Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these local trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
Autumn Adeigbo SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
With her swept-back platinum hair and streamlined, colorful clothing, Röckenwagner Bakery Group and Dear John’s co-owner Patti Röckenwagner is instantly recognizable. So much so that good friend Jamie Lee Curtis based her Knives Out character’s entire look—down to the haircut and color—on Röckenwagner’s bold aesthetic. Here, the L.A. style icon—who also doubles as a brand strategist—shares what makes her tick. rockenwagner.com; dearjohnsbar.com
When did you first become interested in fashion? What I’m into is style, which is more about creativity and personality than it is about labels or access. I went to Beverly Hills High School, which is everything you expect it to be. Despite the provenance, my family was not wealthy (by BH standards), so I developed a style that substituted for the brands we could not afford. That approach has stuck with me and, I think, served me throughout the years.
What’s your most treasured wardrobe item? I always wanted an Hermès Birkin or Kelly bag. Since they were out of our price range at the time, my husband, Hans—who in addition to being an award-winning chef and baker is a gifted woodworker—made me a Kelly out of wood from scratch. It’s my most prized possession.
Who is your biggest style icon? I love Iris Apfel. At 94, she still brings it. How she combines high/low, colors and textures, styles and layers... it’s inspiring, and she looks like she’s having a blast.
How would you describe your signature look? I started dyeing my hair platinum blonde six or seven years ago. It suits my penchant for whimsy. I’m fond of adding a twist to what I wear—which is sometimes just neon yellow nail polish. Throw in textures like sequins or a chunky scarf, wear a shirt or dress backward, combine vintage items with Zara or sport a fanny pack, and—voila—sweats are no longer just sweats. Our signature item at Röckenwagner Bakery is the authentic German pretzel, so you will often see pretzels incorporated in my accessories.
What designers are you into these days? Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons for her imagination; Dolce & Gabbana for their exquisite tailoring; and Another Tomorrow for the sustainable, humane way they make their basics.
What are you most excited to wear now that we’re waking up from lockdown? Honestly, everything, if it means going out and seeing friends and family.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
Fashion has always been part of Desiree Kohan’s life, but it wasn’t until she moved to Milan that it became a career. It was there—where she worked as a trend forecaster and did inspiration shopping for brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton—that she honed her appreciation and knowledge of European designers. Shortly after returning to her hometown of L.A., she created DES KOHAN, a boutique filled with hard-to-find, under-the-radar designers from around the world. After 16 years on Miracle Mile, Kohan recently moved the store—a wonderland filled with exquisite fashion and design finds—to a new location on Fairfax. deskohan.com
What inspires your style today? The designers I work so closely with inspire my style. They push me to grow, to try new things and to be open to change. Vintage clothing, furniture and accessories also heavily inspired my style today, and L.A. has some of the best vintage stores. It’s one of my favorite pastimes to browse, shop and be inspired by vintage flea markets, stores and pop-up events.
What L.A. designers are you loving right now? I am very into L.A. knitwear designer Soyer. Her sensibility of architecturally clean lines and minimal aesthetic is a highly sought-after collection both on our online store and in-store. We have recently designed and collaborated on a knitwear collection to launch this fall. I am very excited to launch the collection and I already want every piece. Gabriela Artigas is a staple designer that I tend to always wear. Her pieces are always on rotation and stand the test of time. A new designer to the store is L.A.-based Aliona Kononova who I can’t get off my mind. She’s L.A.’s best-kept secret! She lives close to the new DES KOHAN West Hollywood store, so we look forward to doing custom orders and fittings with her and our clients. Aliona’s designs are showstopping pieces, artfully designed with the most intricate attention to detail, shape and space. They are walking art pieces that are as flattering as they are unique.
What are some of your go-to looks? I love playing with color; so even if it’s a casual look I enjoy putting together outfits with an emphasis on color stories, usually high-waisted, loose-fitting pants and a tee. I tend to have styled ‘uniforms’ or go-to outfits that I wear on repeat. Thought was initially put into creating them, but I can never underestimate the ease and efficiency in which I get dressed. It’s a win-win situation, especially when I have to be out the door quickly. I love wearing draped jumpsuits with kitten heels and a shawl to drape on my shoulders or wrap around my waist.
What silhouettes or styles did you swear you’d never try that you love now? I used to think I couldn’t wear bias-cut clothing until L.A. designer Juan Carlos Obando was dressing me for a special event and lovingly persuaded me to trust him; he literally walked into the dressing room and wouldn’t take no for an answer—to my surprise it was a hit. I understood at that point that it’s all about the proportions and the designer’s method of draping. So needless to say I wear bias-cut clothing all the time now!
How will DES KOHAN evolve over the next year? I will continue to add curated vintage and antique home objects and furniture to the mix. I designed my own DK collection of furniture available for order—that was something that I created out of necessity as I couldn’t find any furniture to fill our new space with. I love filling the void in fashion and home alike, and the sky’s the limit.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
Known for DONNI., her line of elevated basics, Alyssa Wasko personifies L.A.’s relaxed yet pulled-together aesthetic. Her company started with a collection of multifunctional scarves, and over the years has evolved into the cool girl’s go-to for cute, casual outfits in a slew of covetable colorways. What—and who—inspires her go-to looks may be a surprise. shopdonni.com
When did you first become interested in fashion? My first distinct memory has to be when I was in the seventh grade. I started my own ‘business’ making and selling jewelry and handbags and sold them to my mom’s friends. I named the business Get Carried Away, which really makes me laugh now.
Do you remember any fashion “moments” from your childhood? Growing up, watching my dad get dressed for work really influenced my style. He exclusively wore bow ties, when no one else did. He was a master at pairing bow ties in epic patterns with perfectly colored shirts in combinations that you would never even think of putting together. He always inspired me and instilled a sense of staying true to myself and never wavering from my own personal style. Other childhood style icons of mine have to be Nick Parker, aka Dennis Quaid in The Parent Trap; he always nailed it and I’m still inspired by those looks daily. Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail also stands out to me; she perfected tomboy chic.
Who have been your biggest style icons over the years? Carolyn Bessette, Lee Radziwill, Diane Keaton and Ralph Lauren. They all have such classic and timeless style and have all always stayed consistent to their looks—and themselves.
And who inspires your style these days? Richard Gere in the late ’90s early 2000s. It’s a very Ralph Lauren vibe but a little less cowboy—no look is without denim or suede and is always layered to perfection. I love anything that involves pleated khakis, polo tees, cashmere sweaters and jackets. My current inspiration board is 80% full of Richard! Additionally, Sylvie Mus, Julie Pelipas and Marie von Behrens are probably my three favorite people to follow on Instagram. They all stay true to their personal style and it shows.
What L.A. designer are you loving right now? Jesse Kamm. I have been wearing her pants for years and they are a go-to for me. It started with her Sailor pant, and more recently I’ve been obsessed with her Handy pant. You can never have too many colors, and—speaking of—her palette is always spot on.
What are your go-to looks? Usually a pair of vintage Levi’s, a DONNI. poplin shirt paired with a simple sandal or New Balance sneaker, all finished with a strand of pearls. A typical dressy look for me would be my casual look, but elevated with a suede jacket or leather blazer paired with a chunky heeled sandal.
What are you most excited to wear now that we’re waking up from lockdown? Shoes! I’ve missed them so much.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
Voted best dressed in her fourth grade class, it’s not surprising that Autumn Adeigbo landed in the fashion industry. The savvy entrepreneur—who recently moved from New York to Los Angeles—is founder, CEO and creative director of her eponymous line, which is known for colorful, print-adorned pieces, all made with sustainability in mind. autumnadeigbo.com
When did you first become interested in fashion? As a young girl I’d watch my mother sew the dresses and separate sets she made me for school and special occasions. My mom definitely set the tone for my entire style. She loved to dress me in prints.
What inspires your style today? Culture, color, conscious. Recently I moved to L.A. and I have been soaking up the culture and style. I’ve been dressing sexier, wearing more body-con outfits. In New York, my look was more executive-focused.
What designers are you into these days? L.A. designers I love are The Elder Statesman, Nick Fouquet and Rodarte. Overall, for accessories, I’m into Roger Vivier sandals, Bottega bags and shoes, and Chanel tennis shoes. I’m also loving Margiela denim, Agua Bendita swim, Rosie Assoulin, and Johanna Ortiz is just amazing all around.
Whose style do you love today? Gabrielle Union, Mindy Kaling, Kerry Washington, Busy Philipps, Law Roach, Jason Bolden and Thomas Christos Kikis.
What are some typical looks for you? I love to work out, so for a more casual look, I’m pairing Nike yoga pants with a sports bra, a Khaite or Margiela jacket, and a Nike bucket hat. For a dressier look, I love a crop top and a high-waisted pant or skirt, or a dress with cutouts.
What can our readers expect from you next? We’ve expanded into shoes, knits and handbags for fall. For our shoes and handbags, I was inspired by my favorite pair of shoes I owned as a teenager, a comfortable pair of clogs. As someone who lived in New York for 17 years, I need comfort while walking. I partnered with a partially woman-owned, small-batch sustainable factory in Italy for construction.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE BRITELY
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Andrea Lublin has loved everything about fashion from a young age. At 5 she dreamed of having a store, and at 13 she began designing her own dresses. Now, the Andrea’s Lookbook founder is living out her childhood fantasies as wardrobe stylist, fashion blogger and influencer. andreaslookbook.com
How has your career evolved over the years? I’ve gone from a salesgirl at Nordstrom and Guess to a talent booker at E! to a personal stylist to a blogger to a self-taught fashion designer.
What’s a typical casual look for you? In spring and summer, I love a minidress with lace-up sandals or sneakers. And in fall and winter, I wear denim with a puff-sleeve/ruffle blouse and flats. I rarely wear heels.
What’s a typical dressy look for you? Dresses! I love dresses. Lately I’ve been moving toward a more form-fitted silhouette versus oversize boho styles.
Who are your style icons? Lauren Santo Domingo is my absolute favorite fashion crush. She is aspirational, elegant and so chic on the red carpet and in her street style. My favorite designer is Phoebe Philo. I loved the fierce bohemian vibe she created for Chloé and her elevated basics for Celine. I’m now so, so, so excited for her own collection coming out soon. I love Gwyneth Paltrow because she knows exactly what works for her. She dresses her age and isn’t afraid to skip trends. My favorite look of hers was the white Tom Ford dress and cape she wore to the 2012 Oscars.
What L.A. designers are you loving right now? Anine Bing does an incredible job of giving classic pieces a young rock ’n’ roll edge. I love Staud because she has great range. Whether you like fitted, clean lines or looser, more voluminous style, she does it all and she does it well. And Monique Lhuillier understands how to make all women look truly beautiful. Her pieces are formal but still flirty and, best of all, flattering to all.
What can we expect from you next? A capsule collection of dresses sold at Andrea’s Lookbook and select boutiques! Of course, I will also continue to update my Instagram and Andrea’s Lookbook daily. My blog and Insta account is and always will be my baby!
Photography by: Dylan Lujano
