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6 The LA FASHION MAGAZINE

the 

magazine 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

RANDY L. DUNBAR 

MANAGING EDITOR 

NIKI SMART 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

JOSHUA PINKAY 

FASHION + BEAUTY EDITOR 

CHANELLE RENEE 

ART DIRECTOR 

Q (JOON H KWON) 

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR 

HOLLY PHELPS 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

NICOLE JACKSON • CHANELLE RENEE • JOSHUA PINKAY • GOLDEN MOERAS 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

FAYE SADOU • VIKTORIJA PASHUTA • WANDER AGUIAR • TONY BYRD • RANDY DUNBAR • IRVIN RIVERA 

CSABA FIKKER • JACK GUY • ODEESSY BARBU • AARON LACY • SARAH ORBANIC • JOSHUA M SHELTON • FARIA RAJI 

MARK CAROLAN • EDGAR PULIDO • AMBER LYNN KIMBERLING • MIKE ALTISHIN 

CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKE UP ARTISTS 

FASHION COVE • BROOKE EMERY • DESIREE FOOTÉ • CHALIA BREONN • SHERYL NEBRIDA • CHAZE FOLEY 

SARAH BENJAMIN • ALLISON MCGILLICUDDY • KATIE CORDERO • MIA YOUNG • MICHELLE LA RUE • JONATHAN ACOSTA 

JUSTIN MEEKS 

PUBLISHER 

CSABA FIKKER 

VP SALES & MARKETING 

JEFF VAUGHN 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

DAVID HOPE 

THE LA FASHION MAGAZINE 

THE LA FASHION MULTIMEDIA, INC. 

The LA FASHION MAGAZINE 

7

the 

magazine 

14 FRONT 

Here - Silver Lake 

There - Laguna Beach 

20 DRINK 

Special Fall Drink at Bon Vivant 

22 LAX 

Shop ‘til you Fly! 

24 FALL FITNESS 

Best outdoor exercises 

26 NATASHA HENSTRIDGE 

Still Smoking Hot 

32 PEOPLE IN LA 

Introducing quirky, beautiful folks that 

call LA home 

40 DEL AMO 

FASHION CENTER 

The new 140k sq.ft. Nordstrom 

66 GYPSIES, TR AMPS & JEANS 

The Darker side of Denim 

84 TOMBOY CHIC 

Girls will be girls....and a little bit boy 

90 STYLED FOR FALL 

Switching it up this season 

96 THE ART OF BEAUTY 

Top beauty products 

100 CATS IN HATS 

If you can’t get ahead, get a hat 

104 ACTIVE WEAR LA-STYLE 

Athletic hotness 

112 BEGINNERS GUIDE TO RUNWAY 

Fashion shows in LA, what a concept 

126 GIFT GUIDE 

Let the search for perfect gifts begin 

52 LIA MARIE JOHNSON 

Cyber/Internet star and our covergirl 

58 SHADES OF FALL 

Be beautiful for autumn.... 

the FALL issue 

ON THE COVER 

LIA MARIE JOHNSON 

PHOTOGRAPH BY 

VIKTORIJA PASHUTA 

this page 

Photographer: Irvin Rivera 

Model: Olga Aleksa 

Make-up: Sheryll Nebrida 

Hair: Kris Ann Orana 

Styling: Jesse J 

Dress by Alexis Monsanto

1 5 % O F F E N T I R E P U R C H A S E P L U S F R E E S H I P P I N G 

C O U P O N C O D E | T H E L A F A S H I O N 1 5 

J . S e r e n e 


9

LETTER 

from the editor 

The Gang’s All Here 

Fall, fashion and the making of this issue. 

from left to right: 

randy dunbar, tktktktktktktktktk 

LA is a lot of things to a lot of people. It’s a popular vacation destination for those 

wishing to brush shoulders with fame and celebrity. It’s a large town, over 500 

square miles (compared to New York City’s compact 26) with a nervous system 

of freeways, roads, lanes and the occasional cul de sac. It is home to Hollywood, 

which is really a state of mind, where the Oscars, the Grammy’s, the Emmy’s and 

countless other award ceremonies are hosted. 

It is the crown of casual—Hawaiian shirts are big business, flip-flops abound, 

the T-shirt is the dramatic fashion statement, the tennis shoe de rigueur. We live 

close to the edge, in this case the monstrous Pacific Ocean, yet within hours, we 

can be wine tasting in the fertile valley of Paso Robles, or be humidified by jets of 

moisture while languishing in the desert heat of Palm Springs. Or just stay home, 

because it’s hot most every month out of the year. 

LA has its charms, but only when one heads off to Rome or Paris it is clear that 

while LA is many things, elegance is not one of them. We are a relatively new 

concept compared to the grandeur of Europe and its old and very elegant houses 

of fashion. But we have September and October and we have a month of runwayshows 

all over the city. While it can be complex, the multitude of events and just 

where they are, we have striven to make that process a little easier. 

Speaking of process, meet the staff that collaborated on this issue. Hard working 

in often less than air conditioned conditions, this is a dedicated group that put 

their talents and abilities into the issue you hold in your hands. 

They are elegant.

We make your business 

look fashionable. 


11

ODESSY BARBU 

Odessy Barbu descends from 

a French background but he 

was born and raised in Venice 

California. His education has 

taken him from Los Angeles 

to Paris and back with an 

impressive resume. He owes his 

success to his innate ability to 

draw out whatever is necessary 

in order to make the shot look 

its best, all the while making 

his subjects feel at ease. His 

style is unique in that it has a 

sexy edge with an urban twist. 

He has photographed some of 

Hollywood’s most sought after 

celebrities which include Jessica 

Alba, Marilyn Manson and Dita 

Von Teese. Fluent in both English 

and French, Odessy currently 

resides in Hollywood and travels 

frequently for work, finding inspiration 

in textures, colors and 

backdrops of the world’s most 

beautiful locales. 

www.odessybarbu.com 

IRVIN RIVERA 

Irvin Rivera moved from the 

Philippines to the United States 

and photography quickly 

became his guiding star. 

His photographs are 

fragments, frames, intros, 

chapters, and possible endings 

to the stories that he wishes to 

share. 

Most of Rivera’s photography 

works are products of his 

ideas, his dreams and his 

collaborations with various 

industry creatives (make-up 

artists, hairstylists, wardrobe 

stylists, set designers, 

photographers, etc). 

Rivera has worked with 

notable stars like Kobe Bryant, 

Jojo, Shaun Ross, Chantelle 

Winnie, Mark Kanemura and has 

been continuously swimming 

and exploring the clusters of 

star-makers and clients such 

as FORD, NEXT, WILHELMINA, 

PHOTOGENICS, Italian Vogue, 

Zink Magazine, etc. 

TONY BYRD 

Based in Los Angeles, Tony 

Byrd has been photographing 

fashion and lifestyle 

professionally for over 12 years. 

“The level of creativity brought 

by everyone involved in the 

denim story amazed me. I am 

incredibly fortunate to work with 

such talented people, and call 

them my friends!” 

After escaping the midwest 

12 years ago, Tony relocated to 

Los Angeles where he has been 

working steadily as a fashion 

and lifestyle photographer. “ I 

am extremely fortunate to get 

to do what I love for a living and 

with such talented people”! 

After graduating with a fine 

art degree, and realizing he 

had not the discipline to make 

it as a ‘starving artist’, Tony 

started landing jobs assisting 

various commercial and fashion 

photographers. Years of hard 

work and travel had payed off 

and for the past 12 years, Tony 

has been working professionally 

in Los Angeles, as a fashion and 

lifestyle photographer. 

MARK CAROLAN 

Born in England and now based between Bali and LA, Mark has spent 

the last 20 years traveling the globe in search of inspiration for his ever 

zgrowing list of creative endeavours. From Riga to Sydney, Singapore to 

New York, Barcelona to Hong Kong, Moscow to Buenos Aires, Mark has 

worked as an Advertising Creative Director, Artist, Photographer and Interior 

Designer. 

His photographic style is somewhat ‘cinematic’, and usesonly natural 

light to create ’screen grabs’ of real life moments. With this, Mark shoots 

fashion editorial, advertising campaigns and private commissioned pieces. 

As well as photography, Mark has designed furniture items for 

Selfridge’s London, co-produced an art and photography coffee table book, 

and is launching both an online gallery showcasing art and design from 

developing countries as well as a charity-based fashion brand. 

www.markcarolan.com 

WANDER AGUIAR 

Brazilian-born, WANDER 

AGUIAR, has always been 

fascinated with people and the 

art of photography. He started 

off as a model doing runway 

work and appearing in many 

campaigns, but in 1998 he 

fell in love with California and 

now lives San Diego, where 

he rediscoverd his old passion 

for photography. Wander now 

uses his experience as a former 

model to help bring out the best 

of everyone he works with – 

being a model is beyond having 

a beautiful face, you have to 

perform and show a different 

personality/attitude no matter 

what you are wearing.” 

Aguiar also graduated as a 

Civil Engineer, worked in that 

capcity for 8 years, and has done 

extensive traveling. 

www.Wanderaguiar.com 

FARIA RAJI 

Faria Raji is an award 

winning photographer and a 

fine-artist who lives in Los 

Angeles. He started his career 

as art director in the music 

industry, getting nominated for a 

Grammy® award for his designs 

before switching his focus to 

photography. He has been a 

student of photographer James 

Baes from the famed 1970’s 

french glamour magazine Lui, 

and also the legendary fashion 

photographer Philip Dixon. 

Faria has been internationally 

published and is an on going 

contributor to LA Fashion 

magazine. 

CSABA FIKKER 

Originally trained as a 

cinematographer at the 

Academy of Arts in San 

Francisco, Csaba took a liking 

to photography a decade 

before starting The LA Fashion 

magazine. 

Csaba started out as a 

stock photographer and still 

maintains large libraries 

within most stock photo 

agencies. He continues to shoot for the magazine, and on the 

commercial end for the company, when his time allows. With 

excellent lighting and post productions skills, Csaba is very much 

a technical photographer and a hands-on kind of guy. 

Best described by the Editor in Chief of The LA Fashion, Randy 

Dunbar - “Csaba is the happiest when he is behind a camera.

Freedom of Choice 

The Fashion Bookstore 

The Fashion Bookstore has the broadest range of fashion magazines, textile, and apparel 

informational products available anywhere in the world 

Toll Free: (800) 347-2589 

The California Market Center, 110 East 9th Street • Los Angeles, CA 90079 

www.thefashionbookstore.com 

Follow on Instagram @thefashionbookstore

FRONT Here 

BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMBER LYNN KIMBERLING 

Silver Lake 

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD EAST SIDE 

On the neighborhood 

hipness index, 

Silver Lake scores 

high. Filled with avant-garde 

boutiques, vintage stores, quirky 

consignment places, coffee 

shops, locally owned bars and 

restaurants, food trucks, farmers’ 

markets, pop up stores, and even 

pop up architecture, Silver Lake 

is a trendy community. Plus, it 

ranks high on the walkability 

factor, is home to a multicultural 

blend of residents with eclectic 

professions and artists galore, 

and Silver Lake features some of 

the most celebrated modernist 

architecture in the country, 

for example, Richard Neutra’s 

VDL Research House and 

John Lautner’s Silvertop. In the 

shopping arena, Silver Lake 

offer buyers a smorgasbord 

from high-end stores to the 

Army Surplus Center (which is 

a trip in and of itself). There’s 

everything from fine dining to 

hole in the wall taco stands, or 

why not go to Purgatory and 

enjoy a pizza while you’re there. 

A.P.C. Silver Lake 

3517 Sunset Boulevard 

Los Angeles CA 90015 

+1 424 252 2761 

Recently the Paris-based, 

upmarket retail chain, A.P.C. 

opened a storefront in Silver 

Lake. This minimalist-cool 

boutique offers A.P.C.’s newest 

fall/winter apparel collection 

for women and men, plus 

denim, luxe leather accessories, 

footwear, and the brand’s quilt 

line. 

RetroSuperFuture 

3531 Sunset Blvd 

Los Angeles CA 90015 

323.906.9188 

www.retrosuperfuture.com 

Right next door to APC is 

RetroSuperFuture, producers 

of exceptional contemporary 

eyewear that are all handmade 

in Italy. Of note is their 

collaboration with the Andy 

Warhol Foundation, a surreal 

and strange collection based on 

Warhol’s drawings of people 

wearing unique sunglasses. 

Matrushka Construction 

3822 West Sunset Boulevard 

Los Angeles, CA 90026 

323.665.4513 

www.matrushka.com 

A few blocks away is Matrushka 

– where the clothing line is 

designed by the owner, Laura 

Howe, and produced on site. 

Styles range from the 30’s 

through the 70’s, with dresses 

inspired by the likes of Veronica 

Lake and Jean Harlow, to the 

70’s retro “hippie” look. The 

slogan at Matrushka is: Size 

is Relative- the store stands 

by this statement and will 

do any alterations necessary 

to accommodate you. Their 

fabrics come from DTLA, and 

their remnants are turned into 

handbags. The dresses here are 

predominantly one-offs, not 

mass-produced, making this 

little gem of a store truly worth 

a visit. 

The Casbah Café 

Continuing north on Sunset 

Blvd there’s The Casbah Café, an 

eclectic French-Moroccan styled 

café that specializes in strong 

coffees, fresh mint teas and crisp 

salads. If you venture up the stairs 

at the back of the store, you’ll find 

a boutique that sells whimsical 

clothing and home goods. 

Then there’s Dean’s 

handcrafted leather goods 

(a store that smells like your 

favorite leather jacket), and the 

Cheese Store of Silver Lake with 

stinky cheeses en masse, or Bar 

Keeper (for everything alcohol 

related), and Intelligentsia 

Coffee (just try it) - all clustered 

at the iconic Silver Lake 

Junction, where Sunset Blvd and 

Santa Monica Blvd meet. 

Café Stella 

3932 W Sunset Blvd, 

Los Angeles, 

323.666.0265 

You can’t visit Silver Lake 

Junction without going to Café 

Stella and sampling the famous 

French sandwich “Croque 

Monsieur”. In the evenings, 

mixologists make worthy drinks, 

and though the place is small, it’s 

super hip and celebrity sightings 

are a common occurrence. Go to 

Stella to see and be seen. 

Knuckle and Claw 

3112 Sunset Blvd, 

Los Angeles 

323.407.614 

If you want a quick bite and are 

hankering for a lobster roll, then 

try Knuckle and Claw. Roald 

Dahl’s granddaughter, Chloe 

Dahl runs this place - both his 

grand daughters are successful 

as Chloe’s sister, Phoebe, runs a 

charitable clothing line at Fair 

cloth designs. 


AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO SILVER LAKE 

The Vista -a legendary old style 

movie theater that’s been open 

since 1923 and boasts ample leg 

room, a 50 foot screen and state 

of the art Digital Dolby JBL Sound. 

The décor inside is plush red velvet 

Egyptian, while an ever-cheerful 

doorman (who dresses up in the 

theme of every film screened), 

greets you at the front entrance. 

The Chandelier Tree - a tree that 

lights up when you place money 

in the parking meter underneath 

it. Nightly between 7pm and 9pm, 

the Chandelier Tree is a glorious 

Cypher Tree adorned with 30 plus 

chandeliers. This artistic lighting 

installation is offered as a gift to 

the Silver Lake community.. 

Richard Neutra’s VDL house - 

open for tours on Saturdays from 

11am-3pm at 2300 Silver Lake 

Boulevard. There is a fee for the 

guided tour, which is run by the 

Cal Poly Pomona Architecture 

students and lasts about 30 

minutes. 

The Materials & Applications 

exhibition space at 1619 Silver 

Lake Blvd, is a unique open-air 

courtyard (converted from a 

parking lot) in the heart of Silver 

Lake. It’s part architecture gallery, 

part public art display, and part 

workshop for experimentation 

and learning and new 

architectural ideas. Next up will 

be a 3-week(end) pop-up minigolf 

course. Open from 10am - 

10pm. For more information and 

to view past exhibits, visit their 

website www.emanate.org 

There’s a Farmer’s market every 

Tuesday and Saturday at the 

Sunset Triangle, plus they have 

movie screenings every other 

Thursday. 

Whole Foods has announced 

that the first location of its more 

affordable new chain, 365, will 

open next year in Silver Lake, with 

more competitive prices and a hip 

vibe to appeal to millennials - and 

it may have a wine bar – woohoo!

FRONT There 

BY NIKI SMART 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MIKE ALTISHEN 

Laguna Beach 

SEASIDE RESORT WITH SEASHORE RETAIL 

Just south of Los Angeles, 

lies Laguna Beach - a 

bustling, bohemian 

village that offers the 

perfect getaway for shopping, 

dining, entertainment and 

relaxing on the beach. There’s 

something special about 

Laguna Beach, something 

almost magical. There’s the 

natural beauty of the coastline 

and then there’s the manmade 

beauty with Laguna 

being home to over 65 pieces 

of public art made by local 

artists, art galleries galore, 

colorful street murals, the 

Sawdust Village, the Pageant 

grounds, a thriving musical 

scene and stores a plenty. Plus, 

Laguna is easy to navigate, and 

everything is either within 

walking distance, or you can 

hop on the free trolley service 

that runs every Fri, Sat and 

Sun year round. There are 

many little boutiques and 

funky stores to pop into as you 

meander about this charming 

village. 

Here are some of the stores we 

recommend: 

Anastasia 

460 Ocean Ave, Laguna 

Beach 

(949) 497 8903 

www.anastasiaboutique.com 

If you’re looking for luxury, 

avant-garde, classy fashion 

visit Anastasia. Owner, 

Amir Garavi brings in the 

best selections hot off the 

Paris runways twice a year, 

hence Anastasia’s boasts 

several renowned official 

designers including Rick 

Owens, Vivienne Westwood, 

Gareth Pugh, Issey Miyake, 

Courreges, DRKSHDW, and 

Muscee who are exclusive to 

Anastasia. 

Amir has owned Anastasia 

for close to 30 years, living his 

life long passion for fashion. 

The store is stylishly set up 

and you’ll be well looked after, 

if not by Amir, then by his 

lovely store manager, Emily, 

who can probably dress you 

better than you can. Emily has 

an eye for what will suit your 

body type and she’ll help you 

achieve your own personalized 

look. High-end clients can be 

styled and outfitted – Emily 

will close the store doors and 

give customers her undivided 

attention. Prices range from 

$250-$3000 and Anastasia’s 

carries men’s designer wear 

too, with Rick Owens, 

Vivienne Westwood and Issey 

Miyaki as the top sellers. The 

Issey Miyaki’s Pleats Please, 

Mainline and 1325 are all in 

the store, plus his Bao Bao line 

of bags. Issey Miyak’s Origami 

Shirt comes folded into a 

circular, octagonal shape. 

(pictured left) 

Rock Etiquette 

370 Ocean Ave Laguna Beach 

(949) 715-1121 

www.rocketiquette.com 

After success in Hollywood 

and Santa Monica, owners 

David and Ella opened up 

Rock Etiquette in Laguna 

Beach. The space has a hip, 

edgy atmosphere, with sexybut-chic 

clothing that caters 

to men and women, making 

sleek, cosmopolitan styles 

available to everyone. For 

men a hot item is the Peter 

Grimm Fedora and for women 

“boyfriend jeans”, plus Rock 

Etiquette is the first store to 

carry the Eloah Brazilian 

bikini. Rock Etiquette has a 

great range of One Teaspoon 

jeans and shorts, and most of 

their clothing is Private Label 

by LA designers. 

Laguna Supply 

210 Beach Street 

Laguna Beach, CA 92651 

(949) 497-8850 

www.lagunasupply.com 

Dana and Laura, who run 

the show, buy the bulk of 

their samples from Paris and 


the LA Market Week. They’ve 

been in Laguna Beach for seven 

years selling women’s casual, 

comfortable chic clothes - trendy 

with some classic thrown in, and 

plenty designers to choose from. 

Simple 

460 S Coast Hgwy Laguna 

Beach 

(949) 494-8100 

Owned by Sammy & 

Jenni Elmished (who everyone 

loves) Simple is a lifestyle store 

with casually elegant, high 

quality clothing and accessories 

for men and women. Featuring 

small collections imported from 

Europe, and special pieces handmade 

in America. The emphasis 

is on gorgeous, sensuous 

fabrics, quality craftsmanship. 

Sammy has his own linen line, 

and designs some of the men’s 

shirts (including the collars 

and buttons) and the women 

Egyptian cotton nightshirts. 

Simple carries handcrafted 

bags, belts and shoes including 

Calleen Cordero sandals that are 

handmade in Hollywood 

Casual 

225 Forest Ave, Laguna 

Beach, CA 92651 

(949) 715-0056 

With the same owners as 

Simple, here you’ll find brands 

like 3 People, Lazy Bones, 

Lucky Brand, Page, Scotch 

and Soda, Nautica, with Dolce 

Vita shoes, plus lotions, soaps, 

candles, pillows and jewelry 

made by local artists. Favorites 

here are Thaddeus reversible 

men’s shorts and Free People 

bras – bras that are meant to 

be seen. (photo) 

North Menswear 

380 Glenneyre St, Laguna 

Beach, CA 92651 

(949) 715-9873 

www.northmenswear.com 

Owner, Pete Surprenant, 

says he attempts to curate a 

timeless capsule of menswear. 

His store carries more than 

just men’s clothes – you can 

find leather goods, grooming 

products, belts, hats, and you 

can even order a surfboard, 

handcrafted specially for you. 

Vertigo 

1550 South Coast Hwy. Suite 

101 

Laguna Beach, CA 92651 

(949) 494 -7547 

www.vertigohome.us 

Not a clothing store but well 

worth a visit, Vertigo Home 

is a great place to find unique 

and interesting gifts that are 

functional and stylish. The 

store sells exquisite highdesign 

furniture, luxurious 

textiles and upholstery, plus 

accessories. There’s everything 

you’d need to “feather your 

nest” in tasteful style. 

Laguna Beach Books 

1200 South Coast Highway 

Laguna Beach 

(949) 494 - 4770 

One of the last bookstores in 

the area - perfect for extended 

perusing. 

Best Hotels 

La Casa Del Camino 


(949) 497-2446 

www.lacasadelcamino.com 

Pacific Edge Hotel 


(949) 494 – 8566 

www.pacificedgehotel.com 

14 West Boutique Hotel 


(949) 715-4840 

www.14westlagunabeach. 

com 

Inn at Laguna 

211 North Coast Highway 

(949) 497-9722 

www.innatlagunabeach.com 

Best Restaurants 

K’ya Bistro Bar 


(949) 376 -9718 

Splashes 


(949) 376 - 2779 

Café Zoolu 

860 Glenneyre St 

(949) 494-6825 

Brussels Bistro 

222 Forest Ave 

(949) 376-7955 

The Deck 

627 Sleepy Hollow Lane 

(949) 494-6700 

Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen 


(949) 499-6311 

Best Rooftop or View Bars 

The Rooftop Lounge at La 

Casa del Camino 


(949) 497-2446 

Mozambique Steakhouse and 

Coastal Lounge 


(949) 715-7777 

The Cliffs 


(949) 494-1956 

Surf and Sand (most romantic 

place right on the water) 


(949) 497 -4477 

www.surfandsandresort.com

FRONT 

Cocktails 

BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY FARIA RAJI 

Say Hello to Bon Vivant 

BARTENDER MICHAEL OWENS SERVES UP THE DRINKS FOR A FESTIVE FALL 

This Fall, head over 

to Bon Vivant in 

Atwater Village and 

try our idea of the 

perfect Fall drink - an 

Oaxacan Razorblade (pronounced 

Wah Haw Kin). Served as a martini, 

the Oaxacan Razorblade is made 

with nuestra soledad mezcal, liquid 

alchemist orgeat elixir, lime juice, 

hellfire & angostura bitters, which 

means there’s a bite to this spicy, 

smoky flavored drink, but it’s not hot. 

It kind of tingles in your mouth, and 

having tried one I must admit, it’s 

damn good. Mezcal is “in” right now 

– popular with the hipster crowd, 

and parading as the smoky cousin of 

Tequila, Mezcal kicks in the flavor in 

the Oaxacan Razorblade. 

If this doesn’t light you up, there 

are other options to choose from 

on Bon Vivant’s new Fall Drink 

Menu. There’s an Apple Pie Martini, 

complete with graham crackers on 

the rim, or a Rhubard-Pear Margarita 

with hellfire bitters to crank it up a 

notch. 

Hot items on the menu are 

the Char-Grilled Oysters, the Kobe 

Burger with Portabella Mushrooms, 

Baked Camembert with cranberries, 

roasted Brussels Sprouts or even the 

rack of lamb chops with a chocolate 

Balsamic reduction. And boasting one 

of the Top 5 best selections of cheeses, 

Bon Vivant offers a wine and cheese 

flight pairing for $36 – favorites are the 

Irish Porter, Vintage Gouda and the 

Manchego. You can also try the “finest 

ham in the world” – the Iberico from 

Spain. To further entice patronage, 

Bon Vivant has 2 happy hours - one 

from 5-7pm and another from 10pm- 

Midnight. 

“I’m a therapist, a confident, and an advisor.” 

Our Oaxacan Razorblade drink was 

recommended and poured by local bartender, 

Michael Owens. Michael has been part of 

the LA Bar scene for quite some time. With 

a winsome smile he quips: “I’ve served 15 

years behind bars”. Michael loves the social 

aspect of his job; that he gets to meet people 

from all walks of life. He understands that 

as a bartender you wear many hats “I’m a 

therapist, a confident, an advisor” and though 

he wouldn’t admit it, I’m pretty sure that 

Michael also serves as a “crush” for many a 

young lady. 

When not behind bars, Michael is an 

avid snowboarder. Snowboarding takes him 

to his “happy place” and Michael describes 

himself as a snowboarder that loves to surf, 

who started out on a skateboard. Following 

another of his passions, Michael recently 

completed a two-year intensive training 

program to become part of the Sierra Madre 

Michael Owens (pictured right) 

Search and Rescue team. Having had his 

own dog rescued by the team, Michael 

wanted to get involved and give back. The 

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team is 

a non-profit organization of Volunteers 

dedicated to helping people who may be 

lost, injured, or otherwise in trouble in the 

wilderness. 

3155 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles 

(323)284-8013 

www.bonvivantmarketcafe.com 



19

FRONT 

Shopping 

Del Amo Fashion Center unveils new Nordstrom 

The Del Amo Fashion Center is an iconic mall, one of the largest in America and one of the oldest. It actually used to be two 

separate malls, but in 1981 they built a bridge that connected the two, now referred to as “the marriage of the malls”. The Del 

Amo has continued to grow and is currently nearing the end of a massive $200 million+ renovation, with a 100-retailer expansion. 

Now South Bay shoppers will have Uniqlo, Michael Kors, Vera Bradley, a flagship Victoria Secret and a nearly 140,000-square-foot 

Nordstrom in their hood. Guests can enjoy new eateries like FRIDA and Great Maple, or Sumo Salad and Blaze Pizza in the lovely 

Patio Cafes - a garden-inspired dining pavilion in the heart of the shopping center, complete with living green walls. And stores that 

had to temporarily relocate are back in full swing, like the newly renovated 25,000 square-foot, two level H&M. There’s a fourlevel 

parking structure with 11,000 parking spaces and Park Assist, a technology that helps shoppers know the number and location 

of spots available. The parking also features 19 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations plus two fast-charging NRG eVgo Freedom 

Station sites. If parking is not your thing, there are also two valets available. The Del Amo Fashion Center has comfortable seating 

throughout the mall and provides a range of guest-friendly amenities, including Wi-Fi, stroller and wheelchair rentals, gift cards 

and Ticketmaster. And lastly, during construction, the development created more than 600 construction jobs and upon opening, the 

center will provide more than 400 permanent and part-time jobs. 

The grand opening of the new NORDSTROM at Del Amo Shopping Center was held on Friday, October 9, 2015. The newly 

operating 140,000 square-foot, two level space, is open and airy with lots of natural light, glass corridors and glass hand rails. There 

are five restaurants and one café within Nordstrom, an interactive play house for the kids, a tailor onsite for alterations, personal 

stylists, Anastasia brow services and artwork by local artists, plus there’s direct access from the parking garage. 

Nordstrom will have these brands available: 

TOPSHOP 

Rag & Bone 

A.L.C. 

Current Elliott 

Frame Denim 

Jeffrey Campbell 

Elizabeth & James 

La Mer 

Sisley 

Tom Ford Fragrance 

TOPMAN 

MCM handbags 

Brandy Melville 

Tory Burch handbags & footwear 

Pedro Garcia handbags & footwear 

Alice + Olivia 

Veda 

Jo Malone 

Hourglass Cosmetics 

Fresh 

Prior to the store’s 10:00 a.m. Grand Opening, on October 9th, 

Nordstrom at Del Amo Fashion Center hosted a Beauty Bash 

for customers in the Nordstrom Court. Nordstrom beauty advisors 

shared the inside scoop on new products and trends for fall, 

plus tips and tricks for looking your best. 

Attendees also enjoyed special beauty demonstrations, gifts with their 

purchases and other fun surprises. The first 1,000 attendees 

received an exclusive, reusable beauty tote bag 

www.Nordstrom.com/delamo 

Patio Cafe’s Concourse 


The Grand Court under construction 

The Grand Court’s future look 

Outdoor Village Lights 

Chuck Davis - Simons Senior Vice 

President of Development 

The LA Fashion Magazine attended a special presentation 

Photos by Edgar Pulido and courtesy of Simon/Del Amo 


21

FRONT 

Retail 

Shop ‘n’ Fly 

THE TOM BRADLEY TERMINAL GETS A RETAIL MAKEOVER 

The new and improved Tom Bradley 

International Terminal was unveiled in 

September 2013, but for those of you 

who don’t fly from the international 

terminal very often, here is something 

you probably didn’t know: No matter which terminal 

you fly out of at LAX, if you have a boarding pass, you 

can gain access to the Great Hall at the Tom Bradley 

International Terminal. Next time your flight is delayed 

and you have an urge to go on an upscale shopping 

spree, or to ingest a fancy meal, head over to TBIT and 

enjoy their collection of luxury retail and sophisticated 

dining. 

TBIT is impressive, and for that, a big shout goes 

out to Westfield, the company that has managed the 

redevelopment of TBIT and oversees the dining, retail 

and amenities. Westfield manage terminals 1,2,3 and 6 at 

LAX as well, plus they’ve helped shape numerous other 

airports including, JFK airport and Chicago’s O’Hare. 

The TBIT experience starts the minute you line up at 

the security screening area because you’re funneled right 

underneath artist, Mark Bradford’s “Bell Tower.” Look 

up to view the inside of this 12,500 pound creation and 

you’ll see the intricate interior design of architect, Chris 

Oberle, who figured out how to safely suspend this 

mammoth jumbotron made up of plywood construction 

barriers collected from around LA. Apparently when 

you stand directly underneath, the sound diminishes 

around you as you enjoy a moment of peace – like being 

in the eye of the storm. Once done with security, a 

25,000-square-foot duty-free shopping area beckons 

you with fashion & watches, Gucci, Burberry, Beauty 

& Spirits and Hermes. You are now in the Great Hall 

where a selection of the world’s best known luxury 

International designer brands mix in with LA based 

designer stores, giving LAX a distinctly Los Angelian 

flavor. The Great Hall is designed to provide an open 

flow throughout the stores, while making use of natural 

light with plentiful windows and high ceilings. The 

Great Hall lives up to its name, and as an extra bonus, 

because of all the light, the sunsets here are gorgeous. 

For dining there are many choices from Umami 

burger to Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar, or Jame’s 

Beach to III Forks Steakhouse. At the dining terrace, 

800 Degrees Pizza actually have an 800 degree wood 

burning stove on site, which, as you can imagine, was 

not an easy object to get permission for in an airport. 

The line up of luxury retail is as follows: 

Bvlgari - Italian jewelry, watches, and luxury goods 

Michael Kors - Jet-set styles from this celebrated designer 

Fred Segal - Upscale designs from renowned LA boutique 

Kitson - The latest fashion craze at this LA based boutique 

Coach - Classic designer bags and leather goods 

Porsche Design - Timeless and functional luxury 

Tumi - Superior products for the discerning traveler 

Victoria’s Secret - Intimate apparel and women’s clothing 

Hugo Boss - Authentic luxury from the German style house 

XpresSpa - Luxury massages, facials and nail treatments. 

And then there’s “Starbucks Evenings”, meaning you 

can order wine and craft beer as well as shareable small 

plates from Starbucks in the later part of the day - who 

knew? 

There’s plenty to enjoy without spending any money. 

There’s the clock tower with its ever changing façade, 

and the gigantic Story Board that screens non-stop 

images of LAX. There’s Ball-Nogues multicolored “Air 

Garden,” a curtain-like suspension of roughly 90 miles of 

metallic chain where the shifting light creates a changing 

atmospheric environment, and Pae White’s “Woven 

Walk” installation, a matrix-tapestry laced across the 

corridor ceiling at arrivals. All the artist’s are locally based 

designers in keeping with LAX ‘s commitment to the city 

of Los Angeles. 

TBIT further offers live Jazz bands 2x a week, has 

five airline lounges for you to enjoy, and newsstands 

that supply a variety of papers, plus Book Soup for 

more reading material (and worth mentioning are the 

lovely bowler-hat lights here). To top it all, there is the 

ExpresSpa if you desire a massage, facial or mani/pedi. 

Last but not least, a 7/11 greets you at arrivals - the first 

7/11 included in a US airport. LAX and Westfield want 

to ensure that the 60 million + travelers filtering through 

TBIT each year, enjoy their pre-flight time. 

Next up, the transformation of Terminal 2. 

Standby Please. 

www.lawa.org 


Made by Franz 

LA’S best kept secret, photographer 

Franz Szony wears his art

NATASHA 

Sex symbol, bombshell, sexy siren, 

Natasha Henstridge has been called a lot of names— 

we call her an enduring beauty 


NOW 

PHOTOGR APHED BY 

FAYE SADOU 

HAIR + MAKEUP 

SARAH BENJAMIN 

ALLISON McGILLICUDDY 

STYLED BY CHAZ E. FOLEY 


25

We were excited to meet the 

former fashion model turned 

actress, Natasha Henstridge. The 

Canadian actress is best known 

for her sci-fi “Species” series and 

the “Whole Nine Yards”, and 

“Whole Ten Yards” with Bruce 

Willis. Natasha landed her first 

fashion cover at the age of 15, for 

French Cosmopolitan. Her movie 

career began in 1995 and she’s 

never looked back. She has done 

numerous movies and several TV 

Shows. The busy mom of 2 is still 

stunning, and her presence is one 

of the warmest in the industry. 

Celebrity photographer Faye 

Sadou was kind enough to invite us 

to the set to catch up with Natasha 

a couple days before her birthday. 

Tell us about some of the obstacles you faced in 

transitioning from modeling to acting. 

I guess I wouldn’t call them obstacles, but I think that modeling is a very 

specific art form and a lot of people won’t take you seriously as an actress 

when you make that transition. Because there are so many examples of 

failed attempts, I think it’s hard for casting directors to take you seriously. 

So in that way it was difficult, but in other ways it was easy because I was 

used to being in front of the camera. The difference is in acknowledging 

the camera or pretending it’s entirely not there. 

What do you like about LA? 

I absolutely love nature and every time I’m hiking in Runyon Canyon 

or Temescal Canyon, I think - wow I live in a city? And I really do take 

in the ocean, I do take in the beach, and I love to snowboard and go to 

Mammoth. I love that everything is at my fingertips here – California as 

a whole is one of my favorite places in the world and I’ve traveled a lot. 

What do you think about the LA fashion industry? 

It doesn’t seem that relevant in the worldwide market, and yet there are 

so many fun, cool things here that make sense for the climate we have in 

LA. With sunny, hot weather, we can’t be too avant-garde, or out-there, 

but LA does its “rock and roll, sexy, chrome heart, little sundress” thing 

really, really well. 

Where do you like to shop? 

I’m a big fan of shopping in Malibu. I do a lot of my shopping out there 

and enjoy the relaxed vibe. I love Intermix, James Perse for t-shirts, and 

Madison, and the fact that I’m in Malibu and can go to the beach for half 

the day. And one of my all-time favorite places to eat is there - Cholada 

the Thai Cuisine place. It’s just a little shack, nothing glamorous, but 

the food is phenomenal, and I love it. Beyond Malibu, there are so many 

great shops on Third Street, or Robertson Blvd. 

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects? 

I’m getting ready to do a film called “The 7th Secret” and basically my 

character runs a sex club, a fetish club – the research should be fun for 

that (laughs). I’m doing a supporting role about a woman stuck in a sterile 

lifestyle, who wants to explore the other side. She’s in love with the man 

who runs the place she works at, and he shows her an alternate lifestyle. It 

is sort of a romance but edgier than that - it’s a really cute script. 

What do you want the next chapter of your life to be? 

I’ve been focused on being a mother and on making sure my kids are 

well looked after. I’ve been scheduling work around them, but they’re 

older now and I think it’s time I focused a little bit on myself. I’d 

love to do something I’m passionate about, excited about. I’d love to 

do a great TV show…and find love again and have some stability in 

a relationship. I have such great friends and I try to live my life to its 

fullest, and I’ve traveled the far ends of the earth, but I’d really like to 

do a low-key vacation by a lake, to hang out and BBQ. That’s more my 

style. I’d love to go on a houseboat, and do fun outdoor trips – that’s 

what I want to achieve. 



27



29

FRONT 

Guys We Like 

JosÉ Bautista: Batting for Denim 

MAJOR LEAGUE ALL THE WAY 

JOSÉ BAUTISTA is a Major League Baseball Player who hails from the Dominican 

Republic. After being traded about in 2007, (he was the only player to be on five different 

Major League rosters in one season), Bautista finally settled with the Toronto Blue Jays 

in 2008. By 2010, his 52nd home run set a new MLB record for the largest single-season 

increase in home runs. The hard-working ethics and family values that Bautista learned 

from his tight-knit family have served him well, and it is this standard and his positive 

outlook that he brings to his collaboration with Silver Jeans. 

When did you get involved with Silver Jeans and how did 

that happen? 

I got involved last year in June – because my manger has a longstanding 

relationship with the CEO Michael Silver. Michael and I 

wanted to work together and combine the synergies of our brands 

in the best way to be impactful. We want to achieve similar goals 

and have the same viewpoint – work hard, play hard and follow 

your dreams. My part in Silver Jeans has started off with basic cuts 

and colors, as I’m taking baby steps to get my name out there in the 

fashion world. 

Are there any commonalities between baseball and denim? 

I think the biggest connection is that the fans of baseball are also 

fans of denim. They wear jeans to watch sports - and this is part 

of the story we wanted to tell, to resonate with the fan base and 

the consumer. Watching sports and wearing denim has a solid 

foundation in American culture, and embodies strong family ties. 

Again, the idea behind Silver Jeans is – work hard, play hard and 

don’t give up on your dreams – be as durable as denim. 

Did you wear any particular brand of jeans before? 

Yes of course – I liked European Energy and Diesel, and recently 

True Religion, and even more recently Citizens and Hot Sun. 

I like a little bit of a mix to my jeans. The basic Silver Jeans are 

a mix up of elements I’ve taken from all the jeans I’ve worn 

throughout the years. 

What are the perks of being the spokesperson for Silver 

Jeans? 

The best perk is being able to make many pairs of jeans that custom 

fit me – designing my own clothes always seemed intriguing, so I 

like being able to know how to do that. And I have my own tailor, 

so everything fits like a glove, plus I get to pick and choose fabrics. 

The second perk is that Silver Jeans allows me to connect with 

people on a different level, not just baseball. They get to see me, 

and know me, in a different light and I like that. 

What are your plans for the future of Silver Jeans? 

The team at Silver likes the jeans I make for myself. It’s a matter of 

finding the right space in the market–as well as finding out how to 

make it sustainable and successful. We don’t want to ride a nice big 

wave only to have it fizzle out on us, like True Religion. We want 

to be more like LEVIS and have long-term success. 

What’s your favorite outfit? Casual, dressed up? 

I like both, and enjoy them for different reasons. I’m happy in 

a 3-piece suit, aiming for a suave James Bond style – but I also 

like to be relaxed in jeans and a t-shirt. Versatility is huge for 

me - I travel all the time and jeans are multifunctional – for day 

or evening. And I like to pick and choose what I wear, and may 

select rocker style boots and jeans, but them snap on a cool shirt - 

whatever makes me feel confident. I don’t have limitations or place 

restrictions on myself when it comes to dressing. 

You’ve had a stellar career – what was an outstanding 

moment for you? 

I’ve had a lot of highlights that I think will be great to enjoy one 

day – but I’m still trying to create more feel good moments before I 

retire. I’m very proud of making it to the big league and for staying 

there so long. 

Anything you’d like to add? 

I’m very big on education and if I endorse something, I like it to 

have a philanthropic side. With the Bautista family education fund, 

we raise awareness for education and promote exercise to kids and 

help them use their athletic ability to enhance their lives. We make 

sure they get to the right schools/colleges and on the right track for 

success. It’s amazing what these kids can do when you give them an 

opportunity, and it’s a great feeling to be able to give them that. 


FRONT 

Only in LA 

Fr anz Szony 

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHY AND FASHION 

TO UNEXPECTED PLACES 

HOW DO YOU 

DEFINE YOURSELF, 

PHOTOGRAPHER, 

ARTIST, FINE-ART 

PHOTOGRAPHER, 

TABLEAU-IST? 

I have a difficult time labeling what it 

is I do, can I say yes to all of the above? 

I’d like to identify simply as an “artist” 

although I know this word has become 

somewhat vague... especially in a city like 

Los Angeles. Ultimately I’m a storyteller, 

and use photography to illustrate. I 

studied illustration before becoming 

a photographer, so I still calculate my 

photography work as if it was being 

illustrated. 

YOUR SELF PORTRAIT (PICTURED) 

DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM VIKTOR 

+ROLF, TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU... 

Viktor and Ralph are incredible designers - I’ve 

admired them for years for their striking silhouettes 

and concepts. They recently created an instagram 

contest which asked participants to draw inspiration 

from their current collection ( structural frame/ 

canvas dresses that can hang on the wall when 

not being worn). I took inspiration from this as 

well as past seasons, and put my own spin on 

it. What I especially love that Viktor and Ralp’s 

designs speak as strong from far as they do close. 

They’re so bold and architectural that the viewer 

doesn’t lose details even if seen from a distance. 

I used an old frame encrusted with Swarovski 

crystal and a piece of red nylon. Those two 

ingredients made it quite easy to be avant guard. 

32 The LA FASHION MAGAZINE 

CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT 

YOUR OTHER PROJECTS? 

DISNEY, ETC. 

I’ve spent the last couple 

months working on a 

few personal pieces. I’m 

currently finishing a piece of 

art entitled “Worlds Apart” 

with the beautiful Shaun 

Ross as the main figure. I’ve 

also been proposing ideas 

to Disney and have met with 

several heads of their fine art 

department. I’ve long been 

inspired by Disney, as well as 

Marc Davis, who was one of 

the brilliant conceptualizer 

for Disneyland. He had an 

uncanny approach to humor 

and glamour, something I 

truly admire. Should I get the 

honor of working with Disney, 

I will create interpretations 

of some of my favorite 

visuals and characters. 

FASHION CLEARLY HAS A ROLE IN 

YOUR VISION, WHAT ARE YOUR 

THOUGHTS ON FASHION THESE DAYS? 

Fashion and costuming play a huge 

part in the work I create, as well as my 

personal life. I love clothing. We get these 

wonderful physical bodies on this Earth 

to express ourselves with... and fashion 

allows us to treat our physical identity as 

something transient and ever-evolving. I’m 

happy to see that fashion is becoming less 

about trends and gender “norms”. They’ve 

always been a ridiculous concept for me... 

especially in clothing, so I’m happy to see 

WILL YOU BE MOVING INTO FILM 

ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE? 

I’ve done several small art films, mostly they are 

heightened looks at the making of my pieces 

of art. I would absolutely love to translate my 

photography into the realm of music video or 

feature film. That being said, I still love the 

challenge of creating a full story with high detail 

into one singular photograph. When a viewer can 

get lost in one of my photographs the same way 

they would in a film, that is what I strive to create.

Zinc Cafe & Market 

Bar Mateo 

580 Mateo St. 

Los Angeles 

CA 90013 

323-825-5449 

Hours 

7am to midnight 

Monday-Saturday 

7am to 10pm Sunday 

www.zinccafe.com

FRONT 

Only in LA 

Valeria Goncharova Barrett 

BRINGING A METAPHYSICAL APPROACH TO FASHION 

Valeria is a Belarusian-American fashion and costume designer, stylist, image consultant, 

certified holistic life coach, author, humanitarian and a public speaker. She recently 

launched her own magazine Fashion Consciousness Magazine, and is the founder of 

Rovalution – a company with a progressive sense of fashion and holistic life approach. 

When it comes to fashion, Valeria believes that we should be more conscious of the 

colors, patterns and shapes we choose to display on our bodies because they all have 

meaning and give off energy. 

How long have you lived in California and what is your 

favorite thing about it? 

I moved from NY in 2004 because I got married and my husband 

lived in California, plus I had a job offer from Disney. After living in 

NY for 10 years, the vibe in California suits my free spirit: the good 

weather, the laidback attitude. My mom still lives in NY and when 

I’m back there it’s like iron city – tough. LA feels like home. 

Having worked at the Walt Disney Company as part of their 

lead costume production team, what would 

you say was the most exciting thing you 

designed there? 

Dealing with Mickeys and Minnies every day is not 

ideal. I don’t want to bust your pixie dust but the 

corporate world is the corporate world, and it’s not 

glamorous. I had 40 something employees reporting 

to me, and it was stressful, but I revolutionized the 

department. I got my people onto the cover of the 

Disneyland Keeline – they wrote a piece about me 

and my team, and how when I was a child growing 

up in the Soviet Union, I dreamt about Disneyland 

and thought it was a fantasy land. 

What does the name ROVALUTION signify? 

My first company was named ROVA – it is the tail of my last name 

– and Rova represents my own identity. My father passed his name 

on to me, so it is my essence. Now I’m going to act on it, similar 

to a revolution – I connected the sounds because sounds, shapes, 

smells, they all have a metaphysical meaning, and those 2 words 

have strength behind them. My parents were aristocrats and artists, 

so in the 80s during the cold war, they were under surveillance. The 

KGB would come to the house at 3 AM and tell my mom to paint 

a portrait. Then they’d be back in the early morning to pick it up. 

There’s an added dimension to your view on the fashion 

world – a consciousness and focus on what really matters in 

life – have you always felt that, or did this evolve? 

I have always questioned why. At age 6, I produced a pair of shoes. 

I was questioning: why do I have to wear what I am given? What 

if I want to wear something else? So I designed my own shoes with 

nails and scotch tape - they were weird looking, but it satisfied my 

curious mind. 

“Dealing with Mickeys 

and Minnies every day is 

not ideal. I don’t want to 

bust your pixie dust but 

the corporate world is the 

corporate world, and it’s 

not glamorous.” 

Do you have anything exciting coming 

up in the future that you can tell us 

about? 

I wrote and published a book called Living 

Life Consciously – it’s about cultivating a new 

conscious lifestyle, diet, and fitness fashion. 

Based on the book, my fans gave me the idea 

to have an integrative platform, so I recently 

launched the Fashion Consciousness Magazine. 

The mission is to support ecofriendly, 

recycled materials connected to conscious 

living. With 20 years in the fashion industry, 

I understand that fashion is the vehicle used to make a statement to 

the world. To me, that is very important. Shapes, textures, colors 

represent something on a metaphysical level and I hope to bring 

awareness to the fact that whatever you do matters, and you should 

make that choice consciously. Doesn’t just be a blind follower on 

autopilot. We are all taught how to behave and what to wear, but our 

most natural state is actually being creators. So question: what am I 

doing? Do I feel good? 

INTERVIEW BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHY BY FARIA RAJI

FRONT 

Only in LA 

BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSHUA M SHELTON 

Jack of Many Trades 

FORMER MARLBORO MAN, MODEL AND NOW CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHER 

Jack Guy started in front of the lens, 

travelling the world as a model 

for Marlboro, Nautica, Banana 

Republic, Burberry, and Men’s 

Health to name a few. Today, Jack 

is happier behind the lens and 

his photographic work has been 

featured in numerous magazines 

from American Photo to Vanity Fair, 

plus he has received the prestigious 

Hasselblad Master award for his 

achievements in photography. 

Jack frequently works with high 

profile people and his celebrity 

shoots include the likes of Julianne 

Moore, Salma Hayek, Renée 

Zellweger, Hilary Swank, Rachel 

Weisz, Kate Beckinsale, Faith 

Hill, Pierce Brosnan, Keifer 

Sutherland, and Steve Carell. 

Wanting to “give back”, Jack 

uses his photography to help out 

various charitable causes, and he 

has contributed to benefit soldiers 

injured in Iraq, and to campaigns 

for breast cancer and PETA. 

. 

Whose photographic work do you look at and 

think: “Damn I wish I had done that”? 

My influences are mostly from the 90s – I loved Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber, and Peter Lindbergh. 

They were big during the photography heyday of the 90s, when pictures were the coolest. 

What do you try to capture through your lens? 

My background is in portraits but I like to shoot everything from fashion 

to travel to beauty, to music - all types of genres of photography. 

What interesting fact can you tell me about being the Marlboro man? 

The Marlboro people were my favorite clients and I worked for them through most of 

the 90’s. We did amazing shoots in beautiful locations throughout Western America, for 

two weeks at a time, and we’d go twice a year. We’d travel to New Mexico, Arizona, or 

Wyoming, set up and then hang out and play cowboys for two weeks…and get paid to do 

it! It was complete fun and the best memories of my modeling career are from that era. 

What’s your favorite story about you (true or rumored) 

I don’t hear that much about myself. I lay low and used to do a lot of stuff alone until friends 

started commenting on my FB wall “you always look so lonely”. That prompted me to organize 

groups to go hiking or paddle boarding with. Now I’m dedicating my physical time to my social 

time. I work out 1x, or sometimes, 2x per day, and I don’t drink or party, so this works out well. 

I heard that you climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. How hard was the climb? 

The climb was great. The original reason for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was 

to raise money for a charity called “March To the Top”, which is a charity for health 

and educational purposes in Africa. We are currently expanding this charity to the 

US, too. The climb took six days up and two days down. It takes longer to climb up 

because you have to spend time at different levels to acclimate. The night before the 

summit, we slept inside a volcanic crater at 18 thousand feet. It’s completely different 

up there; the air gets thinner, your heart rate increases, as do your oxygen levels. 

If you were interviewing you, what would you ask? 

What do you want to be when you grow up - and the answer is “I 

still don’t know” (At this point Jack flashes a charming smile) 

Where are you from, how long have you lived in LA, and what’s the best thing 

about living here? 

I was born in Ohio, grew up in Oregon and studied at the University of Oregon. 

Then my modeling career took me to New York and Europe, and I lived between the 

two places. Now I’ve been in Malibu for 14 years and I love it because if I step out of 

my back door I can hike through canyons, and if I step out of my front door, there’s the 

ocean where I can go paddle boarding – both are straight out of my place. It’s perfect!

FRONT 

Only in LA 

The Girl in 

the Red Dress 

A POLYGLOT WHO LOVES CRAZY SHOES 

Luciana Vara born in Bucharest, Romania where she 

hosted a TV show and had a career in the theatre. 

While presenting a prime time TV show about 

fashion, she discovered a passion for fashion design, 

and soon started her own clothing company, Cloche, 

along with her mother and sister. Luciana moved to 

Hollywood for her acting career and to expand her 

clothing company in America. (Luciana designed and 

manufactured the red dress in the photo.) 

Where did you grow up and what languages 

do you speak? 

I grew up in Bucharest and speak Rumanian, 

French, Spanish, understand Italian and speak a 

little Hungarian. 

You’ve done a lot of traveling – where do 

you think is the hot spot for fashion? 

New York or Paris, but in Bucharest, where I’m 

from, everyone wears designer clothes to go out at 

night. Even in small markets the quality of clothing 

is good. Because it is a poorer country, people are 

resourceful and get their clothes from outlets, and 

they look well put together, no matter what. 

Was it hard to adapt to living in USA? 

I’ve only been here for two years and the hardest 

thing is leaving friends and family behind. The 

weather, palm trees, and rodeo drive smells like 

money. 

What is your favorite style to wear? 

I like to dress up in a sophisticated and edgy style 

- almost costume-like. And I have a problem with 

crazy shoes and crazy accessories, I love them. 

What are some of your upcoming projects? 

Well, I’m excited about launching my clothing 

company soon. 

Anything else you’d like to add? 

I have a part time gig as a Vodka sommelier and 

I love to dress up for that job in crazy big/loud 

outfits. 

Photographed by Faria Raji 


Luisa Diaz 

HOSTING, PRODUCING AND HELPING 

Originally from Venezuela, Luisa Diaz grew up with her grandparents and 

won 15 beauty pageants, which channeled her into soap operas and sitcoms, 

commercials and modeling. Luisa became the director of Miss North Carolina 

Latina, where she was determined to help young Latino women follow their 

dreams. Luisa was the host and producer of the first, and longest running, all- 

Spanish language TV program. She is talented in front of the cameras as well 

as behind the cameras, and is about to have her own TV show. 

What was the hardest thing about moving to LA from 

Venezuela? 

The biggest challenge of my life was going to college in LA without 

speaking English. I used a dictionary and studied so much, I’d cry on 

the books and get them totally wet. 

What was the best part of being the director of the Miss 

North Carolina beauty pageant? 

I was very involved with the girls – I’d teach them to walk in heels, 

to interview, to do chorography, to sit properly, and give them 

lessons in etiquette. It was a wonderful experience and the highlight 

was seeing the girls came out on stage looking poised and beautiful. I 

felt I’d given them life skills that they could take away with them. 

What’s the best thing about living in LA? 

I love LA. It gave me the opportunity to explore my dreams and go 

for what I want. You can’t take things personally in LA – it can make 

you stronger or it can destroy you. I feel LA has made me stronger 

and wiser in a lot of aspects of my life. Plus, we have everything 

here: weather, beach, and amazing creative talents. 

Who is your favorite fashion designer? 

I love Carolina Herrera, who is a famous designer from Venezuela. 

And my friend, Sen. I’m wearing one of her dresses today – she 

dresses me for all my different events. www.sencouture.com 

Anything you’d like to add? 

Two things – I have an organization called Mi Amour that helps 

raise awareness for domestic violence and human trafficking, and our 

1-year anniversary is October 7 th . And I am producing and hosting 

my own TV show called “Luisa”. The show starts airing in 2016 and 

will have live bands and celebrity guests. 

The LA FASHION MAGAZINE 39

FRONT 

Only in LA 

Meet Anwar Hadid 

THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE NEW FASHION DYNASTY 

Born in June 1999, Anwar Hadid is the youngest child of “The Real Housewives of Beverly 

Hills” reality star, Yolanda Foster. The whole family is in the limelight with his older sisters, 

Bella and Gigi, both internationally famous supermodels. Growing up in Malibu, Anwar 

loves surfing and swimming, but his passion is basketball. Although he is athletic, Anwar is 

drawn to architecture, and hopes to be an architect later in life. Tall, dark, and handsome, 

Anwar is known for his impeccable social skills, good manners and clear communication. He’s 

obviously doing something right because Anwar has over 250,000 followers on Instagram. 

What inspires your fashion style? 

I get inspired by a lot of random places. I like to be 

casual and comfortable but I am definitely starting 

to like and appreciate different designers. 

What is your go-to outfit that you like to wear out? 

Black jeans, SLP slip ons with a black t- shirt 

and a bomber jacket or hoodie. 

Do you attend a lot of events with your sisters/mom? 

I’am not a big fan of going to a lot of events unless 

it’s a cause that I’m interested in supporting. 

Where do you like to shop? 

I like Melrose but most of my favorite clothes 

are from thrift shops in different places. 

Do you have a favorite designer or a 

brand of clothing you love to wear? 

I like James Perse, Civillionare, John 

Varvatos and Saint Laurent. 

You’re the youngest of your siblings, and the only 

boy—how was it growing up with two older sisters? 

Growing up with my sisters and my mom was pretty awesome. 

I feel they taught me all I ever need to know about women :-) 

Was the Rockstar Jeans shoot your first modeling 

gig? Is this something you want to pursue? 

I’ve only done a professional photo shoot once before, 

for seventeen magazine, but my mom was obsessed with 

photographing my sisters and I when we were little, so it 

seems natural. I’m still discovering what I’d like to do and 

am not sure what the future will bring, but I’m having fun, 

and am always interested and looking for new opportunities. 

From your instagram photos, it looks like you 

travel a lot. Where is your favorite place? 

I love to travel and experience different cultures. Greece 

is by far the best place I’ve been to - such good vibes, 

great food and the most beautiful architecture. 

Favorite spot in LA—restaurant or 

place you like to hang out? 

Favorite spot is definitely down by the beach in Malibu. 

BY NICOLE JACKSON • PHOTOGRAPHED BY JACK GUY 

STYLED BY CARMINE BICCHETTI FOR FASHIONCOVEN 

GROOMING BY LISA FORSTER 

AIM ARTISTS NY/LA, USING R + CO CONTINENTAL GLOSSING WAX, 

MAKEUP FOREVER HD SKIN 


Trench Coat By Burberry 

White T by Alternative Apparel 

Neckerchief is Ralph Lauren 

Belt is Marc by Marc Jacobs 

Rockstar Denim jeans 

St.Laurent Boots 


41

FRONT 

Only in LA 

Matthew & 

MODELING AND MARRIAGE COME EASY 


Joanna Garel 

BY NIKI SMART 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY FARIA RAJI 

TO THIS DYNAMIC DUO 

Joanna Garel moved to Los Angeles from Canada, 

and signed with The Ford Modeling Agency, 

doing both print and commercial ads for hundred’s 

of clients including Labatt’s Blue, Budweiser, Gap 

and Banana Republic. From there, Joanna transitioned 

into film and television with guest appearances 

on The Jamie Foxx Show, La Femme Nikita, 

Ally McBeal, among others .Joanna is currently 

making directorial debut with a music video, I DO. 

Matthew Garel is a model based in Los 

Angeles with LA Models. He originates from 

Kingston Jamaica, but moved at a young age to 

Toronto, Ontario (Canada). After finishing up 

his MBA, he moved to NYC where his modeling 

career began. He has worked in Europe, Asia 

and the USA with clients ranging from The Gap, 

Levis, Target to GQ to name a few. He has also 

appeared in over 40 TV commercials, which he says 

adds a nice touch of variance from the print world. 

MATTHEW GAREL 

How did the two of you meet? After pining after Joanna for years and seeing 

her at random places in Toronto, I finally met her at a birthday party. I have to say I was 

pretty happy that night. 

What’s your favorite modeling story/experience? I think the one 

that stands out is a Target booking where my whole family tagged along. After an 

extremely long travel day, we finally got to the hotel at 1am with hungry and tired 

children. When we checked in, our room was like a palace. It was so big, had a kitchen, 

bedrooms, living room..it had the works and we all started screaming and laughing and 

running around the room. It definitely made up for the long travel day. 

How long have you lived in LA? Best thing about it? I moved to LA in 

Sept of ’99 right after we got married. I think the best thing about LA is the active 

lifestyle we can choose to live. Being near the beach is such a treat. We can surf 

whenever we choose and when we do a beach day with the family it is so much fun 

cuz we normally have a big group that we always beach it with. We feel like we are on 

vacation. And it’s a plus that we can surf and snowboard in the winter if we want to. 

Do you prefer casual or dressing up? Do you have any favorite 

designers? I think I prefer casual, but if we are going to events or occasions that call 

for dressing up, I don’t mind that either. My regular wear is probably Levi’s and Scotch 

and Soda. I love the couple suits I picked up from Zara as well. 

What are your plans/goals for the immediate future? For the immediate 

future I hope to still be modeling and booking commercials. I've been teaching myself 

programming and who knows, maybe I'll come up with a must have App 

JOANNA GAREL 

You’ve been a model, an actress, an artist, a businesswoman, a 

mother; what are you up to right now? 

I’m always juggling multiple hats, and my most recent and exciting endeavor is I’m 

working with http://nimblecontent.tv to executive produce dynamic digital content. 

The demand for digital content is booming, and I’m proud to be working with an 

innovative and talented team to create viral original content for the public. 

What’s been the highlight of your career? 

For my first year as an artist, the highlight was when I sold a lot of paintings to various 

collectors. (www.joannagarel.com) The ultimate highlight was when I moved to 

Hollywood from Toronto, Canada to star in the Disney studio film “SNOW DOGS”. 

Now my kids, grandkids and great grandkids can watch it. 

I know you and Matt both love to surf, and you recently started painting 

lifeguard towers. Can you tell me a little more about that? 

I told my husband that I’d had a great idea and that I was going to paint studies in 

lifeguard towers, 25 of them, and that I was going to have an art show and invite all my 

friends. Well, fast-forward to a year later and I’ve sold over 30 painting commissions 

to some serious collectors. I think people relate to my art because there’s a tranquility 

about my works. My art shows at a local art gallery in the South Bay called Riley Arts 

Gallery. 

Do you prefer casual or dressing up? Do you have any favorite 

designers? 

Being a model and hailing from a cosmopolitan city like Toronto, I love any excuse to 

dress up! I even used a CHANEL bag as a diaper bag when my kids were babies. I love 

Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant and Sacai, Miu Miu. I have an eclectic style, and like 

clothing that has interesting details. 

Anything else you’d like people to know about you? 

People don’t know that I was a quarterback for the girls flag football team in high school 

and college. I also coached my son’s flag football teams in Manhattan Beach and would 

hug the kids when they got hurt. But I guess you’re not supposed to do that in football, 

but they were only 6, 7, 8 years old - a very huggable age. 

Before I met my darling husband, I was a teenage single mother and my son, Jordan 

Andino, is now a successful celebrity chef in the making. He was on the Kardashian’s 

show as their personal chef, and has cooked against Bobby Flay. He has a show coming 

out in Canada called Chef in Your Ear. 


43

FRONT Health + Fitness 

BY GOLDEN MOERAS • PHOTOGRAPHED BY FARIA RAJI 

Fall Fitness: Take it Outside 

THE FITNESS FACTOR IS HIGH IN LOS ANGELES—GET WITH THE PROGRAM 

Los Angeles! The city 

of beautiful people. It 

is undeniable that this 

city houses some of 

the most stunning physiques, 

but how do they achieve it? 

Here in Los Angeles we are 

blessed with some of the best 

studios, gyms and trainers, but 

for many of these immaculate 

bodies and those seeking health, 

you do not have to look further 

than past your front window. 

As you travel through the 

city, you’ll notice the running 

bodies out on the streets. 

They are there year round at 

all hours. We are blessed with 

mild weather and a diverse 

landscape that offers long 

stretches of level ground or 

mountains, stairs, dunes, and 

the ocean. These factors create 

LA’s hot-looking culture of fit, 

trendy, sun-kissed perfection. 

There are endless outdoor 

workout opportunities in this 

City. Let’s highlight the most 

popular fit hubs. These locations 

are not only picturesque and 

physically challenging, but 

also enjoyable, entertaining 

and social. You will find 

people from all walks of life, at 

different stages of their fitness 

journey. These are places where 

connections are made, new 

relationships begin, dogs run 

wild and laughter is heard often. 

Santa Monica Stairs 

Adelaide Drive 

Santa Monica CA. 90402 

Skip the stair master and 

go for some fresh beach air. 

This workout is free and open 

to the public 24/7 365 days 

a year. To your amazement 

you’ll find at least one person 

at this location all hours of 

the day and night. This prized 

landmark never sits empty. 

Make sure to bring a leash for 

your furry friend, because dogs 

are permitted in the area, but 

not on the steps. Also make 

sure to be mindful of voice 

level in respect for the quiet 

surrounding neighborhood. 

Runyon Canyon Hike 

200 N Fuller Ave. 

LA. CA. 90046 

In the heart of the 

Hollywood Hills with views 

of the LA skyline and the 

Hollywood sign you can 

combine your workout, social 

hour, dog walk and tanning 

session. This sight offers three 

diverse paths, drinking fountains, 

dog water stations, rest benches 

and free group yoga classes. 

Make sure to bring water and 

sunscreen, because on certain 

days the hilltops can feel ovenlike, 

even during fall and winter. 

San Vicente Running Median 

San Vicente Blvd. And Ocean 

Avenue 

Santa Monica, CA. 90402 

On a typical fall Sunday 

afternoon, Bentwood locals take 

a four-mile run on the soft grass 

down the San Vicente median 

to the Santa Monica Beach. At 

the end of the four-mile stretch, 

they can be found sipping 

refreshments and tasting local 

goodies at the Bentwood farmers 

market. The path offers drinking 

fountains on the beach side 

and cool shade from the many 

large coral trees. If you choose 

this experience, you’ll find two 

deep paths on either side of the 

median, from the many feet that 

tread it daily. Note that dogs 

are permitted on the median, 

but not at the farmers market. 

Be aware of the large tree roots 

along the path and remember 

to bring your wallet so you can 

refuel with some local grub. 

The Original Muscle Beach 

Ocean front walk, 

Santa Monica, CA. 90401 

This location offers a diverse 

workout with the option of a 

beach jog, ropes, rings, swings 

parallel bars and a large grass 

area dubbed the “Acro Green” 

where a stunning fusion of 

yoga and acrobatics takes place. 

The area is filled with regulars 

and spectators alike. Beware if 

you stare too long, you may be 

pulled into a pyramid of bodies. 

Dogs and children are welcome 

and the vibe is friendly and 

inviting. Parking can be tricky 

especially on the weekend. Give 

yourself time to find meter 

parking ($2), or a full day lot 

($8-20) Bring your wallet for 

refreshments offered by the many 

little cafés along the beach. 

Whether you are new to 

fitness or have created a lifelong 

passion for it, you will enjoy 

these Los Angeles landmarks. 


FRONT 

On our Radar 

rock + soul 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY RANDY DUNBAR 

It’s elemental – we are stardust, and as such, we seek harmony 

and balance. Jewelry has long possessed the power to mediate 

our energies. Designed during the full moon, saged, cleansed and 

placed in a pyramid room, energetic jewelry that inspires, protects, 

grounds, balances your chakras and is pleasing to the eye as well. 

ALL JEWELRY BY ENERGY MUSE AND BLOOMING LOTUS 



47

Jacket by Marta Cucciniello 

Dress by Manokhi 

Necklace by Opus 

Prime Studio 

Bracelets by Forever 21 

Rings by Charlene K 

Choker by Outhouse 

Jewelry 

Vest by Topshop 

cuffs by Charlene K 

Rings by Charlene K, 

Mishka Piaf, Krysia Renau 

Pants by Marta Cucciniello 

Heels by Chinese Laundry 

x Kristen Cavallari 


Lia Marie Johnson 

With her own personal YouTube 

channel receiving 39 million views, 

and 1.3 million instagram followers, 

Lia Marie Johnson is a cyber star; an 

Internet sensation. 

This American teen actress has 

been vlogging and generating social 

media for a number of years (and 

had her first acting job at 10). Her 

wholesome image is fashioned 

by her focus and hard work – 

and her dedication shines 

through for her young fan 

base. In an Adweek profile, Lia 

Marie Johnson was referred to 

as one of the “12 biggest young 

stars on YouTube” 

Photographed by Viktorija Pashuta 


49

Coat by Open Nine Five 

Jumpsuit by Hotel Particulier 

Belt by OTT

Lia Marie Johnson’s World 

On Instagram you call yourself ‘Child of the 

universe” – why did you choose that description? 

It’s from my favorite poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. 

I came across a quote a long time ago at a point in my life 

where I wasn’t very happy, so I looked up the rest of the 

poem and it made me feel a lot better. It means a lot to me. 

Do you enjoy dressing up or being more casual? 

It honestly depends on the day. I like to dress casual a lot of 

the time but there are days when I just want to go all out 

and feel pretty and fabulous. 

Who do you think has great style? 

Maybe this is a cliche answer but i think Kylie Jenner has an 

amazing sense of fashion and is always starting cool trends. I 

also think all the hippies in the 70s had it going for them. I 

think they had the coolest sense of style. It was groovy, baby. 

Where is your favorite place to shop in LA? 

I like to shop on Melrose, they have a lot of boutique stores 

and everything is so different. I like to do some online 

shopping at nasty gal and for love and lemons. 

Vest by OTT 

Bra by Vitamin A 

Earrings by Forever 21 

Bracelets by Charlene K 

Rings by Forever 21 

Ring (big) by Mshka Piaf 

Belt by H&M 

Trousers by Francesca Marotta 

Heels by Monika Chiang 

What’s your favorite hang out spot in LA? 

I don’t really have a hang out spot. I just wake up and if I 

don’t have anything to do that day i’ll FaceTime my friends 

and we’ll plan out a fun adventure. 

What fashion style do you think is trending for the 

fall/winter season? 

Los Angeles is always nice and sunny, we’re so spoiled out 

here. But layers and boots and cute sweaters always remind 

me of crisp fall days with coffee and pumpkin patches. 

What projects do you have coming up? 

I’m working on a lot of music right now. I hope to have an 

album out soon but I want it to be the best it can possibly 

be, so however long it takes, that’s what it’ll be. I’m also 

filming a new series that is so incredibly cool. It’s a horror/ 

thriller and I play a character named Hailey. I can’t wait ‘til it 

comes out. 

Do you share clothes with your younger sisters, or is 

that a big no-no? 

Yes, I share clothes with my little sisters. I wouldn’t say 

it always ends pretty though. A lot of times my dad has 

to come break up the war that is going on in one of the 

bedrooms, but, it’s a given. Hand me downs are a way of life 

in my family. Being the oldest, I’ve had to get clothes from 

all my friends and cousins.

Coat by Marta Cucciniello 

Top by Marta Cucciniello 

Left hand: jumbo acrylic bracelet & 

finger ring by Marianna Harutunian 

Right hand: cuff by Charlene K 

Right hand: ring/bracelet 

by Julia Post 

Earrings by Marianna Harutunian 

Skirt by Amber Sakai 

Heals by J Maurice 


Necklace by Crosstreet 

Jacket by Adolfo Sanchez 

Shirt by Amber Sakai 

Waist Pin by Outhouse Jewelry 


Heels by Monika Chiang 

Choker by Outhouse Jewelry 

Vest by Topshop 

cuffs by Charlene K 

Rings by Charlene K, 

Mishka Piaf, Krysia Renau 


Heels by Chinese Laundry x Kristen Cavallari 


53

Coat by Open Nine Five 

Jumpsuit by Hotel Particulier 

Belt by OTT 

Heels by LAMB 

Coat by Marta Cucciniello 

Left hand: jumbo acrylic bracelet & 

finger ring by Marianna Harutunian 

Right hand: cuff by Charlene K 

Right hand: ring/bracelet by Julia Post 

Earrings by Marianna Harutunian 



55

shades of fall 

THE LOOK THIS SEASON IS SMOKING HOT 

photographed by Odessy Barbu 

Makeup by Katie Cordero 

Nails by Melissa Bozant Washington/Zoya 

Model: Tyrie Rudolph @ Wilhelmina 

Model: Allie Crandell @ Photogenics 

Jewelry by Kristen Dorsey and Energy Muse 



57

TIP for the best bronzed cheeks 

check out NARs’s dual intense blush in 

Frenzy —it’s their new 2 in 1 combo 

PRODUCTS USED 

Nars: 

albatross (highlighter) 

frenzy (dual intense blush) 

MAC: 

soft and gentle (highlighter) 

blondes gold (pigment) 

cornflower (pigment) 

current (lip liner) 

lingering kiss (lipstick) 

Laura Mercier: 

Oil free Primer 

Cream secret concealer 


Trending 

Using bright and intense 

highlighters like Nars’s 

Albatross or MAC’s Soft 

and Gentle makes strobing 

an easy look to achieve, 

which is this seasons 

hottest trend for makeup! 


59

Seasonal 

Dark lips and strong brows are always 

a favorite makeup go-to during the 

cooler months and holiday season. 

Using burgundy lip colors like 

MAC’s Lingering Kiss and Current 

lip liner is the perfect balance for a 

strong dark brow. This look is best 

achieved with an eyebrow gel, 1 to 

2 shades darker than your own. 

TIP using an angled brush with the eyebrow gel 

ensures precision when sculpting the shape. 



61

Left to right: 

Guy 1: Black Vest by Tom Ford , Black 

jeans by Marc Jacobs Boots by All Saints 

Guy 2: Hat by Hollywood Hatters, Vest by 

John Varvatos, Jeans by Ralph Lauren 

Female Model: Hat by Saint Laurent, 

Blouse by Anthony Franco, Fringe vest by 

Dolce & Gabbana, Skinny tie by Prada, 

Jeans by John Eshaya for JET 

boots Vintage Marc Jacobs 

Tosh: Hat by Goorin Bros, Vest by All 

Saints, jeans by Rockstar Denim, Boots by 

Johnny Fluevog, cuff by Guess, necklace 

by Ron Dotson, fur by Necromance 

The 70’s are back in full effect this fall/winter, but with a twist— 


There’s a certain secret magic hidden in 

the Hollywood Hills; it’s here that iconic 

inhabitants like Stevie Nicks & Lindsey 

Buckingham would skinny dip after playing 

a show at the Hollywood Bowl, Jim Morrison 

would ride his motorcycle through his living 

room on Beachwood Canyon, and Joni Mitchell 

would scribble what would become “Ladies 

of the Canyon” while perched at her bedroom 

window at the top of Lookout mountain. 

In the Hills, memories echo like coyotes 

throughout the canyons of an era when “Sex, 

drugs and rock and roll” wasn’t just a fantasy, 

but a lifestyle; therefore it’s the perfect location 

to showcase the heavy 70’s inspiration of the 

fall line, particularly when it comes to denim. 

Darker washes and skinnier cuts inspired by 

the Glam of the latter part of the decade have 

also resurged with full force. Jeans are no 

longer for the weak of heart, but for the brazen 

fashionistas who want to turn up the volume 

of their denim like the amp on their guitar. 

—Carmine Bicchett 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY BYRD 

Art Direction and Styling by Fashion Coven 

at FashionCoven.com 

Tosh Yanez, Carmine Bicchetti, 

George Sanchez & Lauren Krack 

Hair & Makeup : Mia Yang for MAC at 

Atelier Management 

Models: Charelle Schriek with 

Wilhelmina, Los Angeles 

Tosh Yanez, with Wilhelmina, Los Angeles 

Raul Santiago, Francisco Solana 

this is the darker side of denim 


63

Coat Vintage, blouse by Anthony Franco, 

jeans by Grace In La, belt by Ralph Lauren, 

Boots by Lucchese, ring by Guess 



65

Jeans by AG, Dress by Anthony Franco, 

Belt by Ralph Lauren, Vintage fur coat, 

Boots by Guess 


Jeans by Guess, Belt by John Varvatos, 

Coat Vintage 

Tosh in Poncho by John Eshaya for JET 

jeans by Heirloom 

Hat by Goorin Bros. 


67

Shirt and faux fur vest is John Eshaya 

for JET 

Jeans by Rockstar Denim 

Hat by Anita Hopkins 

Ring by Guess 


Jeans by Alexa Chung for AG 

White blouse by Mason 

Gown by Max Azria 

Fur by Necromance 


69

PHOTOGRAPHY: RODNEY RAY 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: LULU 

MAKEUP & HAIR: YOKO KAGAYA 

FOR MAC COSMETIC 

STYLIST: OVAIS SHEIKH 

MODEL: AUTUMN KENDRICK 

VIA HOLLYWOOD MODEL MGMT 


Gown by Anthony Franco 

Jeans by Guess 

Shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti 

Hat by Vivienne Westwood 


71

WEST

Left to Right: 

IGOR 

Suit Pants: Calvin Klein 

Vest: Saks 5th Avenue Collection 

Shirt: Armani 

Tie: Calvin Klein 

Jacket: Cole Haan 

KOLTEN 

Suit: Ralph Lauren 

Shirt: Ermenegildo Zegna 

Tie: Black Brown 1826 

Scarf: Burberry 

Jacket: Versace 

ZACK 

Suit: Ben Sherman 

Shirt: Tom Ford 

Tie: Alexander McQueen 

CHANDLER 

Suit Coat: Armani 

Pants: Ben Sherman 

Shirt: Paul Smith 

Tie: Armani 

CHASE 

Suit: Kenneth Cole New York 


Tie: Tommy Hilfiger 

OLIVER 

Suit: Hugo Boss 

Sweater: Pendelton 


Tie: Theory 

Photographed by Wander Aguiar 

COAST STYLE TAKES TO THE STREETS 

MARK 

Sweater: Energy 

Pants: Michael Kors 

Jacket: Emporio Armani 

Bag: Tumi 


73

CHASE 

Shirt: Ermenegildo Zegna 

Jacket: Pendelton 

Scarf: Loro Piana 

Bag: Tumi 

Shoes: Crosby Square 

ZACK 

Suit: Calvin Klein 

Vest: Saks 5th 

Avenue Collection 

Shirt: Ted Baker 


Shoes: Dolce&Gabbana 

Sunglass: Prada 


Models: Igor Corbe, Oliver Seitz, 

Zach Dare & Mark Grossman 

@ NEXT LA; Kolten Horner @ 

Envy LA, Chandler Rogers @ 

San Diego Models Management, 

Chase Carpenter @ Aston LA. 

Coordinator: Andrey Bahia 

Styling: Michelle La Rue 

Make up: Christina Lukens 

Grooming by Groom the Salon: 

Freddy Silva, Greggy Measom, 

Gia Lourdes & Nea Muller 

www.groomthesalon.com 

CHASE 

Suit: Kenneth Cole New York 


Tie: Tommy Hilfiger 

Shoes: Crosby Square 


75


ZACK 

Suit: Calvin Klein 

Vest: Saks 5th Avenue 

Collection 

Shirt: Ted Baker 


Shoes: Dolce&Gabbana 

Sunglass: Prada

photographed by sarah orbanic 

styled by alyssa rose 

Suit: Hugo Boss 

Sweater: Pendelton 


Tie: Theory Umbrella: 

Ben Sherman 


77


OLIVER 

Suit: Cecilia Aragon 


Shoes: Calvin Klein 

Sunglasses: Yves 

Saint Laurent

the 

KOLTEN 

Suit Coat: Tallia 

Suit Pants: Alfani 

Sweater: Versace 

Shoes: Hugo Boss 


79

TOMBOY MEETS CHIC 

photographed by CSABA FIKKER 

styled by JONATHAN ACOSTA 

art direction by CHANELLE RENEE 

hair by ARMAN ZAND 

makeup by JUSTIN MEEKS 

model ELENA O @IEG MODELS 


Hat - Vintage Saks Fifth Ave 

Dress Shirt - Christian Dior 

Gloves - Arden B 

Pants - Zara 


81

Leather Jacket - Buffalo Exchange 

T-Shirt Dress - FIDM Scholarship 

SHIRT: Tur millaut 

PANTS: , quidellam 

HAT : ni aborempore 

SUNGLASSES :simillupta autem 

HAT: ute dolorectur aditemo 


Plaid Sweater & Suede Shorts 

- FIDM Scholarship Store

Black Button Up Shirt & Faux Fur 

Shoes - FIDM Scholarship Store, 

Butterfly Tie - Scott Sterling 


85

KICKING IT! 

STYLED BY CHANELLE RENEE & BRITTANY MENDIBLES 

STYLED FOR THE 

FALL 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY 

MAKE UP BY 

DAWN KRISTIN 

CARRIE V 

HAIR BY 

LUCY GEDJEYAN 

MODELS 

GISELLE PINA 

@OTTOMODELS, 

ALLAYNA MARIE 

CSABA FIKKER 

ART DIRECTION 

CHANELLE RENEE 


SWITCH UP YOUR STYLE 

THIS FALL, MIX AND MATCH 

NEW LOOKS FROM LOCAL 

DESIGNERS & BOUTIQUES IN L.A 

WITH YOUR SUMMER GEAR BY 

FOLLOWING THESE EASY STEPS. 

Beanie: HLZBLZ 

Bracelet: Audiopark Earbuds 

Ring: Bijourie 

Black Lace top: Mariliana 

Black one piece: Sonya Bees 

Shoes: Lola Shoetique 

TURN YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE INTO FALL READY STYLES! 


87

Black one peice: Sonya Bees 

Necklace: MWM 


HIPSTER CHIC 

Turn your cool jumper 

into a chic look by 

adding a bold statement 

piece and your fav 

booties or heels! 


BOLD CHOICES 

Dress / top: Sonya Bees 

Fur: Mariliana 

Necklace: Cross Street 

Rings: Cross Street 


89

STYLES TAILOR MADE 

Black Romper: Sonya Bees 

Brown belt: MWM 



PRINT IT 

Two peice set: Sonya Bees 

Necklace: MWM 

Earrings: MWM 


91

Products used: 

On all looks - Skin: Koh gen 

do Aqua / Hourglass Ambient 

lighting powder in “Dim 

Light” / Anastasia Beverly 

Hills Brow Wiz / MAC 

cosmetics cream blush 

Eyes: MAC Eyeshadow / 

Marc Jacobs liquid liner 

Lips: Sephora Pantone 

Orchid collection lipstick 


The Art of 

BEAUTY 

This season’s top beauty products for Fall! 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY AARON LACY 

Creative/art director: CHANELLE RENEE 

Makeup artist: JENNIFER EDWARDS 

Hair stylist: LUCY GEDJEYAN 

Model: JULIA LAUS 


93

The Art of 

BEAUTY 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

7. 

6. 


FALL BEAUTY MUST-HAVES 

1. BENEFIT - They're Real Mascara. $24.00 2. NARS - Brows Gel $23.00 

3. ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - Countour Kit Pallette $40.00 

4. NUDE - Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil $68.00 

5. BECCA - Jacklyn Jill Highligter $38.00 6. MARC JACOBS - Lipgloss $28.00 ea. 

7. CHANEL - Joues Contraste Blush $45.00


95

Cats 

in 

hats 

Think about it, men 

have worn hats 

since the beginning 

of time—sometimes 

out of geographical 

necessity, sometimes 

ceremonial, often the 

perfect accessory. They 

are made of many fabrics 

and there are over fifty 

styles. Here in LA, we 

enjoy the ubiquitous 

baseball cap, but we’ve 

delved deeper into 

fashion to come up fresh 

with some stylish toppers 

photographed by Faria Raji 

styled by Brooke Emery 


Alex Nazemnikov 

model 

Goorin Everyday San Simeon 

Teal 

$78.00 

Lady Amherst Feather 

Goorin Brothers 


97

Harrison Hall 

Graphic + Web Designer 

Premium Straw Jack Johnson 

White 

$140.00 

Maleo Feather 



Jason John 

model, Next la 

Goorin Everyday Fedora 

Forest 

$160.00 


Zuke Oshiro 

Educational Agent 

Philip Miller 

artist 

Premium Straw Big John 

Tan 

$160.00 


Heritage White Rabbit 

Black 

$130.00 

Millie Feather 


Black V neck 

Zara 


99


Designer 

for the Young 

Nancy Vuu’s taking the children’s 

fashion industry by storm 

ancy Vuu had a childhood fraught with poverty, 

danger and illness, which may be in part why she has chosen 

to design beautiful, almost fairytale-esque clothing for 

children. To add to their splendor, after being meticulously 

crafted, each Nancy Vuu garmet is given a thoughtful name 

that embodies virtue and blessings to embrace the child 

who wears the outfit. Perhaps this is Nancy Vuu’s way of 

protecting and shrouding children from a harsh reality that 

she knows firsthand does exist. For Nancy Vuu’s line, each 

garmet is made with purpose and sent to remind the child 

that they are deeply loved and deserve to be treated like 

royalty. 

Nancy Vuu children’s clothes have found their way to the 

heart of Beverly Hills, where they hang next to world-renowned 

designers Dolce Gabbana, Versace & Armani. The 

Nancy Vuu brand has made a presence on the red carpet, 

and styles child celebrities of Hollywood and beyond. Staking 

its claim, the brand now graces the pages of Glamour 

UK, Harper’s Bazaar UK, and Vogue Italia. 


101



103

ACTIVEWEAR LA 

yoga style 

photographed by sarah orbanic 

We love facts: 

Yoga pant sales 

have grown 341 

percent in the past 

three months. 

New sports bra 

arrivals have grown 

by 96 percent. 

It’s not simply 

a trend, it’s a 

movement with 

more and more 

people wearing 

athleisure to 

everything from 

meetings to first 

dates. 


Top @BombshellSportswear 

Shorts Nines 

Leg Warmers SoloSol Movement 


105

Shop this: 

Aimee G available at www.aimeeg.com 

Alo available at www.aloyoga.com 

@BombshellSportswear available at www.bombshellsportswear.com 

Nines available at www.ninesbrand.com 

Shama Jade available at www.shamajade.com 

SoloSol Movement available at www.solosolmovement.com 

Top Aimee G 

Pants @BombshellSportswear 

106 The LA FASHION MAGAZINE

Leggings @BombshellSportswear 

Top AloYoga 


107

STYLES FOR THE ACTIVE LIFE 

physical fit 


Black bras and Lace/stripe 

print leggings Venice Collection 

are ELisabetta ROGIANI 

www.rogiani.com 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARK CAROLAN 

MODELS: GOLDEN MOERAS & ALICIA MARIE 

ART DIRECTION: Q 


109

STYLES FOR THE ACTIVE LIFE 

physical fit 

Petal Bra ALOYOGA 

Goddess Ribbed Leggings 

www.ALOYOGA.com 


ABOVE RIGHT 

Rogiani red/black Gloves by 

G-Loves 

Bomber Jacket, red sports bra and 

red/black mesh pants 

wwwROGIANI.com 

RIGHT 

Petal Bra Mesh up ALOYOGA 

Airbrush Capri and Leggings 

ALOYOGA 


111

RUNWAY 

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO 

FASHION SHOWS LOS ANGELES 

When it comes to creating a “Fashion Week”, capitals like 

New York, London, Paris, and Milan have pioneered 

the foundation of this event to make it a genuine staple 

in each of their cities respectively. Over the years, cities across 

the globe have used the Fashion Week model to create their own 

versions of this week-long event to highlight emerging talent in 

the fashion circles of their market. Los Angeles is no stranger to its 

own Fashion Week archetype, as a wide assortment of producers 

have given rise to hundreds of Fashion Week shows for almost 

twenty years. It’s only natural that Fashion Week would thrive in 

the city of Los Angeles, seeing as how so many fashion creatives are 

literally cultivated here day in and day out. On top of being North 

America’s leader in fashion and apparel manufacturing, while also 

employing more than double the amount of people than the New 

York fashion industry, why wouldn’t L.A. become one of the most 

renowned cities for a Fashion Week? 

BY JOSHUA PINK AY 



113

The most unique thing about L.A. Fashion Week is how 

its roster of productions has extended past the standard 

“week” of shows, to two weeks...and a few additional days. 

The scheduling of the shows is crucial because the city’s 

industry influencers cannot be in two places at once if shows 

happen to overlap. The current lineup consists of: Project 

Ethos; Africa Fashion Week L.A.; Art Hearts Fashion; Los 

Angeles Fashion Council; and the headlining production, 

Style Fashion Week. Every production has its own elements 

and distinctive contribution to Fashion Week as a whole. 

Everything from the selection of showcasing designers, 

booking models, proper lighting & staging, marketing, 

and sound engineers has to be taken into consideration, 

as all these productions are essentially competing with one 

another. 

Each production invites their own set of media, press, 

stylists, and industry influencers that play the largest roles 

in the fashion industry in L.A. It’s important that the right 

groups of influencers are in attendance of these shows, as 

they are the ones that will create the buzz for these designers 

in the oncoming season. Without the attendees, there’s 

no room for added growth of business, which is essentially 

why a fashion show is created in the first place. The whole 

point of Fashion Week, or any fashion show in general, is to 

create a platform for designers to show what their lines have 

to offer and to see how the market will respond. Fashion 

Week is the best place for a designer to gather all of their 

media contacts and potential buyers in one location for one 

solid viewing of their collection. This leaves the response 

to the line in the hands of the attendees. If the media 

doesn’t like it, the audience will know, and if the buyers 

aren’t impressed, then the collection runs the risk of not 

being carried in stores for purchase. 

Regardless of what business may or may not come 

from each individual show, the gamut of attendees use 

Fashion Week as a means to connect for the sole purpose 

of celebrating fashion. From bloggers to stylists, industry 

socialites to interns, one thing is clear across all groups: the 

demand for L.A. Fashion Week is here to stay. 

A MONTH OF RUNWAYS 

Art Hearts Fashion - October 5th-8th 

Venue - Taglyan Complex, Hollywood 

www.artheartsfashion.com 

LAFW - October 7th - 11th 

Venue - Union Station DTLA 

www.lafw.net 

Style Fashion Week - October 14th - 18th 

Venue - Tent at the Reef L.A. 

1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles 90007 

www.stylefashionweek.com 

Street Fashion Week - October 24th 

Venue - Tiffany on Vine, Hollywood 

for more information visit thelafashion.com 



115

THE PRODUCERS 

PRODUCTION POST-ITS 

Inside advice from the people that make Fashion Week happen 

Try to minimize the drama, 

and if there’s an issue, 

just to talk through it and 

find a solution 

Veronica Welch 

Style Fashion Week 

“Stay calm, chill out, and 

have a good sense of humor. 

Inevitably things will go 

wrong, but the best way to 

get through it is to keep 

your game face on at all 

times.” 

Kim Krempien 

Fashion Director: LAFW 

“Expect the unexpected! 

Fashion shows have 

countless moving parts 

so it’s important to stay 

focused on producing a 

great event while being 

flexible enough to think of 

solutions on demand.” 

Brianne Bear 

Chief Operating Officer: 

Project Ethos 

“Take a deep breath, 

don’t stress, do whatever 

you can to make the 

production go more 

smoothly and take some 

time to enjoy the scene.” 

Mike Vensel 

Producer: CONCEPT 

“Volunteer for an existing 

company to get experience. 

Companies outside of FW 

produce private shows. 

With that you can have 

year-round experience in 

various environments.” 

Onyinyechi Egeonuigwe 

Producer: 

Africa Fashion & Art Week 

“Nothing is more important than 

your team and those you work 

with. It’s about the designers’ 

vision and the guests’ experience. 

Be accommodating and 

respectful of everyone you meet. 

Today’s success opens the door for 

tomorrow’s opportunities.” 

Erin Whitaker 

Producer, Art Hearts Fashion 


Dress: Alfred Angelo, $1499, 

alfredangelo.com 

Earrings: Roni Blanshay, $348, 

Bloomingdale’s Beverly Center 


117

THE FASHION DESIGNER 

Alexis Monsanto 

What happens when fashion designer meets the ruway in a t-bone collison called the fashion show 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY IRVIN RIVERA 

The Los Angeles fashion circuit is home to several elite 

designers that are household names on the Fashion 

Week runway every season. These designers have 

become staples to the industry by proving themselves 

as true artists with a solid voice that resonates through 

their collections at every show. One designer who 

always stands out as a visionary on the runway is the incomparable 

Alexis Monsanto. This upcoming season, Alexis Monsanto will be 

presenting his newest collection inspired by what he calls “women in 

power.” For this collection, Monsanto drew inspiration from real-life 

women and fictional characters from film and television to create a 

collection that, as Alexis states, “goes from boardroom to bedroom”. 

Monsanto has created some of the most impressive shows to 

ever grace the runways of L.A. Fashion Week, by pushing through 

boundaries with every new collection. What audiences see at a Alexis 

Monsanto show is that he really knows how to make his vision come 

to life. Joshua Pinkay sat with Alexis Monsanto during a photo shoot 

with famed photographer, Irvin Rivera, to get an in-depth Q&A 

session about Fashion Week from the designer’s perspective. 

JP: As one of the prominent designers on the runway of L.A. 

Fashion Week, what would you say is the best part of the 

Fashion Week experience? 

AM: The best part is getting to showcase my artistry and creativity 

to the whole world and premiering my collection for a particular 

season. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but from an artist’s point of view, 

it’s like unveiling a piece of your soul. You make yourself open to 

any type of criticism whether it be positive or negative, and to that I 

say, “Bring it on. I can take it!” This is like a test or gauge of your 

artistic capacity. 

JP: You’re considered one of the prime elite designers in 

Los Angeles. Do you ever feel like you’re competing with 

other designer on the runway? 

AM: I’ve seen other shows and those designers have really great 

collections. When you talk about presentation as a whole, the only 

person I feel that I compete with is myself. Year after year, I feel that 

I top myself with my shows. This is why it can be difficult at times, 

because I expect a lot from myself. I ask for feedback from stylists, 

interviewers, or anyone in the industry about which of my shows 

they like the best. They usually answer that they like my latest show, 

which means that I have to outdo my last show. 

JP: What is your main goal when presenting on the runway? 

AM: My main goal is to make sure that my shows are entertaining 

and that the collection lives up to the expectations of the crowd. 

If in a prior year I received a standing ovation from a crowd of 

one-thousand attendees, then that’s validation that I did well. I’m 

a very quiet person and generally I like for my work to speak for 

itself. I don’t like to brag or talk about the clothing before I unveil a 

collection. I prefer to wait for what the people have to say right after 

I present. I think saying too much about the collection before it’s 

unveiled can hurt the audience’s expectations and ruin the element of 

surprise from my work. Expect the unexpected. 

JP: Have you ever had a negative runway experience, and if 

so, what measures do you take to avoid that? 

AM: In 2012, I had a big issue with my music. I couldn’t come 

up with it until the very last minute. Everything else was taken 

care of from the collection, to the styling, etc., but the music wasn’t 

finalized. Thankfully, I had help from some creative friends who 

worked on my music in the editing room, because I refused to start 

my show without finalized music. I took that experience to make 

sure that I always had every element finished weeks before the date 

of the show. 

JP: Not including the show production staff, about how 

many people do you bring in from your own team to help 

put your show together? 

AM: I usually have a team of creative people helping me, comprised 

of interns, seamstresses, sample makers, and stylists. My sample 

makers have been working with me since 1996-97, and I keep them 

around because they know my work ethic and what I expect from 

them. They understand the finishing and quality of work I want 

because they’ve been trained. As for my stylists, I collaborate with 

Jesse J from Jesse J Collections, who has been working with me for 

quite some time on photo shoots and shows in different states and 

cities. The whole team ranges from between five to eight people. 

JP: What is your take on L.A. Fashion Week in comparison 

to other cities that you’ve presented in? 

AM: L.A. Fashion Week is very different from the other cities, 

mainly because Los Angeles is the manufacturing capital of fashion 


Model: Olga Aleksa 

Make-up: Sheryll Nebrida 

Hair: Kris Ann Orana 

Styling: Jesse J 


119

in the U.S. The goods, workforce, and distribution facilities are all 

here. We’re making Los Angeles as an important city that would 

compliment Fashion Weeks from cities like New York, London, 

Milan, Paris, and Tokyo. I believe that Los Angeles is respected and 

noticed world-wide. 

JP: On the day of your show, do you get nervous? How do 

you stay calm and collected? 

AM: Oh, now that’s a tough question! I go crazy on the day of a 

show! (laughing). Usually on the day of the show, I wake up, not 

having had a lot of sleep the night before because, even though the 

collection is finished, I’ll have other things on my mind. It could be a 

number of things because we don’t live in a perfect world, so anything 

can go wrong. I’ll be thinking about props, accessories, or anything 

outside of the collection itself that is an important element to the show. 

I’m a Taurus, so I can be a bit stubborn and very set on something once 

my mind is made up. I like to make sure all the elements of the show are 

taken care of ahead of time because I don’t have time to create a “Plan 

B” on how to present my vision. On the day of my show, I make sure 

to take a few minutes to lock myself in a corner to be alone and quiet so 

that I can find my center and collect my thoughts. 

JP: How involved are you with the factors that go into your 

show such as model selections or song choice? 

AM: I’m very hands on with those decisions. The whole artistic concept 

and vision comes from me. When I create the collection, I already see 

the types of models I want in the garments. Even in the quietness of my 

atelier in the middle of the night when I finish a certain garment and 

it’s draped on the dress form, I will look at myself in the mirror while 

listening to music and figuring out a walk with the garment. The entire 

creative process of the show is 100% from my vision. 

JP: Explain the backstage experience from the designer’s 

perspective on the day of the show. 

AM: (Laughing) Now that’s a fun question! It’s a little chaotic, but I 

always talk to my creative team beforehand. I usually share my vision 

and my points of view and the looks with my stylists and beauty team. 

I show them the boards weeks before and then again right before the 

show to go over final looks with styling, hair, makeup, etc. So it’s kinda 

chaotic at first, but when I see that everything is done the way I want it, 

then I know I don’t have to throw a fit. LOL. 

JP: Who do you typically invite to your shows? 

AM: I want to make sure that all the elements of my show are balanced, 

and that even applies to the people in attendance. It’s important to 

have the right celebrities, the right buyers, and the right VIP’s attending. 

In short, I don’t want random riff-raff in the audience of my show. I 

align myself with the right production/organization that puts my show 

together to ensure this. 

JP: Is there anything that you haven’t done with your runway 

shows that you hope to accomplish one day? 

AM: I want flying models! LOL. No, but in all seriousness, I admire 

the craziness that I see from shows like designer, John Galliano. It’s a 

challenge to achieve certain things, but I like those challenges. I want 

to be able to bring my ideas to life rather than just leaving them in my 

imagination. If I can have models floating on water, elevated in the 

air, or descending from a capsule, I think I would like that. There’s so 

many crazy ideas that I can come up with to shock the audience. There’s 

always room for improvement, and there’s always a way to get something 

done. 


THE PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Press Pit Real Estate 

The best seats in the house belong to the crew behind the camera—how you get there is another story 

The coveted Press Pit 

at every fashion show is 

the prime location for 

photographers and media 

to get the best images on 

the runway. Usually this 

is a section at the end of 

the runway, also known 

as Media Risers, that is 

sectioned off specifically 

for photographers of 

the media. Every 

official Fashion Week 

across the globe makes 

sure to accommodate 

an appropriate press 

pit. Without it, the 

major media outlets at 

every Fashion Week wouldn’t get the quality images necessary for 

their articles and reviews of the shows. One of the co-founders of 

The L.A. Fashion Magazine and the current Chief Photographer of 

runway, Kai He, wanted to give our reader’s some insight on what 

it’s like for media in the press pit and what requirements are necessary 

to be allowed access to such a major location in the runway room. 

What would you say is a requirement to have 

a guaranteed spot in the Press Pit? 

The number one factor is how well known and how well recognized 

your media is. The key beyond that is for your media outlet to 

have a good relationship with the show producers. Photographers 

want to shoot for a reputable media outlet and communicate that 

they represent that outlet and deserve a good spot in the pit. 

What would you say is the number one complaint 

photographers encounter at a fashion show? 

A professional runway show should have photographers that know 

what they are doing. Occasionally there are some photographers 

that will make rookie mistakes like using flash photography. Flash 

ruins the shot for every other photographer in the pit, so it’s definitely 

frowned upon. Also, space is limited in the pit, so it can get pretty 

cramped in there. It’s important to have good interpersonal skills so 

that you can be considerate to other photographers who might want 

your space, even though you are being paid to shoot in that location. 

What’s your best piece of advice for photographers who 

want to get into the press and media side of Fashion Week? 

Given the fact that the pit can only accommodate a limited number 

of photographers, it’s 

important that you align 

yourself with a reputable 

media outlet. Many 

photographers have a 

passion for shooting 

runway, but when it 

comes to shooting 

runway for your own 

personal needs, it won’t 

really get you anywhere. 

Some runway 

shows hire in-house 

photographers that have 

worked with designers 

previously. In this case, 

if the designer wants 

you in the press pit, 

then they can request for you to have access to a spot in the media 

risers. This, of course, depends on how strict the guidelines are 

between productions, because some shows are stricter than others. 

How is the proper media selected to be in the press pit? 

Usually, every production has a Media Manager that assures the 

major media outlets get the shots they need on the runway. There 

are instances when major media outlets can request a photographer to 

be moved so that the major media can take that photographer’s spot 

in the press pit. In the case for the L.A. Fashion Magazine, we make 

sure to do the proper leg work to arrive early and get our best spot in 

the pit just to avoid conflicts and to be fair to other photographers. 

What is the level of professionalism required 

from photographers in a press pit? 

It depends on experience, honestly, but for example, if you go to 

a professional runway show that is well lit and constructed, it’s not 

difficult to get quality images from the show. Now in some cases, 

larger productions may use theatrical sets and runways that aren’t 

lit as well as plain white runways. It’s during these instances where 

the best photographers shine and their expertise comes into play. 

What’s your favorite part of shooting a runway show? 

The glamorous and theatrical shows are what make the press pit 

worth it. The press pit is actually the best location to get a full 

view of the shows. It can be so beautiful, and I feel blessed as a 

photographer because I feel like I have the best seat in the house. 


121

THE MODELS 

Walking the Runway 

Twin of a Kind have people looking twice at models on the catwalk 

No runway show is complete 

without the proper models to 

walk in a designer’s garments. 

Let’s face it, without models, 

there is no show. Los Angeles 

is home to hundreds of models that vie for 

spots in Fashion Week every season. Most of 

the top models in L.A. audition for the same 

productions all at once, so naturally, designers 

end up choosing models that are being shared 

in other shows. Two models that are no 

strangers to the runway are Desiree Glover and 

Erin Green, most commonly known in the 

L.A. fashion circuit as “Twin of a Kind”. 

The Twin of Kind models have been in 

high demand during L.A. Fashion Week 

for several years now. Designers are drawn 

to their elegant runway walks and stylized 

routines. Audiences are always so impressed 

with their precision on the runway, that it’s 

almost hard to believe how 

in sync they are with each 

other’s poses and movements. 

Designers enjoy a good 

“wow factor” in their shows 

from time to time, so it’s 

no surprise that Twin of 

Kind are requested to walk 

so often. The L.A. Fashion 

Magazine wanted an in-depth 

interview with the twins to 

talk about their experiences 

on the runway and what 

it’s like to be a Model In 

Demand. 

Q: How many years have you two 

been participating in the Fashion 

Week scene in Los Angeles? 

We have been in the Fashion Week scene for 

10 years - we hope that doesn’t give our age 

away, LOL! Our experience includes working 

with extraordinary talents to include print 

work, catalogue, trade and market shows. 

All this has helped us develop wonderful 

relationships over the years. This industry is 

brutal and within a 10 year timespan, we’ve 

developed tough skin to endure rejection. 

However, rejection has only built our 


“The industry has become so 

tainted when it comes to 

knowing the models worth.” 

character and encouraged us to push harder. 

Q: What’s your favorite part about 

walking in L.A. Fashion Week? 

Our favorite part is that we are able to walk 

the catwalk with our best friend. We’re happy 

to know that we are still in demand and most 

clients hire us together, and together we 

bring a certain element to any event. The 

creativity designers come up with when they 

have us to walk for them is always unique. 

They choose us as the show stoppers or to 

add entertainment to their show, and it gives 

us such pleasure to be able to choreograph 

a routine that will not only wow the crowd 

but also help to sell their collection, while 

displaying the versatility and movement of 

each garment. It simply gives us pleasure to 

have fun, and not just walk like most models 

are used to. As the industry changes, audience 

expectation does as well. L.A. Fashion Week 

is not only about fashion but entertainment 

too! They not only come to a show to view 

the upcoming styles and fashions but they 

come to be entertained as well. And it’s 

important to us that we deliver, and that’s 

exactly what we do, provide entertainment. 

We enjoy networking and building 

relationships. Individuals find our showcase 

on the runway to be intriguing and it helps to 

gain more relationships than you can imagine. 

Our talent also initiates conversations that 

more than likely will land us our next 

gig. One thing we have learned from this 

industry is that you must be confident and 

knowledgeable or it will 

eat you alive fast. Stars 

are born every day and in 

order to stay relevant you 

must perfect your craft and 

be true to yourself. 

Q: What’s your least 

favorite part...? 

The industry has become 

so tainted when it comes 

to knowing the models 

worth. Clients, designers, 

photographers and 

production companies 

must understand that modeling is a career 

for most in this industry and take it very 

seriously. However, when a client does not 

pay the model their worth (their time, their 

craft and their professionalism), it only shows 

how unappreciated we are. The going rate for 

model compensation is “gain exposure and/or 

trade for print”. That might work for aspiring 

models but for models that are seasoned it 

simply doesn’t pay the bills. It is true, that as 

long as there are models wanting to get their 

feet wet in this industry, they are willing to 

receive free gigs for exposure and experience. 

And as long as they are out there, the industry 

will continue to utilize models that are willing

to work for free but at 

what cost? We believe 

that experienced/seasoned 

models are prostituting 

their talents when they 

accept modeling gigs for 

free especially when it 

forces us to just stay in the 

game to keep relevant. 

Q: On average how 

many designers 

do you walk for 

each season? 

On average we walk 

for about 20 designers 

throughout LA Fashion 

Week. LA Fashion Week 

consists of a variety of 

shows/productions that 

make up LA Fashion 

Week and each production 

company will service their 

own lineup of designers 

which gives models more 

opportunities. 

Q: Have you ever 

been double booked 

for shows, and if so, 

what factor goes 

into deciding which 

show you’re not 

going to walk in? 

Don’t tell anyone! This is 

what we didn’t want you to 

know, but we are identical 

twins and you can’t tell us 

apart, LOL! There have been 

times when we have double booked for shows. 

However, we do not recommend this unless 

you are aware of the risks (the risk of not being 

on time for the next show, not being able to 

have enough time to receive a complete makeup 

and hair change, the location being too far 

away to account for traffic delays, and getting 

fired and ruining your reputation with those 

designers). Designers don’t particularly like 

for the model to double book and they prefer 

that the model walks solely for them on their 

day of their showcase. As models we truly 

understand, but from a models perspective, we 

must consider a few things: 1) Are we getting 

paid? 2) is this designer going to bring us great 

exposure? 3) is the timing perfect enough for 

us to get to the next destination with enough 

time for hair and makeup changes? Of course 

we would like to participate in both shows but 

the odds are against us. You must consider 

choosing the designer that is going to assist 

you with furthering your career. At times 

when we’re double booked, we utilize the 

twin factor to get us through most situations. 

Being a twin has its benefits. 

Q: What is it like for you knowing 

that you’re in such high demand 

between designers every season? 

It’s an honor to know that we’re in high 

demand between designers every season. 

To know that our audience appreciates our 

craft and are looking forward to it each year 

is amazing. However, being in high demand 

means perfecting our craft. Many people 

think that runway modeling is a simple task 

and all you have to do is walk. Modeling 

takes personal essence, precision, balance, and 

core work. That is essential to delivering a 

“signature” walk. Twin of a Kind is a specialty 

item that cannot be duplicated. Twin of a 

Kind embodies the true essence of fashion 

and entertainment 

on the runway. Our 

synchronized rhythmic 

flare on the runway 

has been requested to 

grace the runways in 

designer shows. To be 

in high demand means 

that we must step our 

game up every season 

to provide designers 

with a new arrangement 

of choreography for 

each show. Although 

we understand that 

designers or patrons 

expect traditional runway 

modeling, Twin of a 

Kind can deliver on both 

aspects as show stoppers. 

Q: As professional 

models, what are 

your opinions on 

L.A. Fashion Week 

as a whole, and 

do you feel there 

is any room for 

improvement? 

LA Fashion Week 

has become a major 

game changer in the 

industry of fashion 

and is a great platform 

for models to get their 

feet wet. We consider 

all experiences to be a 

learning experience and 

LA Fashion Week has 

definitely given us our 

start. Besides being one of the destinations 

in the world to visit, Los Angeles is the place 

where you’ll find a variety of culture and 

talent in this industry. However, coming from 

a models perspective there is definitely room 

for improvement. A couple of things come to 

mind. 1) This applies to not only LA but the 

industry period...give all models of all ethnicity 

a chance to walk for you (designer) and throw 

out the ratio card on ethnicity. Imagine if 

we were to flip the card around and have all 

African American models and one or two 

Caucasian models. There are many ethnic 

groups that audition to walk in L.A. Fashion 

Week, but are not chosen. We have to change 

our mindsets and put people of color on the 

catwalks. Our society is a melting pot and to 

see just ‘white faces’ on the catwalk is saying 

that we are not ready to acculturate. 


123

GIFT GUIDE 

LET THE GIVING BEGIN 

Photographed by Edgar Pulido 

Designed by Holly Phelps 

ALEXIS BITTAR BRACELET 

Large cable wrapper crystal cuff 

www.alexisbittar.com 

NEW MOON STACK BRACELET 

Manifest your intentions 

during the full moon. 

www.bloominglotusjewelry.com 

MORLEY FRINGE 

Kid suede fringe mule - 

perfect for LA autumn 

www.charlotte-stone.com 

BANDOLIER - CELL PHONE HOLDER 

Leather cases and straps - all iPhone styles 

include two slots to accommodate credit cards 

www.bandolierstyle.com 

LOVE NAIL TREE INC 

Heart Hands necklace and 

Story Can....necklace - all 

about positive messages 

www.lovenailtree.com 

THE ARCHITECTURE OF PEACE 

This beautiful book from Taschen books 

takes an in depth look at yoga - 

full review on page 125 

www.taschen.com 


LLI - (LET LOVE IN) 

Rings with rare gemstones, including 

petrified dinasaur bones 

www.legierandlivaudais.com

BADGLEY MISCHKA 

Covering 25 years of red carpet 

fashion and more - full 

review on page 125 

www.badgleymischka.com 

HAMMIT HANDBAG 

Joe clutch Earl Grey handbag - 

give the gift of effortless style 

www.hammitt.com 

SOKO JEWELRY 

Exclusive holiday 

collection of ethical 

jewelry in conjunction 

with Pencils of Promise 

(a for-purpose 

organization) 

www.shopsoko.com 

MADFLOWERS 

Sensual oils for 

natural beauty 

www.madflowers.net 

BODYOGRAPHY 

LIP WARDROBE 

DESIGNER NAILS 

For the creative 

manicurist in your 

life - See full review 

on page 125 

Lip gloss for every 

occassion 

www.bodyography.com 


125

GIFT GUIDE 

UMA OILS 

The world’s finest face 

and wellness oils - organic 

luxury skincare 

www.umaoils.com 

ATLAS COFFEE CLUB 

Globally curated coffee. Buy your loved ones a coffee 

subscription - includes burlap sack + 1 country card 

www.atlascoffeeclub.com 

TITLE OF WORK TIES 

The modern man’s luxury accessory brand 

where fashion meets art - beaded ties, 

custom woven and handmade in Itlay 

www.titleofwork.com 

WOOD WATCHES 

Bamboo & Black Carbon 

DELMAR series 

Comes in different woods 

www.woodwatches.com 

MONROE PUMPS 

Ivory high heels with a 

strappy bow - perfect for 

“girls night out” 

www.shoppfb.com 

S’WELL WATER BOTTLE 

Non-leahcing, non-toxic 

stainless steel that keeps 

your drink cold for 24 

hours and hot for 12 

www.Vertigohome.us 

ORANGE NEON - LIMITED EDITION 

Stylish cool readers from See Concept - strength +1 

Comes in various colors and strengths 



WORD NOTEBOOKS 

Fun notebooks as stocking stuffers 

www.wordnotebooks.com 

ADEL IN-EAR MONITORS 

For the musician in your life - 

custom in-ear monitors 

www.1964ears.com 

WINESTYR 

Gift someone a subscription service 

of 3 bottles a month of premium 

Calfornian vineyard wine. 

www.winestyr.com 

LÄRABAR 

Gluten free, dairy free, soy 

free, non-GMO, vegan, 

kosher. The perfect 

healthy stocking stuffer 

www.larabar.com 

SILVER AND JASPER NECKLACE 

TOWER SALT & PEPPER GRINDER 

Tom Dixon’s Tower Grinders make fun exclamation 

points for your kitchen or dining table 


One of a kind, fine silver necklace 

with parrot wing jasper 

www.billysabadkitty.com 

SHAVING KIT 

Castle Forbes Lavender Essential 

oil shaving cream and razor 

www.menessentials.com 

Skin Auhtority Moisturizing Mist 

SHAVING BRUSH 

Vie-Long silver tip 

badger shaving brush, 

cream handle 

www.menessentials.com 


127

GIFT GUIDE 

WOODEN SPEAKER AND 

BEADED EARBUDS 

Listen to music in style - 

check out oher cool products 

at Kikkerland’s website 

www.kikkerland.com 

SAND FILLED 

SQUARE CUFFLINKS 

Gift someone your 

favorite beach - 

rings and necklaces 

also available 

www.dunejewelry. 

com 

WOOD WATCH 

From the CORA series 

Zebrawood & Turquoise 

www.woodwatches.com 

AVA HEELS 

Stilletto multicolored pumps 

for the dare devil ladies 

www.shoppfb.com 

LABRADORITE EARRINGS 

Elegant sterling silsver shield 

earrings with watch cut labradorite 

and white diamonds, 

www.kristendorseydesigns.com 

KARI RED BRICK BOOT 

Elastic gore,leather 

ankle bootie with 

stacked leather heel 

www.charlotte-stone.com 

ACURE PRODUCTS 

Gotu Kola Stem Cells, firm and 

fight free radicals - 1% Chlorella 

Growth Factor, supports 

collagen and elastin fibers 

www.acureorganics.com 


DESIGNER NAILS 

By Ami Vega 

Photography by Jason Setiawan 

Perigee Books) 

BADGLEY MISCHKA 

Mark Badgley and James Mischka 

Foreword by Andre Leon Talley, 

Essay by Hal Rubenstein 

Introduction by Dennita Sewell 

Rizzoli New York 

Designer Nails is a thoughtfully constructed 

book on how to: “Create Art at Your 

Fingertips” a step-by-step breakdown on 

the decorating of your fingernails from basic 

designs to intricate geometric patterns. The 

book starts with “Ami’s Basic Manicure” 

detailing the correct preparation of nails, 

techniques needed to achieve healthy nails 

and tips on how to maintain your manicure. 

Ami thinks of nails as “tiny canvases” and 

hopes her book will “inspire and encourage 

the inner artist” in all of her readers. Pulling 

ideas from textiles to art museums, Ami has 

put together an attractive collection of nail 

design ideas. 

The functional size and consistency of the 

book’s composition makes it accessible and 

easy to use. It’s fun and bright with vibrant 

colors, and I especially liked the clever 

“flippable” access which is a finger outline 

traced onto the front spine of the book that 

gives each page a fingernail representation 

thus allowing the reader to flip through and 

at a glance see every unique design. 

With names like “Pop Dots”, “Galactic 

Paradise” and “Triangular Funk” there 

should be something in here for every 

occasion. Designer Nails would make a neat 

gift or could help style up your coffee table. 

THE ARCHITECTURE OF PEACE 

By Michael O’Neill 

On Yoga: The Architecture of Peace 

Michael O’Neill, Eddie Stern, H.H. Swami 

Chidanand Saraswatiji 

In his mesmerizing book, On Yoga: The 

Architecture of Peace, Michael O’Neill captures 

the core of yoga with a stunning collection 

of photographs from around the world. 

O’Neill allows the “poses of peace” to 

convey their loving message of serenity no 

matter if performed on the poverty-stricken 

streets of India, or in an upscale Beverly 

Hills studio. Along with his photos come 

soul pleasing captions and thought provoking 

essays from leading yogis H.H. Swami 

Chidanand Saraswatiji and Eddie Stern. The 

Architecture of Peace is a photographic journey 

that covers the history of yoga, charts the 

spread of yoga to popular culture throughout 

the world, and explores the health and 

healing benefits that a yoga practice can 

bring. The age-old discipline of yoga has 

become a modern global community of 30 

million practitioners, all united in physical, 

mindful and spiritual practice, and O’Neill 

has captured the essence of this celebration 

through striking visuals of complex 

positions, calming rituals, joyful festivals, 

meditations, and the symbols of yoga. 

Incorporated in the book are some key yogis 

of our time including Eddie Stern, Rodney 

Yee, Dharma Singh Khalsa, B.K.S. Iyengar, 

as well as those famed for intergrating yoga 

into their high-profile lives, such as Christy 

Turlington, Sting and Trudie Styler. 

Badgley Mischka, the 

American fashion label 

designed by Mark Badgley 

and James Mischka, has 

been touted by Vogue 

as amongst the “Top 10 

American Designers.” Over 

the years they’ve become the darlings of 

the Hollywood set due to their luxurious, 

streamlined and thoroughly elegant gowns 

that have paraded the red carpet countless 

times. Designs imbued with the allure of 

Hollywood’s glamorous golden age have 

become Badgley Mischka’s signature voice; 

a voice that is carried well by stylish A-list 

clients like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, 

Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Madonna, 

Rihana, Taylor Swift and more. 

Badgley Mischka: American Glamour 

celebrates the duo’s success of the past twentyfive 

years, on and off the red carpet. This 

book is filled with form-fitting, intricately 

beaded dresses, ball gowns, and cocktail 

dresses—all inspired by the masters of a 

bygone era. Additionally, there is a Bridal 

Section with extravagant yet delicate, almost 

mythical gowns, all beautifully presented. 

This book showcases the very best of Badgley 

Mischka’s designs in all their shimmeringglittering 

glory. 


129

Peggy Moffitt modeling Rudi Gernreich design, 1972, photo by William Claxton 

Orange is the capricious color 

of love at first sight as well as 

goodbye, I don’t give a damn. 

Industrially chic. Buddhist in 

leaning. Timelessly mod with 

madcap, regal overtones. 

Orange is the color of gentle 

remembrance; the perfect 

mnemonic. 

True to its color, Orange 

embodies a myriad of sexy 

identities in today’s cultural color 

crush. Long used as a luxury 

accent and more recently as a 

decadent way to morph ordinary 

items into keepsakes, it is the 

color of now. 

—tony frere 

PHOTO MANIPULATION BY GRAHAM MOORE 



131

October Issue 06

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