101: ARIELLE ESHEL
lives in ballet flats and her mom's button down.
Happy Friday, readers. We are back to our regularly scheduled programming this week. I’m glad you all appreciate my dad’s very dad-like sense of humor.
I am serving Guilty-Remnant-realness lately – wearing the white Levi’s I bought in Paris and white t-shirts on repeat. Remove one vow of silence and insert one pair of metallic Prada flip flops and you’re there. This glorious weather is inspiring a real lightness of style and spirit. I wonder if this is what it’s like to live in LA?
I’ll continue to wonder because I can probably speed walk 20 blocks faster than I can parallel park. Instead I will outsource some west coast energy this week. Meet LA native, Arielle Eshel.
Arielle is a creative brand consultant working in the beauty space. Her latest project, a luxury longevity skincare line, launches this fall. From 2023-2026 she curated Affection Archives, one of my favorite substacks (no longer active but still an excellent reference)! It’s a collection of over 100 letters on fashion, art, film, objects, photography, etc.
A longtime fashion-lover, Arielle told me that she inherited her connection to clothes from her mom. “On the weekends she’d bring me around all the classic spots – Ron Herman, Maxfield, Kitson on Robertson, Barneys. We’d always end up upstairs at Freds for Arnold Palmers and their classic crackers with cream cheese. She definitely formed my taste early on.” I love Arielle’s easy, elegant style – “relaxed with a bit of ballerina,” she says. Here’s what she’s been living in lately.
Describe your personal style. What are you living in right now and why?
Los Angeles relaxed with a bit of ballerina and downtown New York.
Sheer, lacy, layered, before-dance-class comfort.
Classic Americana colors – mostly black, navy, white, red, grey, beige.
Lately it’s slips, ballet flats, Levi’s, sweats, vintage tees, men’s button downs, and a trench when it’s cooler completely hiding the whole thrown together ensemble.
How often do you shop?
Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible for me to leave my house without driving by Scout, my favorite neighbor. I stop in around once a week.
Where do you shop the most?
Scout, TRR, Ending Soon, Denim Revival, Lara Koleji. My mom’s closet.
Oh, and the sweetest, coolest sisters Sonia & Ari have one of the most special boutiques in Los Angeles – Mameg. I won’t tell you anything… and their web presence won’t tell you much… Just go.
ARIELLE’S MOST WORN
Ballet Flats
I wear ballet flats 99% of the time. For my 30th birthday last January, I was given a pair of black flats from The Row by my girlfriends. I’ve never felt so seen. Before these, I was always wearing my worn Chanel black flats. I especially love ballet flats paired with the opposite vibe – sweats, Adidas shorts, socks, and even leggings, which feels very 12 year old me.
Tom Ford Gucci 2002 Trench
This spring I’ve been wearing this short vintage Gucci trench with a slip or Levi’s. I love the exaggerated collar.
Pearly Clutch
I bought this tiny pearly clutch from Scout years ago and use it constantly despite the fact that it’s a game of Tetris to use practically.
The Row Sunglasses
I become obsessed with one pair of sunglasses at a time, and right now I love my Row ones.
Slip Dresses
I live in slip dresses in the warmer LA months (practically the entire year). They’re the perfect base for an outfit. Layered with a button down, oversized sweater, vintage tee, jacket, shrug. Even a sweatshirt. I mostly get them at Mothfood, Decoys, and Scout.
White Chanel Bucket Bag
She holds it all.
Button Downs
Vintage Dior, Jil Sander, Calvin Klein, etc.
I wear the below striped one all the time — stole it from my mom. She used to wear it when I was a kid. She’s going to read this and ask for it back… my worst nightmare but I had to show you.
Burberry Trench
I wore this vintage Burberry oversized trench everyday over the fall, and when I was in NY earlier this month. It’s a navy so dark it is almost black. I love wearing it with layered sweaters.
Levi’s
Best for last - most days I throw on my Levi’s without really even thinking. My favorite pairs are from Denim Revival, another neighbor of mine.
What are you currently searching for?
There’s a ring I want… it’s vintage… and I’m scared if I share it here someone is going to get her before I get the courage to pull the trigger myself. A pair of dark wash jeans from DLR.
I’ll tell you about some of the items that aren’t vintage that I have had my eyes on: these Phoebe off-white heels. Anything by Colleen Allen, but especially this jacket, this dress, this skirt, this bra – have no idea where I’d wear this to, but woah look at Lily Allen.
What’s your go-to bodega/coffee/grocery-run outfit?
Vintage navy sweats with my red Relaxe flip flops from Carmen.
Levi’s and a hoodie.
HORSE pant (fair warning I surgically altered mine - pockets removed and waist dropped) with ballet flats and a black long sleeve Flore Flore tee.
Does your style change when you go to work?
Not at all, which is actually something I really value. I split my time working between my home and the home of the founder of the skincare brand I’ve been building over the past few years. I start to feel really off if I don’t dress like myself.
What’s your go-to out for a night out?
Depends which part of town, but there is definitely a shift from my daytime Levi/tee look to something a bit sexier at night.
Eastside: slip skirt or dress. Maybe with a tee. Little heel or ballet flat.
Hollywood: button down or blazer with a silky vintage bralette. My Armani trousers. Prada or Chanel pointed black heel.
Valley: jeans and a sweater. The beauty of the valley.
What do you always travel with?
Winter travels: my trench and a huge black cashmere scarf blanket for the plane.
Warmer vacations: a black Eres two piece I got from L’Ensemble. It’s the most perfect suit to exist.
Do you change your accessories or wear the same ones?
I sprinkle in here and there, but I think compared to others I don’t change it up too often. Love my Sophie Buhai Tahitian pearl earrings. And a ring I bought from Pilgrim in NY when I was 21 — wear it everyday.
The most chic in all da land
Ari <3