LAmag.com

It looks like the world is about to get a lot more Cali-bred hotels with Hollywood Regency design. The Kor Hotel Group, whose signature properties are designed by “maximalist” decorator Kelly Wearstler (pictured), is embarking on rapid expansion. Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi investment firm, recently bought a 50% stake in the Kor Hotel Group. Kor’s local hotels include Maison 140, Avalon, and the Viceroy (pictured). Kor founder Brad Korzen (who is Wearstler's husband) told me last night that the cash infusion from Mubadala, a company that recently bought a chunk of Ferrari and General Electric, will allow Kor to expand its properties worldwide.

Brainstorming ideas for fashion shoots and then playing dress-up with beautiful models in exotic locations make the job of a fashion editor seem glamorous. In fact, the logistics and creative differences on shoots make the job as frustrating, at times, as that of any other nine-to-five. That said, “Clothbound,” the September fashion spread in Los Angeles magazine, was a blast to do from start to finish. We shot the editorial in the Doheny Memorial Library on the USC campus. Besides being a jaw-dropper of a location, the library allowed me to do with a backdrop what I try to achieve with the clothing: expose an underappreciated gem of Los Angeles. This is the magazine’s first fashion extravaganza that features local designers exclusively, from JMary (clothing) to Esquivel (men’s shoes) to Sonia Boyajian (jewelry). We needed clothing that would stand up to the elegance of the library, which was built in 1931. Before the shoot, stylist Monica Schweiger worried that we’d have enough high-fashion options, especially for menswear. Once on set, the problem was rather how to choose from the plethora of samples she’d found in showrooms and in designers’ ateliers. This image above is an outtake from the amazing shots by photographer Mark Edward Harris. For the rest, check out the magazine!