These gents have style in spades. A closer look reveals the personalities behind all that panache.
PHOTO BY JAZZMINE MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
BRIAN BROWN
CEO, BRIAN BROWN STUDIO, BRIANBROWNSTUDIO.COM
It’s been 11 years since interior designer Brian Brown launched his namesake studio in San Diego. Since then, the creative visionary has racked up an elite client list and garnered awards from Architectural Digest, the Best of Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the Interior Design Show Toronto. In May, he opened his 2,700-square-foot interior design studio and showroom in Hillcrest and is currently working with his team on launching The Dream School of the Arts, a haven in Normal Heights for youth to engage in the arts. But his next venture—as a host and commentator for CBS and Paramount Plus’ America ByDesign: Architecture and Hotels ByDesign—will soon thrust this local talent into the national spotlight. Here, Brown sounds off on the duds that keep him looking dapper on the go.
I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS CLEAN, PURPOSEFUL AND STRONG. IT’S A REFLECTION OF MY INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE. FOR ME, IT’S A LIFESTYLE.
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICON IS JASON STATHAM. HE ALWAYS LOOKS TAILORED, CLEAN AND MASCULINE. OR IT COULD BE BECAUSE WE’RE BOTH BALD.
MY SIGNATURE DAY LOOK IS TOTAL DAD VIBES. A PLAIN OR GRAPHIC T-SHIRT TUCKED IN, A BELTED TAILORED SHORT, A BASEBALL CAP, SUNGLASSES AND A SOCAL STAPLE, CONVERSE OR VANS SHOES. OH, AND MY GLASSES WITH A SUNGLASS CLIP. WHY CARRY TWO DIFFERENT PAIRS OF GLASSES WHEN YOU CAN JUST FLIP THE SHADES UP AND DOWN?
THE MOST TREASURED PIECE IN MY WARDROBE IS MY DIOR JAPANESE DENIM OVERSHIRT.
A MAN IS NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A WATCH.
FOR KICKS, I ALWAYS WEAR THIS IS TOUGH BECAUSE I ALWAYS SWITCH IT UP. BUT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY MY BLUE DIOR B101 SLIP-ON SNEAKERS.
MY MAIN GROOMING ESSENTIALS ARE A PHILLIPS NORELCO ELECTRIC SHAVER—IT’S HOW I STAY BALD AND BEAUTIFUL—FACIAL SCISSORS TO KEEP THE MUSTACHE ON POINT, AND A GREAT MOISTURIZER AND EYE CREAM.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS OUD WOOD BY TOM FORD.
MY ULTIMATE FASHION SPLURGE IS BUYING SOMETHING FROM DIOR. I LOVE WHAT KIM JONES IS DOING.
MY FAVORITE MEN’S DESIGNERS/BRANDS ARE DIOR, HELMUT LANG, THEORY, ZEGNA AND LULULEMON.
THE FIVE THINGS LEFT ON MY BUCKET LIST ARE TO KISS A LOVER IN PARIS, STAY AT GIRAFFE MANOR, THROW THE FIRST PITCH AT A PADRES GAME, DRIVE A RACE CAR ON A REAL RACE TRACK AND HAVE DINNER WITH LADY GAGA.
IF I WEREN’T IN MY CURRENT CAREER, I WOULD BE A BEACH LIFEGUARD. GETTING TO HELP PEOPLE WHILE HANGING OUT AT THE BEACH SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM.
PHOTO BY STACY KECK FOR MCASD
RYAN HERRELL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ZEPHYR, BUILTBYZEPHYR.COM
It’s been an exciting year for Ryan Herrell. As the chief operating officer of Encinitas-based Zephyr, a real estate development firm, Herrell’s team recently completed the Sandbox in Solana Beach, a mixed-used development project that’s been eight years in the making. Then, alongside his wife Kimberly Herrell—owner of Carlsbad’s Schubach Aviation—he co-chaired The Gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in September, an event that allowed the dynamic couple to showcase their avid support of the arts. You’ll also see his company’s name in future headlines. “Zephyr, along with Legends and The Kroenke Group, is currently leading the redevelopment of the San Diego Sports Arena property in the Midway District,” he reveals. “As a founding partner in the new Major League Soccer San Diego expansion team, Zephyr is developing the professional team’s training and academy facility.” Here, Ryan reveals the winning strategy for his stately style.
I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS CLEAN, TAI LORED AND TRAVEL-READY.
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICONS ARE PAUL NEWMAN AND ALAIN DELON.
MY SIGNATURE DAY LOOK IS JEANS, A T-SHIRT, SNEAKERS AND A LIGHT JACKET IN SOLID COLORS AND NICE FABRICS. I L IKE A .P.C. DENIM WITH STRETCH AND OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE JACKETS.
FOR KICKS, I ALWAYS WEAR WHITE COMMON PROJECTS SNEAKERS.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS SANTAL 33 BY LE LABO WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOL, AND NEROLI PORTOFINO BY TOM FORD WHEN IT’S WARM.
MY FAVORITE WATCH IS I ’D RATHER COLLECT ART THAN TIMEPIECES.
MY FAVORITE MEN’S DESIGNERS ARE OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE , A .P.C. , MASSIMO ALBA, ORLEBAR BROWN AND COMMON PROJECTS.
THE FIVE THINGS LEFT ON MY BUCKET LIST ARE MORE OF THE SAME—SPENDING TIME WITH MY WONDERFUL FAMILY, INCREDIBLE FRIENDS, BEAUTIFUL TRAVEL, EXCITING ART AND SPECTACULAR WINES.
IF I WEREN’T IN MY CURRENT CAREER, I WOULD THIS SUMMER, WE WENT TO THIS CHIC, OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH BEACH CLUB IN SICILY RUN BY THIS VERY FRIENDLY AND ENTERTAINING GENTLEMAN NAMED GIGI. I WOULD LIKE TO BE GIGI IN MY NEXT LIFE.
PHOTO BY LUIS GUILLÉN
JEFF LEE
CEO, DIBS BEAUTY, DIBSBEAUTY.COM
It’s a beautiful life for DIBS Beauty CEO Jeff Lee, a Southern California native who’s helped the booming cosmetics brand grow more than 450% in its second year and earn the ultimate luxury seal of approval with an investment from L Catterton, LVMH’s private equity partner. Known for its vegan and cruelty-free makeup—including that Insta-famous Status Stick Highlighter—Lee co-founded DIBS after honing his business skills as a Wall Street attorney and as COO of baseball champion Alex Rodriguez’s ARod Corp. Degrees from Stanford University and Yale Law School have equally boosted Lee’s status—he regularly teaches and lectures at Ivy Leagues ranging from Wharton to Harvard. There’s also his love for fitness (he’s a NASM-certified personal trainer), mentoring others (he’s coached numerous Miss Universe and Miss World competitors) and philanthropy (he sits on the Director’s Alumni Cabinet for the Stanford Humanities Center and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations). These days, though, Lee has his eyes on the prize. “I’m excited to keep building out the DIBS Beauty team,” he shares. “I’m a SoCal native, but I never realized growing up here that between PCH and the 405 is one of the biggest talent pools for the beauty industry.” Now that’s calling dibs.
I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS INTENSELY FITTED.
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICON IS SUCCESSION’S KENDALL ROY.
THIS FALL, THE LOOK I WILL BE WEARING MOST IS MONOCHROMATIC. I’M AT MANY PHOTOSHOOTS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS, WHICH MEANS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING MAKEUP STREAKED ON ME AT SOME POINT!
MY SIGNATURE DAY LOOK IS AN ASRV TANK OR A RHONE SHIRT.
MY SIGNATURE EVENING LOOK IS A FITTED SHIRT AND THOM BROWNE JACKET.
FOR KICKS, I ALWAYS WEAR BOOTS BY THURSDAY BOOT COMPANY.
MY MAIN GROOMING ESSENTIALS ARE DAILY EXFOLIATION, AND I ALWAYS WEAR AT LEAST ONE COAT OF SUNLESS TANNER NO MATTER THE SEASON. I ALSO HAVE A DIBS PRODUCT WE PLAN ON RELEASING IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR THAT HAS BECOME ESSENTIAL—I CAN’T WAIT TO UNVEIL IT.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS DIPT YQUE L’EAU PAPIER.
MY FAVORITE MEN’S BRAND IS THOM BROWNE. FOR JEWELRY, I WEAR ONLY JOHN HARDY AND DAVID YURMAN.
THE FIVE THINGS LEFT ON MY BUCKET LIST ARE TO LEARN TO GOLF, CALL THE PLAY-BY-PLAY FOR A WINTER OLYMPICS, DRIVE THE ENTIRE COAST OF CALIFORNIA FROM MEXICO TO OREGON, APPEAR AS AN EXTRA ON A SHARKNADO SEQUEL AND LEARN TO SURF.
IF I WEREN’T IN MY CURRENT CAREER, I WOULD PROBABLY BE WORKING AT AN ATHLEISURE BRAND OR STILL BE A WALL STREET LAWYER. IT’S A TOSS-UP.
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