By Kathryn Romeyn, photography by Sam Grant By Kathryn Romeyn, photography by Sam Grant | September 9, 2019 | Culture,
Three sets of intoxicatingly chic LA couples—partners in business and in life—show off their go-to shops.
Take it from the name of her blog, Damsel in Dior: Jacey Duprie speaks through fashion. It’s a language her husband, Grant Leavitt, has learned, too, as they’ve grown the site’s audience to a combined 9 million views monthly, in 193 countries. The real estate developer–turned–“blogger husband” wears many hats (topping ensembles involving Paige, Buck Mason and Swet Tailor), including that of collaborator in the Damsel pop-up opening at Culver City’s Platform this November. When shopping for herself, Duprie often looks to local designer Heidi Merrick’s gallerylike DTLA shop, plus Janessa Leoné, AMO Denim and Lacausa.
“Grant is exceptionally creative and witty, and it’s inspired me not to get too wrapped up in taking life too seriously. I covet his super-laidback nature. He got me into real estate and strong interior design. Grant keeps me grounded with the things that matter most in life. I ask him for advice on every occasion, except for how to draw a great bath! His style is easy, effortless and cool—he’s consistently in a James Perse tee with a pair of dark pants and army green jacket or cardigan. It’s fun when we shop together. He has this funny dance he does when he tries something on and likes it. He doesn’t wear suits often, but damn, Grant looks great in a suit!”
"Jacey has the rare ability to work both sides of her mind—most people are either creative-minded or business-minded, but she is both. I think there is a realness in everything she does that people are drawn to. There’s the old cliche of “the other half,” but I really do feel that we have become one. I love traveling with Jacey. Surprisingly, she loves all fried food, and she’s turned me on to beer koozies! But Jacey’s style is refined and classic, blending highs and lows, with her signature chopped blond hair and black sunglasses. I like when we get to dress up for something special, like a wedding or event. She cleans up nicely!”
These Beverly Hills real estate gurus don’t fly under the radar. Celebrity broker Josh Flagg, star of Bravo’s hit Million Dollar Listing, is now filming season 12 alongside his husband, broker Bobby Boyd. They’re going beyond selling big-ticket penthouses and pads: Flagg, 34, is working on season two of his YouTube channel vlog; Boyd, 35, launches a website in September—part real estate, part men’s fashion and part lifestyle. They’re usually found in Saint Laurent, Tom Ford or Isaia’s lightweight tailored suits, which are strong on camera but not too flashy for work. To Boyd, “the best thing about shopping with Josh is that he likes to make frequent stops to get cocktails in between!”
“I really admire Josh’s passion for life and his incredible knowledge about every single home in Beverly Hills. He inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. His style is sleek, chic and timeless, and what makes it so unique is his vast collection of eyeglasses from all different eras—they change his entire look, which I love. The only thing I ever question is when he gets into really abstract Gucci prints. His Tom Ford suits are so elegant and sexy, though! Josh is an old soul who should have been born in the 1920s, and that’s reflected in his taste for art, music and his personal style.”
“My greatest accomplishment has been landing my husband and sealing that deal, no contingencies. We met years ago but were never friends. Then one day in a club, Bobby said, ‘Hi, handsome,’ and I was hooked. I love his honesty and integrity; he makes me want to be a better person. Bobby hates ties but he has a great way of dressing up a casual look, such as a pair of ripped jeans mixed with a YSL silk shirt and suede jacket. My favorite version is with a turtleneck and suede boots. My husband is also a smart shopper: He doesn’t mind wearing Zara jeans with a Tom Ford jacket. Now that’s cool.”
Two girls meet at University of California, Los Angeles, and bond over vintage denim. Fast-forward a couple of decades and theirs are some of the most recognizable names in LA fashion. Entrepreneurs and designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, co-founders of THE GREAT and Emily + Meritt, are not only business partners but the best of friends. Like two halves of a whole, the avid vintage collectors sit beside each other at one desk, creativity and business savvy flowing intuitively between them. Says Elliott, “Being entrepreneurs, we make it up as we go along, and there’s a lot of freedom and fun in that.”
“Meritt and I have a shared aesthetic, and shopping is our social activity we love the most. I really admire her resilience, and I admire her as a mother. When I became one, I relied so much on her modeling. She’s very classic, often in vintage Levi’s, a shrunken THE GREAT. sweatshirt and Birkenstocks, or moccasins and a sundress. Meritt is tall and has an amazing presence—she just looks awesome in clothes. Clearly, I’m very jealous of her height. Sometimes she’ll dress up in big, gauzy caftans with necklaces and a head wrap. I love when she goes for it like that.”
“Emily is one of the smartest people I know and has an incredible library of knowledge about clothing, references, fabrics and nuances. When she has a vision, I’m like, ‘Whoa, I’m on the journey, man!’ because she takes you into a new space. I’d love to steal her vintage Victorian dress collection. Emily is something classic plus something feminine—a menswear trouser with a superfeminine blouse, a suit with red lipstick, or a voluminous dress with beat-up cowboy boots. The way she’ll roll a sleeve or add a belt ends up being brilliant. You can’t predict how she’s going to put something together, and when she does, you’re like, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’”
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