Shopping & Beauty Faces: Rory Beca

Rory Beca may have posed as an ex-pat momentarily to attend design school in London, but the whiz kid behind the eponymous line is a California girl through and through. Known for her reinterpreted caftans (think plunging v-necks) Beca's aesthetic is reflective of her Santa Monica address. A hint of hippie, gone casually sophisticated. Here Beca shares where she hangs—and the places that inspire what hangs on her hangers. —Lyndsey Saul

Since your designs are vintage inspired, you must be a vintage shopper. Where's the best place to get vintage in L.A.?

The best vintage in L.A. is the Santa Monica Vintage Expo because all of the dealers are together in one place.

Are your designs reflective of your personal style? Where do you like to shop?

Yes! Definitely. I design clothes that I would want to wear. I shop at a lot of small boutiques that carry new, younger designers. I like Switch on Beverly. I live in Venice Beach, so on the weekends my style is very casual. I love picking up easy to wear weekend pieces at Planet Blue on Main Street in Santa Monica.

Favorite spot to go out for drinks?

The Galley in Santa Monica. It was the first bar in Santa Monica. It's a diverse crowd and they have Christmas lights up year round, which I love.

Other than vintage clothes, what else gets your creative juices flowing?

I am always inspired by art. I love the museums in Los Angeles...LACMA, BCAM is great, and the Norton Simon museum in Pasadena.

Favorite restaurant?

Via Veneto in Santa Monica. The food, the atmosphere, and the guys who work there are all great. It is right near where I live, so my boyfriend and I go there all the time.

You seem ultra-feminine just like your line, do you ever do anything special to feel extra-girly?

I love pampering myself when I have time. I love the manicures and pedicures from Lee at Umberto's because her work on the nails is really detailed, but she also makes you feel so relaxed. I go to Tracey at Neil George, who is amazing for hair color, and Adrian Castillo for haircuts at John Frieda. He gives me a different cut every time I see him, which I love.

How about accessories—do you have a signature piece?

I usually have on a piece of gold Pade Vavra jewelry with whatever I am wearing. I get her stuff at Kaviar at Kind, which I think now is called Roseark.

Are you a shoe girl or a purse girl? Favorite place for either?

Both! I don't go to just one place for bags or shoes. I look all over, but I think Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus have great shoe departments. Barneys carries designers you don't see everywhere.

The success of your line keeps you on the go, when you do have downtime, how do you unwind?

I love going to the farmers’ market, cooking and baking. To me, that is relaxing. Or I spend my downtime riding my bike by the beach in Venice or down Abbot Kinney. I love the shopping on that street, especially Tortoise. That is probably one of my favorite stores in L.A.

10.

Best spot to sport a Rory Beca piece?

Rory Beca is so versatile that you can wear the same piece almost everywhere. You can wear one of my tunics to the farmers' market or the beach, add a belt or pants and wear it to work, and then, at night, add a sexy pair of shoes and you can wear it to dinner and drinks.