A Closer Look at the 'Mojo' Behind L.A.'s Thriving Vintage Scene
Esquire traveled around the world in search of the groups that take personal style to the peak of its meaning. First stop: Los Angeles.
By 
There's a close-knit band of men of women in Los Angeles dedicated to a retro lifestyle that's all about vintage clothes, cars, and home decor. They comprise a style subculture, one of many around the world, which Esquire has sought to chronicle in a five-part series. (You can read all about L.A.'s thriving vintage scene here.) The following photos—some of which were taken at the Rose Bowl Flea, a once-a-month vintage paradise—offer a closer look at Vintage L.A.
Ben Starmer, one of L.A.’s vintage enthusiasts, is the global marketing director for Levi's Strauss & Co.
Mikael Kennedy is a photographer, vintage textile collector, and occasional rug dealer.
Frank Barone, a body-shop worker who’s lived in L.A. his whole life, attributes much of today’s vintage scene to the swing revival of the ‘90s. “We used to go the Derby in Los Feliz [a swing club made semi-famous in the 1996 cult film Swingers], and there were guys that were hardcore swing or rockabilly, with the pompadour and the whole look,” he says.
Naoki Mizusana, a Japanese X-ray tech who moonlights as a fly fishing tackle-maker, sells old-school fly-fishing gear at Runabout Goods, a popular vintage and vintage-style clothing and accessories shop.
Tommy Abbott is the owner of Tommy's Good Stuff.
Some of the vintage items you’ll find at Tommy’s Good Stuff.
Zee Bernardo is the owner of the shop Seulement.
A Look at the 'American Traditionals' of Tokyo
Checking in With the Amer-Trads of Tokyo
A Closer Look at Pantsula Style
The Meaning Behind Pantsula Dancers' Style
