L.A. style confidential

THE STYLIST

THE BOHEMIAN

Alexandra Potter, 36, is a writer. Her sixth novel, Me and Mr Darcy, is out this month. Originally from Yorkshire, she lived in London for ten years and has been living in Venice Beach for three years:

Venice, where I live, is home to a lot of creative people. I don't know anyone who has a nine-to-five job and goes to work in a suit.

When I'm writing I'm usually in my dressing gown but otherwise it's comfy jeans, combat trousers or Juicy Couture tracksuit bottoms and T-shirts. When I'm going out I wear jeans - bootcut or skinny Citizens Of Humanity - with heels and a top.

Although I live by the beach, nobody except tourists and teenagers sunbathe.

It's all SPF30, a hat and sunglasses. I'll occasionally use fake tan, but you don't sunbathe - your dermatologist would kill you. Every one out here has a dermatologist, even if you don't have a skin problem.

FAVOURITE SHOPS

Zara: I'm a real High Street girl, I live in Zara. It's exactly like the one in High Street Kensington in London so if I feel homesick, I pop in here.

Urban Outfitters: I like the quirky designs and get bored of things quickly so I won't spend $140 on a designer T-shirt. I leave that to rich women in 4x4s.

Abercrombie & Fitch: The music is really, really loud and it's full of young kids but I like their stuff, even though I have to buy everything in a large as the sizes are tiny.

FAVOURITE ITEMS IN MY WARDROBE

An Eley Kishimoto coat from Harvey Nichols in London. I'd had my eye on it for ages and it was reduced from £600 to £120.

My Marc Jacobs shoes, too. Although I'm not usually a designer fan, shoes are different. And these were on sale.

And a silver backless top from Zara. I wear it with jeans.

MY LA STYLE ICON

Rachel Bilson. She has great style; she's such a tiny, pretty little thing and she always looks good.

QUINTESSENTIAL LA ACCESSORY

A Starbucks coffee, a dog and a mobile phone.

TOP LA TIP FOR VICTORIA BECKHAM

Get out of those stilettos and into some Havaianas. I buy them on the beach or from a store called Lorin on 3rd Street Promenade that sells them in every colour.

BELEN HORMAECHE, 33, is head buyer and stylist for Madison, a small chain of exclusive boutiques in Los Angeles. Belen is Spanish, was brought up in London and has been living in West Hollywood for just over two years:

My personal style is very schizophrenic. One day I'll be quite punky, the next more grown-up and sophisticated.

It depends on my mood, but I don't make a distinction between work and going out.

Labels are very important here. A Marc Jacobs or YSL handbag will sell for $2,000, but an unknown brand just won't sell. Even more important than the label, is the celebrity factor. Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Bilson and Paris Hilton are in the magazines every week and they're all customers of ours.

As soon as the magazines hit the streets we get bombarded with phone calls and an item just sells out.

Areas of LA have very individual vibes. For example, on Robertson, it's the young party girls; in Malibu, it's very rock
'n' roll; and Brentwood is like London's Chelsea with an older, more sophisticated customer. Nevertheless there's a definite LA look - jeans and flip-flops.

FAVOURITE SHOPS

Madison: Obviously I shop here a lot, and I'm really excited about the new Malibu store, Madison Gallery, it is going to be really high end and very rock 'n' roll.

Diavolina: One of the coolest stores in LA. I come here whenever I'm looking for something quirky or unusual as they stock loads of new designers.

Barneys: The best of all the department stores - they sell Christian Louboutin shoes, which I'm obsessed with.

FAVOURITE ITEMS IN MY WARDROBE

My Christian Louboutin shoes. Also, a leather jacket, by Golden Goose and Hermes bracelets.

MY LA STYLE ICON

Paris and Nicole are very LA, but I prefer Mary-Kate Olsen's style. She's LA's Kate Moss.

QUINTESSENTIAL LA ACCESSORY

An oversized bag, preferably by Balenciaga, and oversized vintage sunglasses.

TOP LA TIP FOR VICTORIA BECKHAM

Tone it down, she's making too much effort and needs to be more carefree in her style.

THE FILM INDUSTRY INSIDER

Siobhan FLYNN, 29, is an actress who lives in the Hollywood Hills. She is originally from Wales and moved to LA from London three years ago. Recently she finished filming Sex & Death 101, a comedy starring Winona Ryder. Her next project is an as yet untitled, independent film about transatlantic relationships:

In the UK you go to auditions as you are. At my first audition in LA, I thought I was looking nice and fresh, but they said: "It's so lovely, you look like you've just stepped off a farm."

Now, I have a blow-out, pedicure and manicure before an audition. And, I wear the 'uniform' - a nice pair of jeans, a shirt, and a v-necked jumper or a jacket. The in brand of jeans is always changing, but I usually wear James or J Brand.

FAVOURITE SHOPS

Bleu: A lovely designer boutique that sells a lot of labels I like, such as Diane Von Furstenberg and Louis Verdad.

Decades Two: A designer resale store where stylists take clothes after they've been used on shoots — great stuff.

American Rag: A good mix of young designers and a huge number of jeans so you can try loads on until you find ones you like.

FAVOURITE ITEMS IN MY WARDROBE

A Missoni coat. Missoni is one of my favourite designers, although I don't have a lot of her pieces so I treasure this. And a pair of vintage Valentino sunglasses that I found in a thrift shop for $3. Fem tops, too. Separates in incredibly soft jersey material and great colours that are nice and easy to wear with jeans.

MY LA STYLE ICON

Kate Hudson. She can be quirky but never looks like she's dressed for attention.

QUINTESSENTIAL LA ACCESSORY

A Blackberry, a Bluetooth headset and an It bag. It used to be the Balenciaga Motorcycle, then the Fendi Spy, now there are a lot of Chloe Ediths and black patent Marc Jacobs around.

TOP LA TIP FOR VICTORIA BECKHAM

Go to Thai Town. A place called Nuch Massage gives you an amazing massage for $45. They wash your feet in rose petals and bring you tea and Thai sweets. Then there's a really good Armenian restaurant nearby called Carousel.