los angeles – Ann Street Studio

Concrete Oasis

February 26, 2018March 8, 2018Posted in TravelTagged L.A., la, los angeles, losangeles, oasis, west hollywood, westhollywood

The final destination, Los Angeles, California!

We rolled into Santa Monica just in time to watch the sun slip below the horizon before heading to dinner at one of my favorite LA spots, Cassia. We said goodbye to our beloved Volvo and checked in to the Hollywood Proper Residences. Before I moved to Provence I had anticipated ending up in L.A., an easier lifestyle than New York but still full of creative types doing interesting things. Well.. that didn’t happen because I fell madly in love with France. But I still wanted to know what it might feel like living in L.A. so I didn’t want to stay in a hotel. I tried a new private apartment / home booking service called Oasis which blurs the line between AirBnB type home rentals and a hotel. The apartments are meticulously curated so you don’t have to look through hundreds of listings to find a gem, and you know when you show up it’s going to be nice with fresh towels and linens. You have a 24-hour concierge they call sidekicks and upgrade options to welcome you, from a stocked bar to arrival snacks. They also partner with hip local businesses to offer you discounts at places like gyms or exclusive reservations at recommended bars and restaurants. They are in cities all around the world and I loved the entire experience. If you are a loyalty programs person, you can earn Hyatt points when you @staywithoasis!

Most of the time I spent in L.A. was full of meetings. My managers are there, many of my friends, book agents and gallerists as well. I tried as many new L.A. eats as possible and hit up some of my old favorites which is all been updated in this food guide to L.A.

I think my favorite new discoveries, however, are Arcana Books with an impressive collection of art books, cocktails at the back bar at Cafe Stella, and sushi hand rolls especially at Sugarfish and KazuNori. Oh… and drinks on the roof at sunset of the Hollywood Proper are what movie star dreams are made of….

Booking a private apartment in Hollywood's Hollywood Proper Residences through a new booking site Oasis.

Snapshots from Los Angeles

March 14, 2016March 23, 2016Posted in TravelTagged 35mm, air bnb, airbnb, B&W, black and white, film, jamie beck, jamiebeck, L.A., la, los angeles, losangeles, pentax, surfer, surfers, travel, tri-x, tri-x 400, tri-x400, trix23 Comments

After heading out to L.A. to experience the Sound of Luxury we decided to make it a long weekend…why would you not, it was 18 degrees in New York at that time. We rented the most amazing Airbnb industrial loft in Marina del Rey to hide out in when we weren’t experiencing all the best food L.A. had to offer. Mostly, I wanted to just cruise around and play in the sun, dance in the light, and feel the ocean spray on my face. Here are snapshots from a weekend in Los Angeles shot on black & white 35mm film with the camera I first learned how to take photos with…

While in Guatemala I discovered Swedish designer Rodebjer whom I’ve since fell in love with. Above, wearing Rodebjer’s white shirt dress that allows you to unbutton the front, back and sides in any conformation to change it from a shirt to a dress to the perfect beach coverup. Continue reading “Snapshots from Los Angeles” →

EAT L.A.

March 8, 2016February 22, 2018Posted in TravelTagged B&W, black and white, blackandwhite, california, Dining, film, food, guide, L.A., la, list, los angeles, losangeles, restaurants22 Comments

It’s that time of year in which every New Yorker says… “Maybe I should move to L.A.”. I’ve been very resistant to the idea of the perpetual perfect 72 and sunny day, being the proud New Yorker I am I declare things like “I like seasons” and “I hate driving”. But…. when it’s 18 degrees and dark most of the day I find myself singing a different tune.

So, I decided to focus on something I do best: eating well. I love food. I love GOOD food. I love beautiful food. I love weird food. And if I’m going to ever really consider making the popular migration west, I want to know what’s the skinny on one of my favorite activities… and here is what I found when you Eat L.A.

Favorite Food Spots in Los Angeles

Salazar || Cafe Stella || Milo & Olive || Malibu Farm || Alimento || KazuNori || Rose Cafe || Republique || Petit Trois – ||Odys and Penelope || Bestia ||Cassia || Trois Familia || Guisados || Salt Air ||Guerrilla Tacos ||Tasting Kitchen || Verve || Love & Salt || The Bunglow || Salt & Straw ||Redbird || Gjusta || Sqirl || Sycamore Kitchen || Osteria Mozza || Jon & Vinny’s || Rustic Canyon || Maré || Sugarfish || Destroyer || Pizzeria Mozza || Sotto || Eightfold Coffee || Ostrich Farm || Baco Mercat || Las Perlas || Mercado || Father’s Office

Continue reading “EAT L.A.” →

L.A. Lady

May 11, 2015May 13, 2015Posted in LifestyleTagged california, L.A., la, lifestyle, los angeles, losangeles, NYDJ, personal style, personalstyle, santa monica, santamonica19 Comments

I was recently introduced to one of the most successful jean brands in the country, NYDJ. The relationship started when they sent me a pair of jeans to try out, which have now become my go-to photoshoot pants not only for their comfort but the fact they stretch slightly, making moving more functional and my job easier. I also like the fact they are slightly high-waisted and when she complimented me on the fit I knew there was something here.

Furthering the relationship, NYDJ sent me on a west coast adventure around Southern California with a suitcase full of their new summer looks to try on and wear out. For a week I lived in NYDJ and here is what I have to say – not only do the clothes travel well, they are easy to dress up or dress down making the unexpected travel plans manageable while still appearing completely put together on the outside and incredibly comfortable on the inside. What you don’t see is how they manage to do that. On the inside of the dresses they have a built in second layer that is similar to shape-wear, but not uncomfortable or constricting. It makes a flattering support system that keeps everything smooth and pretty while still allowing you to move, eat, sit and play with ease. It actually gave me more confidence while wearing dresses that showed off my natural figure.

I’ll be honest, this was a brutal winter in New York causing me at one point to actually take a cab four blocks home because I was too cold to carry on. This, in contrast to the endless snapchats of L.A. friends wearing tank tops and having backyard pizza parties in mid-February, was just cruel. I was happy to get out of New York which still seems to be slowly awakening into spring. I wanted to be surrounded by a color other than gray and something to do other than work 28 hours a day. Funny enough, I’m not the only one that feels this way. While in L.A. I woke up to a handful of texts, emails, tweets, snaps saying “did you read this!?”, with a link to a New York Times article on just the sentiment I was living. It also didn’t help the case for New York that we were able to borrow a Jaguar F-Type convertible and spent the entire week with the top down, wind in our hair, and that sweet smell of honeysuckle wafting by.

Here are some of my favorite NYDJ summer looks and the great discoveries to be had along that gorgeous California coast….

Above and below- watching the sunset in a Jaguar F-Type convertible in the canyons in NYDJ’s Rosella Stretch Crepe Drape Dress, Phillips House earrings, and Phillips House “Love Always” bracelet before heading to dinner at Giorgio Baldi

We chose to stay in Santa Monica, just a few blocks from the ocean, at the Palihouse which we loved. Below, leaving in NYDJ’s Maia Jumpsuit (FAVORITE), Maiyet gold bangle, Schutz Juliana heels and Kotur clutch to meet friends at Jones Hollywood for a cocktail and then live show of our NYC friend that happened to be out in L.A. Matt Sucich.

Continue reading “L.A. Lady” →

Polo Style

October 15, 2012May 6, 2013Posted in LifestyleTagged jamie beck, la, lifestyle, los angeles, neiman marcus, polo, VC, VCPoloClassic, vcpolola, veuve clicquot14 Comments

Hold on to your horses!

When the girls at Veuve Clicquot told me the theme to this year’s LA Polo I immediately imagined an animal print which is just a shameless excuse for this dress… and you know me, put it in black, tan and red and I’m walking out the door with it on.