Sex and Another City

With their Instagram account @everyoutfitonSATC (a witty homage to the cult TV show Sex and the City) and their hit podcast Every Outfit (an unfiltered analysis of contemporary pop culture), social media consultant and designer Chelsea Fairless and writer-director Lauren Garroni reach an audience of nearly 750,000 followers. Formerly New Yorkers themselves, they've since relocated to sunny Los Angeles. In an interview with Falstaff TRAVEL, the stylish "Angelinos" reveal where they like to go to brunch, shop and get their daily dose of caffeine in the City of Angels.

In their weekly podcast, best friends Chelsea Fairless (left) and Lauren Garroni (right) don't mince their words. © Stephanie Gonot

You both lived in New York for some time - why did you decide to move to L.A.? What do you love most about the city?
Chelsea Fairless: I moved to LA because after a decade of living in New York, I was exhausted and I needed a change of scenery. A lot of people think that L.A. is cheesy, but I’ve always loved the look of it: the palm trees, the mid-century architecture, the deco stuff. I even love the seedier parts, like the old lingerie stores and the dive bars on Sunset Boulevard.
Lauren Garroni: Well, my parents moved here when I was two, so I didn’t technically have a choice, but I love it here. There's a quote attributed to Dorothy Parker where she called Los Angeles “72 suburbs in search of a city.” I think that's the best way to describe it – it’s everything and nothing at the same time.

What's the vibe? What makes L.A. special?
CF: Oh, it shifts dramatically depending on what neighborhood you’re in. Downtown L.A. and Hollywood and Beverly Hills couldn't be more different. But that’s what makes the city special.
LG: Dorothy Parker once called the city "a collection of 72 suburbs," and I think that describes it quite well.

Where do you like to spend your weekends?
CF: I almost always go to West Hollywood for brunch at Bottega Louie, or to take my dog to the West Hollywood dog park. I also love an afternoon cocktail at one of the local gay bars, either The Abbey or Hi Tops.
LG: I live by Runyon Canyon, which can be a scene on the weekends, so if I feel like people watching – I’ll go there. Or a walk around Lake Hollywood.

Writer-director Lauren Garroni also likes to spend her weekends in nature, talking a stroll around Lake Hollywood. © Shutterstock

What are the best places that tourists typically wouldn’t know? Where do locals hang out?
CF: I love the Glen Centre, which is a bougie strip mall with a bunch of cute shops and restaurants.
LG: I’m a Valley girl and in recent years it's had quite the glow up. I would head down to Ventura Place in Studio City. On Sunday’s there’s a Farmer’s Market where you can always spot a celeb or two ... if that’s your thing.

Where can you get the best coffee in L.A.?
LG: Coffee Coffee on Fairfax is great.
CF: Agreed, but it’s not for the faint of heart if you’re sensitive to caffeine. This definitely isn’t the best coffee, but I will say that the Starbucks on Highland and Willoughby is the most fabulous looking Starbucks in existence. They restored an art deco gas station and it’s just perfect.

What are your favorite restaurants?
CF: Mr. Chow and Pace are great for dinner, but I also love the abundance of mid-century diners in L.A. Lauren and I both love Swingers, which was used as a location in Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion.
LG: For fine dining, Providence. For some of the best Italian in a cozy locale, I’d say Angelini Osteria. And for classic L.A. kitsch (and great Mexican food) Casa Vega.

With its iconic pink wall, the Paul Smith boutique on Melrose Avenue has been a magnet for visitors on the hunt for the perfect selfie for years. © Andrey Bayda

You both love and know a lot about fashion. Where do you like to shop?
CF: The Dries van Noten store on La Cienega is one of the coolest and most unique retail experiences in L.A. I also love the recent(ish) addition of the Marc Jacobs Heaven store on Fairfax, which is where all the streetwear stores are. But my biggest obsession is probably Candle Delirium, a West Hollywood institution that only sells candles.
LG: For a mall, you cannot beat Westfield Century City. It’s an outdoor mall with every store imaginable and a few you’re sure are fake. Just One Eye is maybe one of the most unique shopping experiences in L.A. Decades is one of the best vintage/consignment stores in Los Angeles. It’s also on Melrose Ave, an amazing shopping street in general, as well as across from the infamous Paul Smith “pink wall” if you want to grab a selfie.

Designer Chelsea Fairless isn't the only one who likes to go to Palm Springs on the weekend; Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner also loves the desert retreat. © Shutterstock

Where do you take friends that visit from out of town?
CF: LACMA, The Hammer, and MOCA are all great museums, but I think a weekend trip to Palm Springs is always fun. Also, you can stop at the Desert Hills Outlet Mall on the way there, they have a Balenciaga store and a Loewe store.
LG: Malibu for sure. I’ll usually drive out to the Malibu Country Mart. Eat at Broad Street Oyster and then drive out to one of my favorite “secret beaches” El Matador.

What should be on everyone's L.A. bucket list?
CF: It’s cliche, but everyone should see the Hollywood Sign. It’s also advisable to go to Musso & Frank, which is the oldest restaurant in Hollywood.
LG: Take a drive along Pacific Coast Highway. Eat at Pink’s Hot Dog. Go to The Getty.

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