The Elder Statesman’s First Retail Store Opens in LA
The new indoor/outdoor space in West Hollywood carries the vibe of the understated luxury brand
After seven and a half years in business, picking up the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award along the way, The Elder Statesman has finally opened its first brick and mortar store in its hometown of Los Angeles. Founder Greg Chait—recognizable by his full beard and regular rotating stylish eyewear—calls himself an “accidental” designer with roots in the music and entertainment business. It’s this non-traditional background and his very hands-on approach that has catapulted The Elder Statesman into an understated luxury brand that guarantees the finest craftsmanship for all things custom and cashmere.
With the help of LA-based studio Commune Design (whose recent work includes the American Trade Hotel in Panama) and contractor Loren Crawford, Chait created his ideal “hang-out” spot from the ground up. “It always had been the plan to have a brick and mortar since I started the company,” Chait tells CH. “It was [just] about finding the right location and right situation.” Upon finding a place off the beaten path in West Hollywood—one that overlooks the architectural landmark Pacific Design Center—the team essentially rebuilt the entire structure, resulting in 1,600 square feet of indoor space and an additional 1,600 square feet of outdoor space. “We pretty much built a house,” Chait laughs.
The store could indeed be mistaken for someone’s (well-designed) home, complete with skylights, alder wood floors (doors and window frames, too), a stone patio and a huge cactus garden—complete with local fauna. Well-aware of the longterm draught that’s been plaguing California, Chait made the landscaping lawn-free; and as someone who’s from Arizona, he was told by a friend who saw the garden: “You just built our childhood.” A copper roof adds a bit of a playful touch, and the overall ambience is one that is in perfect harmony with The Elder Statesman’s DNA.
The Elder Statesman store is located at 607 Huntley Drive, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Check out their blanket made from eight pounds of hand-spun, hand-dyed cashmere in our Macallan Rare Gift Guide.
Images courtesy of The Elder Statesman
