These Orange County gents have style in spades. A closer look reveals the personalities behind all that panache.
PHOTO BY LOUIS GABRIEL
It’s been a sparkling year for award-winning jewelry designer Adam Neeley. From February to July, Laguna Art Museum presented a 25-year retrospective of his career, highlighting more than 100 works of his wearable fine art in Modern Alchemy. “As I celebrate my 25th annviersary of making unique jewelry, I am profoundly grateful to my family, friends and loyal patrons,” says the president of Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, who opened his flagship atelier in Laguna Beach in 2006. In 2023, he founded Gorgeous Little Things—a nonprofit dedicated to educating others about the art of jewelry design—and in March, he’ll debut a new jewelry collection at Bergdorf Goodman.
IN THREE WORDS, I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS CLEAN, MODERN AND COLORFUL .
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICON IS DANIEL CRAIG.
THE MOST TREASURED PIECE IN MY WARDROBE IS MY PEACOCK BLUE ARMANI TUXEDO. IT WAS MADE TO MEASURE AND FITS ME LIKE A GLOVE.
A MAN IS NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT THE PERFECT PIECE OF JEWELRY, WHETHER IT’S A UNIQUE LAPEL BROOCH, A SUBTLE BRACELET OR A REFINED RING.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS DIOR AMBRE NUIT.
MY FAVORITE DESIGNERS ARE TOM FORD, BRIONI AND AMI PARIS.
THE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY WOULD BE GEMS OF LIFE: THE ARTFUL JOURNEY OF A JEWELRY DESIGNER AND BON VIVANT.
IF I WASN’T IN MY CURRENT CAREER, I WOULD BE A GEOPHYSICIST.
PHOTO BY JOHN DOLE
Chef Tony Esnault’s love of cooking began on his grandparents’ farm in France. A protege of legendary chef Alain Ducasse, Esnault refined his craft of elevating flavors and artistically executing dishes at myriad Michelinstarred restaurants across Europe before moving to the United States, where he’s earned awards and rave reviews in Boston, New York City and now, Orange County. Five years ago, the culinary mastermind opened the famed French restaurant Knife Pleat at South Coast Plaza with his wife, Yassmin Sarmadi, where the pair have earned and retained a coveted Michelin Star since 2019. When Esnault isn’t in the kitchen, he’s supporting the Pacific Symphony and the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP).
IN THREE WORDS, I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS SIMPLE, ELEGANT AND CLASSIC.
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICON IS ALAIN DELON.
THE MOST TREASURED PIECE IN MY WARDROBE IS MY EMBROIDERED LANVIN BLAZER.
A MAN IS NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A WATCH HE LOVES.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS CREED AVENTUS.
MY FAVORITE WATCH IS A ROLEX GMT-MASTER II I ’VE HAD FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
MY FAVORITE DESIGNERS ARE LANVIN, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, DAVID DONAHUE AND PORSCHE.
THE FIVE THINGS LEFT ON MY BUCKET LIST ARE GOING ON A SAFARI IN AFRICA; SKY DIVING; OWNING A VINTAGE PORSCHE; VISITING ICELAND; AND SEEING THE NORTH POLE BEFORE IT VANISHES.
PHOTO BY TONY FLOREZ
For nearly two decades, Jeff Blasingame has focused on the local real estate market, helping his discerning clients with resort, commercial and residential transactions. As an agent, Blasingame specializes in luxury real estate, working within creative environments and contributing to exceptional projects and properties. After being approached by numerous clients to transform their spaces with his skillful eye, Blasingame launched Black Horse Design, a natural evolvement of his career that offers a more holistic approach to the service he provides. The coming year is also looking bright for the former vice chair of Oceana’s SeaChange Summer Party—he will join Elizabeth Wahler in co-chairing next year’s star-studded fundraiser in Laguna Beach.
I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS TAILORED AND TIMELESS.
THE MOST TREASURED PIECE IN MY WARDROBE IS A STEFANO PILATI-ERA SAINT LAURENT WOOL HERRINGBONE BLAZER.
MY SIGNATURE DAY LOOK DEPENDS ON WHAT TIME YOU RUN INTO ME. I COULD BE IN GYM SHORTS AND A SOMBRERO WITH MY DOG, MR. HIGGINS, OR IN A VINTAGE SUIT.
A MAN IS NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT TERRY OF EUROPEAN TAILORING MAKING THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
MY SIGNATURE SCENTS ARE XINÚ COPĀLA AND LE LABO ANOTHER 13.
MY FAVORITE DESIGNERS ARE DRIES VAN NOTEN, CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE, A.P.C., SANDRO AND ORLEBAR BROWN.
THE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY WOULD BE WELL, THAT WASN’T IN THE BROCHURE.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EIGHTH DAY
As a double board-certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, scientist, author and innovator, Dr. Antony Nakhla is in the business of making others feel beautiful. He’s the medical director of the OC Skin Institute and the founder and chairman of Eighth Day, a luxury skincare brand infused with a patent-pending blend of peptide-rich plasma that’s formulated to give you the best skin of your life. “In working on over 10,000 patients, I have observed firsthand the innate healing and regenerative powers of human skin, which inspired and led me to found Eighth Day,” says Dr. Nakhla, who specializes in skin cancer treatments, facial reconstruction and wound healing. This year, he’ll unveil an innovative skincare treatment that he says has become a staple in his routine.
IN THREE WORDS, I WOULD DESCRIBE MY STYLE AS 1957, NONCHALANT AND UNDONE.
MY ULTIMATE STYLE ICON IS ABDEL HALIM HAFEZ.
THE MOST TREASURED PIECE IN MY WARDROBE IS A SILVER COPTIC CROSS AND CHAIN THAT MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME.
MY SIGNATURE SCENT IS MEMO PARIS AFRICAN LEATHER.
MY FAVORITE WATCH IS A VINTAGE SALMON-DIAL PATEK PHILIPPE.
MY FAVORITE DESIGNERS ARE CANALI, BRUNELLO CUCCINELLI, ARMANI , TOM FORD, BOTTEGA VENETA, OLIVER PEOPLES, JACQUE MARIE MAGE, AUDEMARS PIGUET, VACHERON CONSTANTIN AND PATEK PHILIPPE.
THE FIVE THINGS LEFT ON MY BUCKET LIST ARE TO HIT A HOLE IN ONE; LEARN TO PLAY THE OUD; MEET MY GRANDCHILDREN; VISIT THAILAND; AND FIND GOD.
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