PHOTO BY BONETTA/GETTY IMAGES
These successful L.A. gents prove that success also comes with an eye on the art of fashion.
ADIRA BERGEL PHOTO BY JAKE ROSENBERG
Image maker; celebrity hairstylist; creative director, Virtue Labs (a-frameagency.com)
Although he works closely with some of the world’s most well-dressed and beautiful women, Adir Abergel’s personal aesthetic has eyes laser-focused on him. “My style is eclectic, individual mixed with Japanese influence and a bit oversized,” says the celebrity hairstylist and creative director of Virtue Labs, who favors wearing oversized clothing, hats, headscarves and lots of jewelry. “I’m also kind of obsessed with California skate culture,” he adds.
Abergel grew up in Israel and, at age 7, moved to Hollywood, right across the street from the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard. From a young age, great style played a part in his life. “My mom... changed her hair color weekly, wore vintage clothes all the time and found her way to story-tell through her clothing,” he says. “Part of my childhood included getting an allowance every few months to go vintage shopping and pick whatever clothes spoke to me. Even if it was 100 degrees, I would wear a thousand scarves, put on makeup almost daily and wear roller skates around the house.”
Soon enough, he was swept up in the city’s style and beauty scene, apprenticing for prolific Beverly Hill hairdresser Arthur Johns at age 15. As his hairstyling career advanced, Abergel started working on music videos for stars like Jewel, Jane’s Addiction, Britney Spears and more. “Once MTV started to fizzle out, I met a few young actresses like Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway and Rosario Dawson, to name a few,” he says. “All these people have been friends and clients for the last 20 years. We have come up together in the industry and have long, deep, meaningful relationships.”
“My style is eclectic, individual mixed with Japanese influence and a bit oversized. I’m also kind of obsessed with California skate culture"– Adir Abergel
Since then, the award-winning beauty whiz has risen the ranks and is now one of the industry’s top hairstylists, having collaborated with 25 Oscar-nominated actresses for their Academy Award red-carpet appearances, designing and styling looks at the Met Gala since 2019, and more. “Being of service and making the people in my chair feel their most beautiful is what I most love,” he says. “I also love bringing together creativity, collaboration and research to the forefront.”
Nowadays, you can catch the Ladera Heights resident donning designs by Yohji Yamamoto, vintage Hermès, 1930s Levi’s, Victorian fabrications and more sourced from a variety of places, including H. Lorenzo, A Current Affair vintage clothing show, eBay and Farfetch. “I travel a lot, so I tend to shop in different countries as I explore the world,” adds Abergel, who’s inherited caftans from the King of Morocco. “I’m constantly fluid in my style. I don’t shop a lot. I actually repurpose, and when I do shop, I look for quality, whether vintage or contemporary.”
AVI BROSH PHOTO COURTESY OF PALISOCIETY
Founder and CEO, Palisociety (palisociety.com)
“To me, great style ignores trends and embraces the classics,” he says. “[It is] feeling comfortable in your own skin and displaying authenticity in your appearance.” - Avi Brosh
Growing up in the Northeast as a prep school student in the ’80s, Avi Brosh adapted his style to his environment. “At that time, it was all about The Official Preppy Handbook and the elegant hand-me-down prep lifestyle,” he says. “Since I had to wear a jacket and tie to school every day, Ralph Lauren clothes and style were ground zero.”
Wardrobe-wise, not much has changed for Brosh since high school. “I think my style has remained generally intact over the years, but the quality and fit of the clothes has improved,” he says. “It’s almost always navy suits or navy blazers with trousers or baggy vintage jeans and leather lace-up brogues. That said, I used to wear a necktie most days, which I’ve pretty much abandoned over the last five years unless it’s a special occasion. Instead, now it’s navy John Smedley polo shirts or navy James Perse T-shirts.”
Go-to shopping destinations for Brosh include Sid Mashburn at the Brentwood Country Mart for smart-casual items, J. Mueser in NYC for custom-made tailored pieces, Ralph Lauren’s flagship men’s store on Madison Avenue, The Webster in South Beach, Chiltern Street in London and Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. “To me, great style ignores trends and embraces the classics,” he says. “[It is] feeling comfortable in your own skin and displaying authenticity in your appearance.”
Brosh’s dark, pared-down uniform works beautifully with the colorful, lived-in environments he creates with Palisociety, the hospitality brand he debuted with one hotel in 2008. Now, it’s is one of the fastest-growing brands in the independent hospitality area.
Palisociety has a lot going on at the moment. In addition to opening more than 10 hotels across the country in the next 24 months, Brosh plans to open Le Petit Pali—a highly bespoke bed-and-breakfast concept—in 2023.
Here in L.A., Palihouse West Hollywood on West Third Street is being relaunched this December, with Palihotel Hollywood opening soon after. New properties from the brand will also open in San Diego, Tampa, New Orleans and Albuquerque. “I love telling stories through the design and place-making of each of hotels,” says Brosh, “while at the same time having the business acumen required to run a company with as much scope and influence Palisocity has.”
DAVID ALHADEFF PHOTO BY RICH STAPLETON
CEO and founder, The Future Perfect (thefutureperfect.com)
When David Alhadeff was younger, he gravitated toward a preppy look. “I recall lots of Polo and penny loafers,” he says. “That said, it was the ’80s!” As he got older, the Seattle native became more interested in fashion and style. “I distinctly remember flipping through issues of GQ for style inspiration. In 1991, when I was 15, they featured a mustard yellow linen shirt in a story and noted it was available at Bloomingdale’s,” adds Alhadeff, who founded groundbreaking design gallery The Future Perfect in 2003. “I was visiting New York that fall and made a point to purchase the shirt. I wore the hell out of it! It’s a funny memory to look back on these days as online shopping didn’t exist at that time.”
“These days, I tend to dress fairly similarly, regardless of what I’m doing or where I’m going. You can call it a uniform of sorts. - David Alhadeff
In college, Alhadeff became a raver and developed a uniform to match: baggy pants, stacked sneakers and oversized T-shirt. “I became very creative during this period, fabricating many of my own clothes to my preferred taste and style, which was not easy to come by in-store.” His 20s and 30s saw his wardrobe paring down—good jeans, a well-worn T-shirt, plaid overshirts, solid sneakers and a nice watch—something that’s more true to what he wears today.
“These days, I tend to dress fairly similarly, regardless of what I’m doing or where I’m going,” he explains. “You can call it a uniform of sorts. I wear a lot of General Admission, which is a local streetwear brand based here in L.A. I also have a lot of pieces from Aimé Leon Dore. I’ll mix one of those with something from Hiro Clark, Gallery Dept., Bode, Stone Island or Dries van Noten. I have one Prada suit that continues to get me through those rare yet crucial moments requiring me to put on a jacket,” he adds. “Thankfully, those seem to be few and far between these days!”
Alhadeff has had a very busy —and life-changing—year thus far. In addition to welcoming his first child with husband Jason Duzanky, The Future Perfect will soon open a brand-new location. “This fall we will celebrate the official opening and unveiling of The Goldwyn House, which signifies a major moment for the brand and our continued evolution,” he says. “This latest outpost has given us the opportunity to invest our amazing roster of talent in an even deeper way through the creation and curation of custom and site-specific works that not only signify striking artworks and installations, but simultaneously enhance and elevate the home’s striking architecture.”
In the past, Alhadeff’s wardrobe echoed The Future Perfect’s locations. When the showroom lived in a former home of Elvis Presley’s, he wore a rust-colored velour sweatsuit. “It felt right in that house and now resides as a relic in my closet,” he says, noting that he purchased a velvet tux for the opening of The Future Perfect’s New York townhouse. “I’ve always let the locations we’ve inhabited inform my wardrobe.” So, what will he wear next? We’ll have to wait and see.
DORION RENAUD PHOTO BY STEWART CLEMENTZ
Founder, Buttah. (buttahskin.com)
Back in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, Dorion Renaud was surrounded by high-quality, stylish pieces from a young age. “My dad owned a shoe shop in a barbershop and they fixed luxury shoes there,” says Renaud, who developed a shoe obsession—and an obsession with quality—from observing the items customers brought in. His grandfather also set a high style bar. “He was one of those men who had these amazing Saint Laurent suits,” he shares. “I was inspired by the fashion around me in the South.”
“You need to be true to who you are and embody what you wear,” he says. “The clothes look better when you know how to work them.” - Dorion Renaud
Renaud, who founded skincare line Buttah. in October 2018, didn’t start developing his own style until a bit later. While attending college in Atlanta, he filmed a reality show about college life. That led to modeling and acting gigs, and, eventually, he moved to Los Angeles at age 20, where he continued to act, most notably on the sitcom In the Cut.“It was a really popular show in the Black community,” he says. “I was hosting for Extra, appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and doing whatever I could to keep my name out there. I was a hustler.”
All of that time in the makeup chair led to Renaud launching Buttah. “When I started getting in front of the camera, I had problematic skin and started investing in my skincare,” he explains. “I discovered shea butter in Harlem, melted it down and learned about the benefits.” What started as small gifts for friends eventually led to a full-on business. “Now, people come up to me in the streets and tell me how much it has helped their skin,” Renaud says. “That’s the best part.” Even better: The brand will launch at Renaud’s favorite department store, Saks, later this year.
Over time, Renaud’s wardrobe has developed into something truly spectacular. His Studio City home’s closets are more than storage spaces—they’re beautiful rooms to gather with friends while getting ready with bubbly. “I try to keep things on my rack that I can wear in the season or at that time, along with special pieces I like to display,” he says. “Everything else goes into my garage because I don’t like to be distracted.” Clothing and accessories from Fear of God, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Nanushka make up the mix. But, Renaud feels most like himself wearing good jeans; a flowy, oversize shirt; and, of course, boots, a nod to his “country” roots. So, what does good style mean to him? “You need to be true to who you are and embody what you wear,” he says. “The clothes look better when you know how to work them.”
MAURICIO UMANSKY PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AGENCY
CEO, The Agency (theagencyre.com)
“My wife and kids very much influence my style Sometimes I walk into a room with something I bought and they are very honest about how they feel. " - Mauricio Umansky
His wife, Kyle Richards, may be one of the official stars of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but Mauricio Umansky’s laid-back attitude, penchant for a good time and unbridled love for his family have put him in the spotlight as well.
Beyond Bravo, Umansky has made a name for himself as one of the country’s top real estate stars. As CEO of The Agency—the real estate firm he founded with Billy Rose in 2011 with more than 60 offices and 1,500 agents around the globe—he’s had incredible success. “I have had the pleasure to have represented some of the world’s most noteworthy properties, including the Playboy Mansion—the first house to sell above the $100 million mark—the Walt Disney estate; and residences owned by Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Prince, to name a few,” he shares.
This has led to a new venture for Umansky, a family affair that combines his success in the real estate world with his experience in front of the camera. “I am thrilled that The Agency is arriving on Netflix this fall in Buying Beverly Hills,” he shares. “We’re excited to give an exclusive look inside life at The Agency, a day in the life of my business with my family, our talented group of agents and a glimpse of the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles.”
With all of this time in the spotlight, the Mexico City-born bon vivant has picked up plenty of style tips, especially from his well-dressed family. “My wife and kids very much influence my style,” says Umansky, who looks to James Bond and Idris Elba for outfit inspiration, and loved Don Johnson’s Miami Vice style as a kid. “Sometimes I walk into a room with something I bought and they are very honest about how they feel. And, of course, they compliment me when they think I look good.”
Umansky feels most like himself when dressed in elevated casual styles, and only shops in-store. Brunello Cucinelli, Neiman Marcus and Saks are all go-tos in L.A.; Ralph Lauren and Pitkin County Goods are Aspen favorites; and Bergdorf Goodman is his NYC shop of choice. In super warm weather—like in the Palm Springs area, where his family has a home—he reaches for lighter items, both in heft and in tone. “I love anything linen and I like to dress in neutral and earth tones while visiting the hot desert,” he says. “I go for linen button-downs by day and layer them with a light sweater or blazer when the temperature cools in the evening. Also, sunglasses and an Agency baseball cap are a must to shield from the desert sun.”
SEAN YASHAR PHOTO BY JACLYN CAMPANARO
Principal, The Culture Creative (theculturecreative.com)
“Quality over quantity is not just about purchasing, it’s a lifestyle for those of us seeing a deeper connection to humanity. The relationship that evolves from years of visiting your tailor and cobbler connects to an art of craft in a beautiful way—while an addiction to disposable fast fashion keeps you from experiencing it." - Sean Yashar
For native Angeleno Sean Yashar, a pulled-together presentation is about more than looking good, something he learned from his father, a sartorialist who wore a suit every day. “Watching my father’s ceremonial approach to getting ready in the morning left an impression on me,” says the founder of L.A.-based brand consultancy The Culture Creative. “There was almost a ritualistic quality to getting ready in the morning and becoming himself, which, as I reflect back, taught me about the meaningful side of creating an image. Being well dressed and well groomed was about having good manners. ... Putting the best you forward is equally about respecting others as it is about oneself.”
Yashar has applied these lessons to how he dresses today. Favoring pulled-together looks—usually with a tucked-in shirt and a good belt—and a less-is-more aesthetic, his uniform varies depending on season and circumstance. “I live in my John Smedley turtlenecks all winter, and my plain Sunspel T-shirts all summer,” shares the Hollywood Hillsresident, whose upcoming projects include new branding for House of Honey, producing an L.A. exhibition for artist and designer Peter Lane, and much more. For work, unlined wool blazers with soft shoulders by Italian brands like Barena top off most outfits. “Italians understand that perfect balance of relaxed and refined,” he says. And for dinner, head-to-toe monochromatic looks, or “a column of color” rule. “You could be wearing Gap from head to toe, but if you keep to one color, the overall look presents itself as pulled together and polished—not to mention slimming.”
Filled with selects from Levi’s, Mohawk General Store’s in-house line Smock, Lady White Co., Dries Van Noten, Bottega Veneta and Tortoise in Culver City—“Their Japanese pajamas are so beautifully made, you can dress them up for going out,” he shares—and more, Yashar’s closet is all about the right edit. “Quality over quantity is not just about purchasing, it’s a lifestyle for those of us seeing a deeper connection to humanity,” he says. “The relationship that evolves from years of visiting your tailor and cobbler connects to an art of craft in a beautiful way—while an addiction to disposable fast fashion keeps you from experiencing it. I think Nigel from The Devil Wears Prada said it best: ‘Fashion is greater than art. Because you live your life in it.”
Photography by:
