Elliot Hans Johnson, L.A. native and designer of Literature Noir, with wife Kaya leaving Maestro's in Beverly Hills - Alexander 'Silver Fox' Davis
Elliot Hans Johnson
Occupation: Owner of Literature Noir
Birth Place: Turlock, CA, grew up in Los Angeles
Living in: West Hollywood
High school: West Mark, Los Angeles
Favorite accessory: Gloves
Fashion influences: Film noir
Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: Camel colored wool pea coat by Doir Homme with black leather driving gloves
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Nov 27 09, Doir Homme, for MOCA 30th anniversary party
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Hedi Slimane (old designer for Doir Homme)
Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Church
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: French vogue
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: MOCA 30th anniversary party
Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: Ed Hardy
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Leather driving gloves from Causse in Paris, same place Karl Lagerfeld gets his gloves custom made.
Editor’s note: Elliot is my cousin by marriage. His father’s sister is married to my dad. But that is not how I know him. I met him through several different avenues before realizing the relation and now I am excited to be able to call him my cousin. Elliot’s world is like a photo shoot, every time I see him I get sooo excited because he always has so much cool stuff. Recently he had his birthday at a REAL castle, and he had a magician! I was over at his house recently and I also saw his latter on wheels he built from mahogany for his library. His house, thanks to his equally amazing wife, has one room they call the orange room that must have at least 400 Hermes boxes in it – in every shape and size!! Their pool out back has a smoke machine next to it to make it look like we are in a snowy palace in Gstaad and there is steam rising from the pool! Most importantly!, his bathroom floors are crocodile! Yah! He is MY cousin and You Cant Have Him!
Darren Romanelli, Dr Romanelli aka DRx
Darren Romanelli
Occupation: Dr Romanelli aka DRx
Birth Place: San Francisco, CA, grew up in LA
Living in: Beachwood Cyn
High school: Brentwood and Montclair Prep
Favorite accessory: IWC Portuguese
Fashion influences: Vintage Americana
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: My wedding …Prada
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Junya Watanabe : Comme Des Garcons
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Free and Easy : Japan
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Dodgers World Series Victory 1988
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Visvim boots
Editor’s Note: I grew up in Los Angeles with the great Dr. Romanelli, who first made waves when he rehab-ed the Looney Tune’s characters. Darren makes incredibly thoughtful new designs for old brands. You can see his latest invention for Fraggle Rock right now; we will have a full report from his launch party this Wednesday at Kitson. Stay tuned …
Duncan Quinn
Duncan Quinn
Occupation: Recovering attorney/ Owner of Duncan Quinn boutiques in NY, LA, Dallas, Miami and Chicago soon…
Birth Place: London
Living in: London & West Hollywood
Favorite accessory: Ducati
Fashion influences: Life, the universe and everything. Right now: Get Carter, Mona Lisa, Long Good Friday, Gangster No.1 and Eastern Promises.
Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: Our new gangster tattoo ties…they are an amazing combination of elegance and edginess.
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Every day
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Leonardo da Vinci, Mother nature
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: The Economist
Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Our new 6,000sf pop-up experience in Miami’s Design District
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Henry Hargreaves exploding a bottle of champagne all over Lucien Etori in a £5,000 bespoke suit the first time they ever met face to face at the afterparty to our LA opening on the terrace of the penthouse at Chateau. The containment of rage and the look on Lucien’s face was quite incredible.
Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: the Pee-wee Herman suit
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: A belt hand made for me as I watched and discussed by an Italian artisan named Roberto in the south of France. All he does all day every day is cut and hand make belts.
New gangster ties from Duncan Quinn
Editor’s note: I met Duncan through my darling friend Tracy Bjelland while he was opening up the new location of his L.A. store on 3rd street. I was sooo taken by his Duccatis sitting inside the store, and the cool helmets for sale along side the bespoke suits and gangster ties. I was just sold! I wanted to bring my brother to the store right then and there and dress him up in everything! I was so excited to have such a habadasherie on little 3rd street right here in L.A. It reminded me of the Duncan Hill house in London or The Shave in Beverly Hills and I thought to myself – some people just make life so much better to live. Duncan also has an amazing blog I pull from sometimes that is truly luxury at it’s most knowledgeable. He also started a mini Gumball Rally with his friends in New York with amazing cars. What I would give to be a guy in this group of friends!!
Maxime Jacquet
Maxime Jacquet
Occupation: Interior designer for celebrity home and store, just started personnal ligne of clothes, design for parties, personal shopper
Birth Place: Bruxelles Belgium
Q: Favorite accessories:
A: Rolex daytona rose gold.
Q: What are you current favorite shoes?
A: I have many many favourite pair of shoes , there are all different because i like to create a different style every day, i will say my favourite one is probably my shine blue snickers Gucci with franges because when you wear it s give to your style a very importend details.Q: When was the last time you wore a suit and who made it?
A: I will answer it was 2 days ago for going to a dinner and it was from Tom Ford. I will also say I also wear jacket suit every time because it s give me a very elegant touch.Q: Favorite designers?
A: I dont have a favourite designer. I just feel like you need to take the best stuff of all the different designer and make a mix of it for create your personnal style. If you take all the clothes in the same designer and wear it together it s like going to Ikea for the furniture . They are no creativity.
Q: Favorite store in L.A.?
A: Maxfield
Q:Favorite magazine?
A: Vogue Men Paris
Q: Favorite book?
A: I love the Picture book regarding Fashion because you can imagine the story by your self.
Q: Worst fashion trend of all time?
A: Versace, I really dont like the life style and the way you feel when you wear this clothes.
Q: Best thing you’ve seen for fall/winter?
A: Balmain, Givenchy
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Hermes Birkin for men (over size in orange), and YSL shoes in leopard.
Q: How do you decide what you are going to wear ?
A: It s something very easy for me it s really depend of how i feel when i weak up in the morning. I always want to look very fashion like if I was going to a fashion show every day of my life.
Matt Donnelly
Matt Donnelly
Occupation: Writer, The Los Angeles Times
Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pa.
Living in: Bronson Canyon, Hollywood
High school: Strict and catholic but the ties were good
Favorite accessory: Band of Outsiders cable knit bow tie
Fashion influences: JFK Jr.
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Jason & Stephanie Scoppa’s wedding, Thom Brown seersucker
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Alexander McQueen, Scott Sternberg
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Vanity Fair, V Man
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Chanel Cruise Show 07/08 at Santa Monica Airport
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Steven Alan mohair cardigan
Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Right now, Steven Alan Outpost in Los Feliz, Mister Freedom
Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: I’m over the headband
Editor’s note: I met Matt while we were both working at E! Network, I as a story producer assistant, and he as Mark Malkin’s attache. Before Matt, I had never thought of celebrity news as honorable reporting, but what Audrey Hepburn did for the little black dress, what Valentino does for elegance, and what Grace Kelly did for Celebutantes, is what Matt does for celebrity news. I was so happy to have someone like this in this industry and in L.A.
Hillel Aron
Occupation: USC grad student, Journalism
Birth Place: Los Angeles
Living in: Los Angeles
High school: Oakwood
Favorite accessory: Sunglasses
Fashion influences: Old men, hipsters, Jacques Brautbar
Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: I hope to buy another white American Apparel t-shirt, my last one got stained blue from the laundry detergent, how the f*ck does that happen anyway?
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: I wore a suit to some wedding I went to, and it was made by Valentino. I bought it at Barney’s warehouse sale for 75 percent off ($800). It’s brown, and I wear it with a pink tie and all-white Nikes.
Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: I guess I’m more of a book store kind of guy, if anything. That giant used book store in New York called called Strand
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Slate. It’s online. Does that count? If not, I guess the New Yorker.
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: I love seeing people I know from my car, when we’re both driving.
Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: Ponchos. I’ve seen a few hipsters wearing ponchos, and it makes me want to cry. I mean, what happened?
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: I bought a black sweatshirt at American Apparel; I wanted to go with gray but my buddy Jaqcues already had one, and I didn’t want us both to be wearing them at the same time, you know how that is.
