eBay Mobile Boutique: Los Angeles Street Style

By Beth Whiffen
December 18, 2009

For a city where the mercury rarely drops below 60, Los Angeles is full of style- and season-conscious shoppers, who brave the heat to brazenly bundle up in chunky scarves, newsboy caps, cozy jackets and tall boots. (Of course, despite the calendar clearly displaying December, our style scouting trip also turned up an abundance of flip-flops, bare legs and designer sunglasses paired with those otherwise winter-related threads.) If you're in town today, stop by the eBay Holiday Mobile Boutique at Hollywood and Highland Center, and be sure to show up dressed like a local.

Jennifer Disotell, owner of a PR and branding firm, 29 (above, left)

Where: Main St., Santa Monica

What She’s Wearing: Form dress, H&M belt, Ann Taylor jacket, Vaneli flat boots, hb by Heather Belle jewelry and an Anna Corinna handbag

Her Personal Style: "Feminine with a touch of roughness"

Holiday Wish List: "Stella McCartney over-the-knee boots, DJ Hero for Xbox, gift certificates to Renovo, a coffee shop across the street from my office because I consume mass amounts of caffeine."

Favorite LA-Based Designers:" Jenni Kayne, Myne, and Mike & Chris. Oh, and I’m obsessed with J Brand denim. They’re the only jeans I wear."

What city do you think has the best style? "I love Paris. Nowhere else compares. The style is so cutting-edge, and everyone always looks totally put together in an effortless way."

Brent Leonesio, perfume maker and creator of Smell Bent fragrances, 27 (above, center)

Where: Sunset Strip

What He's Wearing: H&M thermal Henley, Gap 1969 jeans, Zara knit scarf, Marc Jacobs belt and Vael Project high-top sneakers

His Personal Style: "Simplicity with great accessories"

Favorite Stores: Scent Bar, Barney’s Coop, Target

Holiday Wish List: A vintage shearling jacket, The New York Times Brilliant Book of Crosswords, Etymonic headphones

At what frigid LA temperature do you break out the scarf? "65 degrees."

Favorite LA-Based Designers: Mosley Tribe, Band of Outsiders, and Trovata

In a word or a phrase, how would you sum up LA style? "Eclectic and casual."

What city do you think has the best street style? Copenhagen

Kristina Marzec, chef/caterer, 30 (above, right)

Where: Westwood Village

Wht She's Wearing: Grace Hats newsboy cap, American Apparel tie-dye infinity scarf and acid wash leggings, Katayone Adeli blouse, Erotokritos handbag and flip-flops bought on a recent trip to India

Her Personal Style: "Sophistication with an edge"

Favorite L.A. Stores: Aura boutique on Montana Ave., Beckley on Melrose, and Intermix on Robertson

Favorite Trends This Season: Over-the-knee boots and lace-up booties or heels

At what tempoerature do you bring out the scarf and hat? "I break out my scarf at 68 degrees, with a tank top, of course."

Do you wear flip-flops year round? "Yes."

What city do you think has the best street style? "Tokyo. The women there are always amazingly perfect, put together and trendy. It’s like little porcelain dolls teetering on 5-inch heels around the city. Tokyo blows LA’s style out of the water."

How would you describe LA style? "It’s borderline cool with a provocative twist. Since we have great weather 24/7, everyone loves to show off their goods."

Guru Thapar, co-owner of 212 Pier Book and Coffee House, 30 (above, left)

Where: Main Street, Venice

What He’s Wearing: Applejack newsboy cap, Chanel sunglasses, Threadless t-shirt, American Apparel hoodie, Bennetton skinny fit jeans, Converse sneakers and handmade gold, coral and yellow sapphire rings from India

His Personal Style: "Shabby chic. I like to be comfortable."

His Holiday Wish List: "I’m pretty content in life, but I wouldn’t mind a Cannon L Series lens and a BMW 335."

What are you giving for the holidays? "Rosetta Stone French and Spanish tutorials, yoga class gift certificates and handmade bracelets from India."

What are your favorite places to shop? "I buy most of my clothes in India, but I also like looking for cool finds on the Venice boardwalk."

What’s your most prized fashion possession? "My Chanel sunglasses. They are actually women’s, but you can’t really tell. They were my mom’s and she stopped wearing them, so I took them."

Kate Roy, children’s yoga teacher, 22 (above, right)

Where: Main Street, Venice

What She's Wearing: Knit skull cap from Crossroads Trading Co., earrings she found at a consignment shop, a hand-me-down turtleneck,a Marc New York leather jacket, Celebrity Pink wide-leg trouser jeans, Nine West cork platforms and a Shloka handbag that her roommate brought back from Paris

Favorite LA Shops: Aardvaarks, Crossroads Trading Co., Salvation Army

Holiday Wish List: Brown, over-the-knee boots and rent money

Her Fashion Stample: Oversize hoop earrings

Her Most Prized Fashion Posession: "Right now, it’s a knit scarf that was a gift my friend’s ex-boyfriend brought her from Peru. She passed it along to me, and I like to think that I’m giving new life to it."

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