Ayda and LHD have collaborated on a 12-piece activewear collection centered around pickleball. PHOTO COURTESY OF AYDA
HAVING A BALL Celebrating what must be the hottest sport in the U.S., longtime friends Ayda Field Williams and Laure Hériard Dubreuil are launching the pickleball-inspired LHD x Ayda Activewear collaboration. Consisting of 12 pieces ranging from vintage-inspired pickleball dresses to a leather varsity jacket, the cheeky, sophisticated and colorful collection is perfect for wearing both on and off the court. “Like with all Ayda clothes, you’re meant to either do the activity or look great not doing the activity,” says Field Williams, founder and CEO of Ayda. “We always take the performance seriously, but [give] permission to skip the game, tell your friends you did it, and enjoy the post-game cocktail.” While all the pieces are standouts, the varsity jacket is a favorite for both. “There is such a tongue-in-cheek feel to it all, inspired by Ayda’s own high school varsity jacket and the movielike idea of what I grew up thinking was the American high school,” says Hériard Dubreuil, founder and CEO of The Webster and clothing line LHD. Adds Field Williams, “Every time I look at [the jacket], it makes me feel like a kid again and brings me back to playing on that team and winning that game—except now I have disposable income and Botox.” thewebster.com; shopayda.com–Laura Eckstein Jones
ATLA Venice will serve Mexican fonda staples ATLA VENICE
ABOUT FACE Joining neighbors Jacques Marie Mage, Tartine and Pause on bustling Sycamore Ave. is the first U.S. location of Formula Fig, a stylish Canadian facial studio focused on efficient, effective services in a chic and comfortable setting. “We founded Formula Fig in 2019 because we didn’t like the status quo,” says CEO and founder JJ Walsh, who worked with Isabella Blow before putting in a decade at Conde Nast U.K. “The destination we wanted simply didn’t exist, so we created it.” Offering injectibles along with cutting-edge, tech-driven facials in under 45 minutes, Formula Fig’s services include treatments such as the Collegen + Texture, Radiance + Renewal and All-In facials. Walsh’s favorite? “The All-In,” she says. “It does what it says. This treatment combines exfoliation with high-tech lifting, sculpting, and hydration techniques to go ‘all-in’ on your skin. Results include improved muscle tone, facial circulation and contours, lifted jowls and eyebrows, and reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” Count us in! formulafig.com–LEJ
Formula Fig offers transformative 45-minute-andunder treatments in a chic setting on Sycamore. PHOTO COURTESY OF: FORMULA FIG
MEXICAN FLAVOR“At the beginning of 2021, I was walking along Abbot Kinney with Enrique [Olvera] and chef Chuy Cervantes and noticed there was an empty restaurant space sitting next to our favorite restaurant, Felix,” says Santiago Perez, CEO of Casamata—the hospitality group behind the Arts District’s Damian and New York’s Cosme and ATLA. “We joked we should take a look for ATLA.” The group had long desired to build on the connection between Los Angeles and Mexico. “It’s been three years since we started this conversation through Damian,” says Perez, whose beloved NoHo restaurant concept, born in 2017, is coming to Venice Beach this June. The larger, 7,200-square-foot ATLA Venice will boast an all-day outdoor patio and serve ATLA’s Mexican fonda staples like quesadillas, tacos and chicken soup, plus ceviches and agua chiles made from California ingredients. Notes Perez, “This expansion will bring new ways to experience ATLA and provide guests with the warmth and vibrancy of Mexican hospitality.” eatatla.com–Jasmin Rosemberg
From left : Andie Swim’s Snap one-piece in Sparrow Gingham, and Hydra one-piece in Vanilla Crochet INDOCHINO
MAKING A SPLASH“Having a physical presence in Southern California has always been a goal for us,” says Andie Swim founder Melanie Travis, who just opened a M alibu f lagship. After testing pop-ups in West Palm Beach and the Hamptons, Travis noticed that customers shopped year-round in Malibu—and she loved the Malibu Country Mart destination. “The 915-square-foot space was big and bright enough to showcase our entire range and incorporate Andie decor, including our yellow and white cabana-style fitting rooms and beach prints.” The shop will carry Andie’s core and seasonal swimwear—which Travis launched in 2016 from New York to make swimwear shopping a less-depressing experience. “I couldn’t understand why there was nothing out there that was comfortable, well-priced and made me feel confident,” she says. In addition to size-inclusive suits in a w ide range of styles, look for intimates, RTW and items from partners, like Illesteva sunglasses and Supergoop! sunscreen. andieswim.com–Alexis Garrity
Indochino is now offering made-tomeasure suiting for women. PHOTO COURTESY OF: ANDIE SWIM
POWER SUIT Made-to-measure suiting brand Indochino has been a go-to for gents since it launched in 2007. Now, the customizable service is available for women as well. Aft er a pilot program launched in four major markets, including L.A., it recently expanded to e-commerce and is now available in all Indochino showrooms. “Having helped customers suit up for over 15 years, we oft en saw women turning to Indochino for their suiting needs because there was no equivalent made-to-measure option available from female-centric apparel brands,” says CEO Drew Green. “We were inspired by seeing this obvious interest from shoppers, and we also knew we had the necessary expertise to bring this idea to life in a major way. With our women’s fit, we [can] make custom suiting accessible for even more people, and we can empower customers of all genders to personalize a suit that fits their personal style preferences.” Look out for vibrant, saturated colors like fuschia and plum for spring and summer. “These unexpected colors, paired with a streamlined silhouette, off er a standout look for events,” says Green. “Especially with the wedding season in full swing!” indochino.com–LEJ
The LA Design Festival returns from June 22 to 25 with the inclusive theme “Design for the People.” PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE LA DESIGN FESTIVAL
BY DESIGN For its 10th year, the LA Design Festival’s new executive director Erika Abrams wanted to engage with communities that hadn’t traditionally been included. “We want the festival to feel like a design block party where the community—across neighborhoods, invisible borders, racial and ethnic groups, educational status, practice, discipline—can come together to experience good design from L.A. and beyond,” Abrams says. Running from June 22 to 25, the festival will include programming, a block party and a design dinner at ROW DTLA; an awards cocktail party at Ace Hotel; and installations at Helms Bakery District. Designers participating in the exhibits, studio tours and discussions represent established favorites and new voices, and the theme “Design for the People” reflects that everyone is welcome. Abrams also plans to hold events throughout the year. “The planned calendar of engagement currently includes a multi-disciplinary, citywide portfolio day, design field trips and tours, and design-driven food events,” she says. ladesignfestival.org–JR
Co-owners Emily Bielagus (left ) and Mara Herbkersman at Silver Lake wine bar The Ruby Fruit BY JESSE SALER/THE RUBY FRUIT 31
FEMALE POWER With new Silver Lake wine bar, The Ruby Fruit, co-owners Mara Herbkersman and Emily Bielagus aspired to create a neighborhood spot not just for cis lesbians but for nonbinary, gender nonconforming and trans people. “We wanted a space where the lesbian and gender expansive community would feel comfortable letting loose and canoodling at the bar,” says Herbkersman, who, in 2022, began doing popups out of her 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon, and selling hot dogs and natural wine for events and parties. Taking over beloved restaurant Eszett, Herbkersman hopes The Ruby Fruit will fill a void in L.A.’s lesbian nightlife scene as the city’s only Sapphic wine bar. The kitchen is helmed by former Eszett employees and solely women—serving elevated bar fare like cod croquettes and street-style hot dogs alongside natural wine, local beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Says Herbkersman, “The menu is just pure pleasure—snackable, shareable and meant to be eaten while drinking wine, and hopefully lots of it!” instagram.com/therubyfruit–JR
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