Classics, With a Twist

As poet Audre Lorde said, “There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.” The same might be said for fashion. The classics are back this year, but with a twist. Take Onward Kashiyama’s wild-camel seersucker suit with overlay pockets--a far cry from the standard frumpy baby blue. Or an electric-blue straw fedora that eschews the typical felt construction. Stripes, paisley and intense color take shirts, ties and scarves out of the boardroom. Even the ascot is returning, to ironic effect. The clothes are certainly innovative, and so are the men who wear them. On the following pages, we’ve chosen seven L.A. gallery owners whose individual aesthetics are as varied as the artists they represent. Also in this issue, writer Peter McQuaid introduces the architectural team at Marmol/Radziner, who renovate and update mid-century classics from Schindler and Neutra with a modern flair. Photographer Michele Clement draws inspiration from the classic Platters song to look at styles that never really left us. And senior editor Martin J. Smith considers updating his father’s tuxedo. There’s nothing wrong with the tried-and-true. This season it’s about putting your own spin on it.