LEATHER WEATHER
It’s always leather weather in LA, even in our current climate mashup. Perhaps more so. Leather’s as intrinsic – and ubiquitous – to L.A. style as hair bands, punk rockers, rappers and bikers. And what do they all have in common? That’s right, baby: warm leatherette. Brando in The Wild Ones (1953) was the OG Leather Daddy. Famed architect Peter Marino, who’s designed every Chanel store in the world, is the modern Leather Daddy. It’s the fabrication evocative of tough, rebellious, edgy, wild. And sex. Let’s not forget that.
But the five month old Savas boutique on Melrose just east of LaBrea does leather quite differently. Savannah Yarborough of Nashville, Tennessee, has reinvented leather. She was senior designer for Billy Reid when she fell for “the emotion of leather jackets.” Her Nashville shop opened 2015, displaying artfully constructed fine leather bespoke jackets for men in manly neutrals – and avocado green, ocean blue, deep pumpkin. Some are shirt style (“shackets”), some are more classic jackets.
Savannah, with pal Carlton DeWoody, creative director of Reunion Goods & Services (interior design, architecture and branding) decided to host a do a deux to add to other small communal events they’ve hosted in two room space. It turned out, the perfect L.A. evening: everyone devoured Savannah’s recipe for “Poppy’s Caviar” – crème fraiche, shallot vinaigrette, caviar on top – scooped up with potato chips. The bubbly wasn’t bad either. It was part of their theme: “Caviar & Slippers” – Savannah issued every guest a pair of Letta Slippers – a unisex all-leather mule, in saffron, black hair calf and cheetah hair calf, that goes from bedroom to black tie.
Charmed by the warmth and generosity of it all were design team Brian Wolk and Claude Marais (Wolk Marais) Showing off their handiwork in a sharply tailored suit in a flocked textured fabric was super stylist Maryam Malakpour. Costume designer Janie Bryant was accompanied by her giant fluffy white poodle. Other guests were equally “cultured chic,” as I like to call it (though the poodle was a standout). I’ve always dreamed of going to Euro-style salons –cultural conversation with like-minded curious souls – like the ones Gertrude Stein hosted in the twenties.
Carlton greeted guests in his gorgeous creamy cucumber green Savas shirt/jacket. “As soon as I tried one on, I knew I needed one. Savannah does classic silhouettes: bomber, biker, western, but makes subtle design tweaks. This one’s thinner leather, unlined, so I can wear it on the upper side of the temp spectrum.”
A delightful surprise: Sabine & The Red Lotus, led by singer Francesca Vanucci, took to a makeshift stage in the spacious second room. “When this evening was coalescing,” Carlton explained, “we discussed live music. They found a pedal steel player to join and tugged all our heart strings.” Think Cowboy Junkies meet Linda Ronstadt.
An added surprise: Carlton himself took to the stage, softly crooning Enya’s “Only Time.” Who knew he’d been in a couple bands, to add to already sterling resume? “What’s the worst that could happen?” he laughed. “If you’re singing a country version of an Enya song, you pretty much can’t fail.”
