THE JOURNAL

Introducing: The LA Brand You Need To Know.
Los Angeles might not sit alongside the world’s biggest fashion capitals, but the aesthetic of its most famous resident make it one of the most sartorially influential places on the planet. With brands like Fear of God and The Elder Statesman leading the way, West Coast style is currently booming. Distressed denim, vivid prints and worn-in T-shirts in premium fabrics with price points to match are the usual order of the day, and the best LA clothes are ones that look as at home on a trip to Whole Foods as they do at awards show afterparties. And, if LA cool is your thing, allow us to introduce you to Rhude, which launches on MR PORTER today.
Rhude is one of the greener players on the LA streetwear scene, and was founded in 2012 by Manila native Mr Rhuigi Villaseñor. Co-signed by those LA heavyweights one generally thinks of as being redolent of West Coast streetwear – Mr Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, A$AP Rocky, Future, and Ms Bella Hadid are all fans – Rhude has street credibility that stretches well beyond its six-year history. Plus, Mr Villaseñor is only 25, and aside from the envy that the designer elicits from running a successful streetwear brand in his mid-twenties, Rhude has the cultural capital of youth on its side. With clear punk, hip-hop and grunge influences, the brand is characterised by clothes that are chilled-out but curated, and are very easy to style. Nonetheless, we couldn’t resist compiling a few of our favourites from the collection, which you can find below.
THE DENIM RACER JACKET
A good denim jacket is the bread and butter of well-curated streetwear. With checkerboard appliqués down the sleeves for a go-faster racing vibe, this Rhude denim number is a custom take on Levi’s Sherpa-lined trucker, and will look particularly cool with the brand’s faded American Spirit tee and a pair of tough black jeans. Vamos!
THE CAMP-COLLAR SHIRT
A camp-collar denotes that Cuban-style open-shirted neckline that is currently everywhere, and is, for want of a better phrase, the shirt style of the season. This Hawaiian-inspired iteration comes with a tropical menagerie of parrots and parakeets perching on hibiscus flowers, and is cut from airy rayon – very holiday-appropriate. Keep the look fresh and clean with these white leather kicks from Givenchy.
THE DRAWSTRING SHORTS
Rhude’s tartan shorts, which come with contrasting white cuffs and zipper pockets and an eye-catching yellow drawstring, are the perfect things to wear for summer. Team them with this mesh T-shirt from other LA streetwear favourite Fear of God – lined with silk around the neck – and, what do you know, you’re partying at the Chateau Marmont.
