VMAN ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

THIS IS NOT HERE

We hit L.A. for a survey of cool guys who capture the new essence of Lost Angeles

Photography Colin Donahue      Styling Parinaz Mogadassi Contributing art editor Dominic Sidhu

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Matt Luem, director, 34, photographed in Little Thai Town

Jumpsuit Adam Kimmel
Slippers Yohji Yamamoto

On American dreamers:
L.A. is a young city, by young I mean a city in its early stages. It's raw in a way. It's greatest days are ahead of it clearly. The business of Hollywood as we know it is less than 100 years old. Images, icons, myths from Los Angeles are projected out into the world and are then brought back to the city to be reclaimed. People come to live in Los Angeles from all over the world bringing strong ideas of what this place is and find that they can still remake the city how they see fit once they arrive. It’s an "American Dream" city.

On staying gold:
There is this dive bar in my neighborhood called One Eye Jack that's run by some kind of local crime syndicate. Last I went we ended up meeting this lunatic Filipino gangster named Goldie, who when I told him my wife was pregnant insisted on taking me around to some Filipino-owned after-hours gambling places. Evidently pregnant women and expecting fathers bring good luck?! Just crazy east of downtown and off the cultural map of L.A. completely, he did pretty well actually that night thankfully. Goldie asked me to give him a call as soon as the baby is born, apparently there are some other spots down in south L.A. we need to check out...

On the melting pot:
Don't let the sunshine and laid back attitudes fool you, this is a city that rewards toughness. Los Angeles is a massive convergence of international people. Exceptionally strong communities of Latin Americans, Koreans, Thai, Armenians, Persians, and Vietnamese have arrived and changed this city. They thrive here because they are tough, full of courage, and believe in the possibilites of Los Angeles.