Think of any sold out, hard-to-find, and rare piece of fashion—dresses, shoes, accessories, you name it—and Gab Waller can find it somewhere in the world. That’s why Hailey Bieber, Khloé Kardashian, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Hilary Duff have her on speed dial. She’s so good even Glossier called up the fashion sourcer to take over Glossier LA for a one-day treasure hunt—filled with luxe prizes—inspired by the rich world of You Doux. And to celebrate, Gab called ITG to share the people, places, and things that make LA feel rich to her.
Dear ITG,
I never thought I would become a fashion sourcer, finding all kinds of pieces for people like Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Sofia Richie Grainge. I grew up in a tiny country town in Australia and moved to LA just over five years ago. Living here has been transformative. One of my greatest joys has been getting to know this beautiful city with such a rich culture and history. It’s funny, but it’s naturally changed me in some very LA ways.
My health and wellness are more important to me than ever. It’s obvious, but Erewhon is a constant go-to because I’m focused on natural ingredients and sustainable products. I buy everything here: vegetables, home cleaning products, everything. They have an incredible hot bar. I love the lasagna, coconut lime rice, and turmeric cauliflower, but the chicken taquitos are my absolute favorite. I have a smoothie for breakfast every morning, so I’ll often treat myself to their Peanut Butter Blast. It has almond milk, bananas, cacao powder, plant protein powder, and, of course, peanut butter. My boyfriend cooks a lot for us now, but I used to have it for dinner sometimes. And anytime I have an early morning flight, which tends to happen a lot these days, I order one the night before so I can drink it on the way to the airport.
Erewhon has amazing juices, too, but Beverly Hills Juice on Beverly Boulevard is a gem. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall that’s been around for many years. Everything is freshly squeezed. The last time I went, I got a coconut and carrot juice. I’ve also become a big matcha drinker. I’ve tried many, many different ones, but my favorite one so far is from La La Land. They have several locations in LA, but the one in Beverly Hills is designed a little differently. Francois Reihani, the founder, traveled to Tokyo to study matcha and visit different farms. They also have coffee, if that’s your thing, and toasts.
As for actual restaurants, The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel is my number one. The Beverly Hills Hotel in general is my happy place. There were many times last year when I felt really stressed and needed a breather, so I booked myself a staycation there. Everything oozes LA to me, from the restaurants to the pool to the green and pink all over the place. It’s just a classic. You might know it from the famous 1992 Glamour France editorial with Kate Moss. It’s amazing how the hotel still looks the same as in those photos, from the gardens to the trees to the signage. It has a rich history.
I love having lunch at the hotel’s Cabana Cafe by the pool, too. And they also have a 1950s-style counter cafe called The Fountain Coffee Room with only about 15 seats. I go there on weekends sometimes for chocolate chip pancakes. And you never know who you’ll be sitting next to. I heard Kim Kardashian frequents it all the time. I learned that there’s a little entrance at the side of the hotel that high-profile people use to sneak in.
A close second—or third—for me is the Sunset Tower Hotel. It’s another historic hotel that’s always buzzing during dinner. Great service. There’s a piano playing in the corner. It also feels distinctly LA, just like Chateau Marmont. I moved closer to the Chateau recently, so I want to frequent it even more. Popping in for lunch in the courtyard is always the move. They’ve done renovations over the years, but a lot of the rooms still have the original furniture, which is pretty cool.
Being from Australia, I’m quite picky about my beaches. Malibu has the most beautiful ones. Something about the air even feels different there. If I can, I like to go after work sometimes or on the weekends. And what’s nice is that there are so many great places to eat there, too. Nobu Malibu is the famous one—I always get a lychee martini—but Taverna Tony is also fab. It’s a Greek restaurant with a complimentary dip that’s incredible. If you so much as mention Taverna Tony, that’s always what people bring up. I don’t even really know what it is because their menu just says, “our world famous house dip, the one you get at the table when you sit down.” Fine with me.
For shopping, I love The Webster and Elyse Walker for new-season pieces, and Scout LA, Justin Reed Women, and In The Mood Archives for vintage. They all have physical locations in LA that are so fun to visit. Oh, and Denim By Olree and Shop RLT have some of the best vintage Levi’s you can find.
My go-to dry cleaner is Frederick Cleaners. They also do my tailoring, and I trust them with my most special pieces. When it comes to shoe repair, the absolute best in the business is Henry’s Shoe Repair in Beverly Hills. They’ve saved some of my favorite pairs too many times to mention.
But let’s get into beauty. My favorite place is my hair salon: Flore on Melrose Avenue. It was founded by Nicolas Flores. He doesn’t do color, just cuts and blowouts, but it feels like he’s worked with everyone in the city. He and the space both have such great energy; you immediately feel it when you walk in. Everything feels very intentional. And they’re always so good about last-minute appointments and squeezing me in.
Actually, there are so many great spots on Melrose, like the Glossier store and my favorite Pilates studio, Silver Springs. But when it comes to workouts, I’ve been loving my sessions with an amazing trainer at Roydian. There’s usually only one other person when I go in there, so it feels very private and special.
I’m a big believer of lymphatic massages. I go to Detox by Rebecca. Rebecca Faria, the founder, is one of the OGs, with amazing high-profile clients. I try to see her as much as I can. Some places use machines, but I love that she still uses her hands. I’m always looking for help depuffing, and I always walk out feeling lighter, especially around my stomach.
I have to be careful with my face because my skin is quite sensitive, but I really trust Alessandra Reist at The LA Facialist. If I need microneedling though, I go to Rodeo Drive Dermatology and Aesthetics, also in Beverly Hills. It was founded by Christie Kidd, but I see one of her team members. And then I love this hidden gem in Sherman Oaks called Kosha Spa. They do great buccal massages. That area is always so tight and puffy for me. They literally stick their hands in your mouth, and it’s quite painful, but it releases so much tension. I always think about how I’m literally paying them to torture me, but the results are worth it.
But honestly, the richness of the city is in my friends. I met my best friend Lauren Ratner, who is the co-founder of Rhode, very shortly after I moved to LA. She helped me secure my first billboard, and then we did an event together. She’s so in-the-know and always knows the hot spots, even the ones that just opened. She’s always helping me get reservations because it’s quite similar to New York, where you really have to book in advance. I tried Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica with her. It was amazing, and I should go more often, but, like many other Angelenos, I tend to stay in my little West Hollywood bubble. Thankfully, they have a second restaurant called E. Baldi in Beverly Hills, and a third one called Baldi inside the Waldorf Astoria that are closer to me.
We’re so spoiled in LA, and it’s impossible not to mention the weather. It’s one of the key reasons why I live in this city. I feel so lucky when I wake up and look out of my window in the mornings. The pure blue skies and sunshine are so energizing, and anytime I’m outside, I’m at my peak happiness.
Much love,
Gab Waller
—as told to Daise Bedolla
Photos courtesy of Gab Waller