Gant Rugger is now in Los Angeles, which you may have heard about from a little peek we took inside the store a few weeks back. Last night marked the official opening, which was celebrated with a party and private dinner hosted by Gant’s Christopher Bastin, Creative Director of the brand. It was a stylish, masculine event on the Westside, which is quickly becoming the epicenter of men’s fashion in Los Angeles.

The store is on the Western end of Abbot Kinney, a few doors down from watering hole Roosterfish. It’s very understated and clean with a stony, glassy façade. It fits in nicely on the street with mens brands like Steven Alan, Jack Spade, Stronghold, and more blocks away. The store, as shared before, is long and woody and incredibly detailed. There’s a few tables for you to sit and hang out at the store’s entry, there are lots of design and fashion books scattered around clothing, all of the hangars say “Abbot Kinney Gant Rugger Los Angeles,” there’s a small women’s section in the back, and just about every table and shelf is made from reclaimed wood: it’s wonderful–and all details we previously missed! It is very warm and, with the skylights above, is absolutely welcoming. It was wonderful to finally visit the store in person!

And lots of people were visiting for the opening celebration, too. The crowd was a mix of fashion people and stylists, Abbot Kinney celebrities, and one or two certified celebrities (namely Gabriel Mann of Revenge, who we had no clue who he was until last night). There were lots of cool local fashion people too, like Cory Ohlendorf of Valet., Kathryn Romeyn of FOAM, Alexis Johnson of LA Confidential, and stylist Ashley Avignone among others. There were lots of beardos and plaid people represented at the event with a few LA WASPs (a rare, beautiful sighting), surfer types, and severe goth styles represented, too. It was a very, very interesting cross-section of mens style in Los Angeles. (However, somehow, surprisingly, I was one of two bros in shorts. Why aren’t there more?!)

Gant was also very well represented at the party as well, specifically CEO David Arbuthnot, Marketing Director Douglas Geller, and Creative Director Christopher Bastin in attendance. Note: Bastin is in no way related to Michael Bastian, contrary to what I convinced myself of for a few weeks as he has collaborated with the brand several times. Bastin is a small, laid back Sweedish man who is incredibly nice and knowledgable of design and–obviously–fashion. He has an incredibly attention to detail, which was apparent in his store from the tiny Gs on napkins to the valet stand. He ensured that the execution was perfect–and it was!

Following the event, Bastin held a private dinner for a handful of stylists, writers, and friends at AXE a few blocks further West. Another note: the restaurant is pronounced “A-Chay” not “Ax,” which we were unaware of until someone corrected us. We all feasted on tons and tons of fantastic small plates and drank more rosé than we should have. At the dinner, all attendees were given the gift of a pretty fucking sweet knife that Bastin has made to correspond with their new collection, which he said is very much tied to food. The knives were made in Portland by Wildfire Cutlery and, of course, were fodder for some slightly dangerous antics after the dinner and next door to the store at Roosterfish.

For those of you who think that there’s no places for men in LA to go and buy fashionable things, Gant’s entry to the city raises a flag that LA is finally giving men the fashion destinations that they deserve. Yes, they are all being corralled out West (which makes us Eastsiders sore) and, yes, they are all very classic looks. It’s very refreshing! It’s also so great that Gant chose to settle here, in LA, for their first West coast outpost, which says a lot about our city. The store is now open and you must stop by to see it and buy some wears. We know you will fall in love with the place.