Laura Eckstein Jones, Claire Harper and Chandler Presson Laura Eckstein Jones, Claire Harper and Chandler Presson | December 18, 2020 | Lifestyle,
Expect luxury debuts and indulgences aplenty this holiday.
Known for her flattering cuts and artisanal fabrics, L.A.-based designer Teresa Pinedo has taken the pandemic as an opportunity to revamp luxury ready-to-wear brand Saïnt Mojavï. While Saïnt Mojavï already delivered effortlessly chic and versatile resort fashion to Angelenos, Pinedo now pivots the label to centralize inclusivity and sustainability as part of the brand objective. The recently released fall 2020 collection includes cotton fabrics and silk charmeuse designs available in sizes 0 to 16, allowing more women to enjoy the seven new styles. The brand is also shifting from a wholesale approach to made-to-order production, allowing for a 100% reduction in excess waste. Even with all the changes, Pinedo is only getting started, with designs for holiday 2020, spring 2021 and sustainable couture pieces already in the works.
Set to open this winter in the former Auburn space, Culver City-based Vespertine debuts temporary gastronomic installation Ephemera to serve as a pop-up platform for chefs around the world, some of whom were forced to close their doors during the pandemic. Kicking off with Vespertine chef Jordan Kahn at the helm, diners can expect a menu that bridges environment and experience. “The cuisine will be distilled to its core elements, exposing the nuances of mineralogy, shell, fat and bone,” shares the chef. With an outdoor dining room patio that seats up to 38 guests socially distanced, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better, more community-driven haunt to savor some seriously delicious dishes this holiday season.
After spending time in her native New York, CHANEL brow expert Jimena Garcia—the brand’s first—has returned to L.A., setting up shop in a gorgeous indoor-outdoor suite at the Santa Monica Proper hotel. “I love the idea that in Europe, it’s more common for businesses to operate out of hotels, and why not?” she asks. “It’s so chic.” Known for her bespoke, artistic approach, Garcia starts her appointments by studying a client’s face and overall energy. “What’s important to me is uncovering a client’s true character, their natural beauty,” she explains. “Being an individualist is what makes each of us beautiful and stand out from the crowd.” Although she’s lived in multiple places, Garcia has always been drawn to the City of Angels. “There’s a beat here that anything is possible, and an energy that’s unique to this city that truly makes you feel like anything could happen—and it does,” she says. “You get to create magic here.”
Local jewelry artist Sonia Boyajian brings welcome creativity to La Brea through the incredible statement pieces she creates in her sprawling 5,000-square-foot-plus flagship and studio. Currently, the creative soul is using the expansive space to bring a little joy to L.A.’s youngest artists. “With in-person school canceled for kids this year there was a real absence of enrichment classes for kids as well as in-person interaction,” says Boyajian. Her solution is socially distanced children’s ceramics classes in which students create a mug, bowl and self-portrait over the course of three classes. With all materials included, Boyajian’s classes provide a much-needed creative outlet plus ceramic keepsakes to last a lifetime.
Photography by: In order of appearance, photos: courtesy of SaÏnt MojavÏ;
by Roberto Kozek