These gents have style in spades. A closer look reveals the personalities behind all that panache.
PHOTO BY STEPHEN BUSKEN
Great style runs through architect Chet Callahan’s world, from his residential and commercial projects to his own art-filled home—the historic Cummings estate in Los Feliz—to his precisely picked wardrobe. “I have always had a strong point of view when it comes to what I wear,” he says. “I suppose that is in part because I am 6’5”. I need to have conviction about what I wear, because I will certainly be noticed.” Callahan, who recently hosted the kickoff for Los Angeles Design Weekend, does it all with grace and ease, favoring unique pieces from Marni, Lemaire and Dries Van Noten. But no matter the look, Callahan’s outfits have to be practical. “On any given day I might be climbing a hillside at a hot, dusty job site, meeting a new client at their pristine home or visiting a vendor in a warehouse downtown,” he shares. “My clothes can’t be too precious.” chetarch.com
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC? I LOVE LAYERING UNIQUE TEXTURES, PATTERNS AND COLORS. I WANT TO WEAR CLOTHES THAT MAKE ME SMILE AND INSPIRE MY WORK BUT FEEL GOOD ON MY BODY TOO.
WHAT ARE YOUR STAPLE PIECES? LEMAIRE SHORT-SLEEVE SHIRTS LOOK GREAT ON THEIR OWN FOR THOSE HOT OCT. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DAYS AND PAIR WELL WITH A JACKET OR A CARDIGAN IN THE EVENING.
DESCRIBE YOUR GO-TO LOOKS. WORN-IN MARNI JEANS AND A CASHMERE SWEATER FOR HANGING OUT; SLACKS, A SHORTSLEEVED SHIRT, AND A TEXTURED JACKET FOR GOING OUT AND ALWAYS A GREAT SCENT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WEAR THIS FALL? I AM LOVING DRIES’ PALE PINK, BABY BLUE AND MUSTARD COMBINATIONS.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? A LAUGHLIN PARK ESTATE, THE HAAS BROTHERS STUDIO AND A SPECIAL HOUSE REMODEL. WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF GROUND-UP HOMES ON THE BOARDS—ONE IN THE DESERT AND ONE AT THE BEACH. STAY TUNED!
PHOTO BY LOAMIS RODRIGUEZ
“Even as a very young kid, I would get excited when my aunts or uncles were getting married because it meant I got to dress up in a tux,” says Gregory Alexander, director of culture and entertainment at The West Hollywood EDITION and co-founder of A Club Called Rhonda. “My parents love to remind me of that as a kind of funny story, but honestly, I still love getting dressed up. I like the act of it, the thought that gets put into it and how confident I feel after. Like I’m ready to face the world once I’m dressed.” Alexander, who is currently remodeling his Lincoln Heights home, is looking forward to dressing for the cooler seasons in some of his favorite labels, including Saint Laurent and other niche brands. “I want literally ANY piece from my friend’s line, Luar, and ALL the pieces from my friend Campillo,” he shares. “And for winter-specific clothing, I think Heliot Emil is always fab.” editionhotels.com; @rhondaitnl
WHO INSPIRED YOUR STYLE EARLY ON? I USED TO RELIGIOUSLY WATCH MICHAEL JACKSON AND JANET JACKSON MUSIC VIDEOS, SO I THINK THEY MUST BE GIVEN SOME CREDIT. I ALSO LOVED BATMAN AS WELL AS ALL THE VILLAINS I N HIS STORYLINE, ESPECIALLY CATWOMAN, HA!
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE EVOLVED? FROM UNDERGROUND SUBCULTURES TO MORE DARING, FASHION-FORWARD AND ALMOST CLOWNISH, TO NOW A BIT MORE REFINED-YET-PLAYFUL
THE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE MY STYLE ARE: FANCIFUL, TRANSITIONAL, FLIRTATIOUS AND VILLAINOUS
CURRENTLY COVETING: THE NEW MUGLER X GENTLE MONSTER SUNGLASSES COLLAB AND THE BIMBAY PALOMO KITTEN HEEL BOOTS I STUPIDLY NEGLECTED TO BUY WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT
PHOTO BY STEPHANE CARDINALE/ CORBIS/ CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Born and raised in the Bahamas, Tavares Strachan first became excited by fashion and style as a child when his mother made tuxedos by hand for himself and his brother. “My mom is a master seamstress,” he shares. “Growing up watching her creative process was a huge source of inspiration for me.” Nowadays, Strachans’s own work informs his laid-back chic look. “There’s no real separation between my work and what I wear,” he says. “At this point, my clothes are as interconnected to my work as my paintings and sculptures.” Look out for Strachan’s newly launched clothing line B.A.S.E.C., which stands for the Bahamas Aerospace and Sea Exploration Center, this fall. “The line is seasonless and interdisciplinary,” he explains. “Much like my ongoing “The Encyclopedia of Invisibility project,” the clothes tell lost stories. I also have a project at LACMA coming up next year, which I’m excited about. There’s a synergy between the exhibition-making and clothing construction that’s been fulfilling to explore.” basecofficial.com
WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR STYLE INSPIRATION? I FREQUENTLY RETURN TO THE STYLE OF REVOLUTIONARIES—THEY JUST LOOK CLEAN.
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE EVOLVED? WHEN I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT CLOTHES AS A MEANS OF STORYTELLING, A WAY TO START A DIALOGUE. IT WAS THEN THAT I BEGAN TO SEE MY CLOTHES AS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF MY ARTISTIC PRACTICE.
A GO-TO OUTFIT FOR YOU IS: DROP CROTCH PANTS, MY HOODIE WITH A PORTRAIT OF THE FIRST MAN TO REACH THE NORTH POLE, MATTHEW HENSON, AND MY FAVORITE T-SHIRT
WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED TO WEAR THIS FALL AND WINTER? I RECENTLY MADE THIS CHORE COAT EMBROIDERED WITH A PORTRAIT OF HENRI CHRISTOPHE, A KEY FIGURE IN THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION AND THE FIRST KING OF HAITI.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
Originally from Des Moines, interior designer Stephan Jones can’t remember a time when he wasn’t conscious of design and clothing. “Besides consuming design and architecture magazines, I remember watching Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell as a kid,” says Jones, who runs STOCK Studio, his interiors firm and recently opened concept store and atelier in West Hollywood. “The interior design and fashion were completely in sync,” he shares. “This was a significant influence on my design-focused, formative mind. I realized there was another world calling to me, beyond the things I was exposed to in my childhood.” Over the years, Jones’ style has evolved into something simpler and more stripped down. “I like solid well-tailored basics, and then I throw in an oddball jacket or shirt I may find along the way,” he says. “In the end, I would like to think it all looks effortless—at least that is my goal.” stock.studio
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN STYLE? A FUSION OF MIDWEST AND WEST COAST, WITH A CONSCIOUS FOCUS ON CUT AND QUALITY
HOW DOES YOUR WORK INSPIRE WHAT YOU WEAR? MUCH LIKE OUR APPROACH TO INTERIOR DESIGN, I PREFER A LOOK OF EFFORTLESS EASE. BEHIND THE LOOK, THERE MUST BE QUALITY MATERIALS AND SOLID CRAFTSMANSHIP.
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO FOR STYLE INSPIRATION? PEDRO PASCAL, IDRIS ELBA, RYAN REYNOLDS, STEVE MCQUEEN
WHAT ARE YOUR STAPLE PIECES? LANVIN DBB1 SNEAKERS, OFFICINE GENERALE TROUSERS, UNIQLO SUPIMA COTTON TSHIRTS, RELWEN TRAP BLAZERS
WHAT PIECES ARE YOU CURRENTLY COVETING? OFFICINE GENERALE LANDO GOAT SUEDE JACKET, THIERRY LASRY DYNASTY EYEGLASS FRAMES
PHOTO BY KURT ISWARIENKO
Not all celebrities and royals are born with great smiles. Odds are, if a familiar face is suddenly a bit sparklier, it’s because of Dr. Michael Apa’s expertise. Apa, who splits his time between his offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Dubai, has always appreciated subtle beauty and artistry, something observable in how he presents himself. “Fashion is art, and I’ve been into art since I was a little kid,” he shares. “In grade school, I would sketch. Now, I basically sketch teeth. Some things don’t change, they just evolve. I have always been driven by natural aesthetics,” he adds. “Quiet, subtle details are the most interesting to me. And, in everything I do, I favor timeless classics over trends.” Apa is further strengthening the bond between his work and his style with an upcoming collaboration with chic medical attire brand L’Atelier Forte. “We have a second bomber in a new fabric launching this fall,” he reveals, “and some leisurewear not far behind.” apaaesthetic.com
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I ’VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SAME SALESPERSON AT BRUNELLO FOR YEARS. TODAY, I ASKED HIM HOW HE WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE, AND HE SAID “COOL, RELAXED LUXURY.”
WHAT DO YOU FEEL THE BEST WEARING? I AM THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN LUXURY LEISUREWEAR. NOTHING IS FUSSY BUT EVERYTHING IS FLAWLESS.
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE EVOLVED? I USED TO WEAR SUITS TO WORK! I WAS TRYING TO BUILD MY REPUTATION AS A TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL, AND WEARING A SUIT FELT LIKE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. NOW I’M PROBABLY A BIRTHDAY AWAY FROM WEARING CASHMERE SWEATS TO THE OFFICE.
GO-TO BRANDS: BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, LORO PIANA, L’ATELIER FORTE
PHOTO BY ANGIE SILVY PHOTOGRAPHY
With decades of experience shooting major beauty campaigns and celebrities like Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and more, photographer James Houston has mastered his medium. Now, with the launch of his first novel, Scouted, he’s expanding his creative reach. “Inspired by true stories from my career as a top model and photographer, it’s a page-turning book set behind the scenes in the underbelly of the fashion world, also highlighting another shocking area of the ‘Me Too’ movement,” says Houston of the book—the first in a series. While not writing or shooting, Houston stays busy raising his daughter Dylan and running the design firm Studio JBD with his husband Brian McGrory. Through it all, he dresses the part. “As a parent, I tend to opt for the California classics during the day; a simple James Perse crew neck T-shirt, faded blue jeans and my favorite Bottega Veneta loafers,” he shares. “However I do love to get dressed up for a celebration or red carpet event. Nothing beats a Tom Ford suit.” houstonphoto.com
WHO INSPIRES YOUR STYLE? RICHARD GERE IN AMERICAN GIGOLO WAS A BIG STYLE INSPIRATION FOR ME. MY HUSBAND, BRIAN MCGRORY, IS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT FASHION AND IS THERE TO INSPIRE ME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
HOW DOES YOUR WORK AFFECT HOW YOUR DRESS? AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR, I GET TO WORK WITH REALLY TALENTED STYLISTS AND CELEBRITIES WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE TO INSPIRE ME WITH THE LATEST TRENDS AND STYLES.
WHAT PIECES YOU’RE EXCITED TO WEAR THIS SEASON? I LOVE LOEWE, AND I LOVE CASHMERE FOR FALL. NO ONE DOES CASHMERE LIKE LORA PIANA, WHICH I PAIR WITH MY BERLUTI SNEAKERS.
STAPLE WARDROBE ITEMS? BLACK GIORGIO ARMANI T-SHIRTS AND MY TOM FORD OLIVE GREEN SUEDE TRUCKER JACKET
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