her lofty Third Street storefront with some of the best and most interesting lines in fashion, from Junta Watanabe to Issey Miyake, for whom she hosted a special pop-up shop this year.
Open Air Studios
Each 10-week art class teaches children the basics of visual arts in a variety of media, including watercolors, clay, tempura, and acrylics. Students can also take focused classes on their particular interest, while also encouraging community service and social action from its students through the arts. One student started an art exchange with young artists in Nepal; another started a nonprofit organization to help orphaned and underprivileged children.
Museum of Contemporary Art
In just 30 years, this relatively young institution has become a mainstay of the Los Angeles art scene. The only museum in town devoted to contemporary art, it routinely attracts and produces groundbreaking exhibits.
Joan’s on Third
We love Joan’s on Third as much for the chicken tarragon salad as we do for the people-watching. A marketplace that offers salads, sandwiches, charcuterie, baked goods, and other specialty food items, Joan’s is also one of L.A.’s most beloved caterers. During summer months you can custom-order a picnic box filled with your favorite salads and sandwiches, perfect for when you’re heading to the beach.
Beryll
Each of the timeless jackets, t-shirts, jewelry and sunglasses in this Santa Monica-based line is imbued with a heavy dose of rock and roll. We love the cozy 100% organic t-shirts and handmade, limited edition sunnies.