The LA Effect: What Beverly Hills Taught Our Style Editor About Dressing

Beauticate style editor Kate Waterhouse recently touched down in Los Angeles for a whirlwind trip that turned into something of a masterclass in effortless dressing. Here, she shares the style and wellness lessons she brought home — and exactly how to steal the look.

There's something about Beverly Hills that makes you recalibrate. Not because the women there are dripping in obvious luxury — quite the opposite. "One of the things that struck me most about Beverly Hills was how effortless everyone looked," says Kate. "The style is undeniably luxurious, but it's never overly polished or trying too hard. Women seem to invest in beautiful pieces that work hard in their wardrobe rather than chasing every trend."

As someone who has spent years writing about fashion, Kate admitted she expected to be impressed. What she didn't expect was to feel inspired to edit her own wardrobe the moment she got home.

Here's what she learned.

Lunch at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel — where the dress code is effortless and the garden terrace is as beautiful as ever.

Lesson 1: Neutrals are not boring — they're a power move

"I noticed a lot of neutral palettes — ivory, camel, chocolate brown, navy and black — with an emphasis on beautiful fabrics and tailoring," says Kate. "Relaxed suiting, oversized blazers, wide-leg trousers and elevated basics were everywhere. Even activewear felt polished, often paired with designer handbags, statement sunglasses and beautiful jewellery."

The style is undeniably luxurious, but it's never overly polished or trying too hard.

Nothing felt safe or dull, though. The women wearing these tones understood that neutrals only work when the fabric and the fit are doing the heavy lifting. Think wide-leg trousers in a beautiful drape, a perfectly cut blazer in camel, a satin slip that catches the light. The colour is the constant. The quality is what makes it sing.

How to wear it now: Build your winter wardrobe around one or two tones and invest in the best fabric you can afford. Chocolate brown is having a serious moment this season — a rich, deep hue that feels luxurious without demanding attention. (The Beauticate team's winter edit is full of ways to wear it.)

Outside The Beverly Hills Hotel — the pink walls never disappoint.

Lesson 2: Accessories do the talking so your outfit doesn't have to

If there was one consistent thread running through every great look Kate saw in Beverly Hills, it was this: one brilliant accessory worn with intention. A sculptural gold earring. A slim gold necklace sitting perfectly at the collarbone. A great pair of sunglasses that gives a look a personality of its own.

"What surprised me most was how understated luxury felt," she says. "The focus wasn't on obvious logos or trend-driven dressing, but on quality, fit and confidence. There was also a real appreciation for mixing high and low pieces. A simple white T-shirt and jeans might be paired with a beautiful handbag or a perfectly cut blazer."

The sunglasses, in particular, were everywhere — and not the quiet, forgettable kind. Cat-eye frames, retro-tinted lenses, architectural shapes in tortoiseshell and burgundy. The punctuation mark on an otherwise understated outfit.

How to wear it now: Don't try to wear everything at once. Choose your statement piece — earrings, a necklace or sunglasses — and let the rest of the look breathe. A pair of sculptural gold earrings will transform even the most basic outfit. (For more on Kate's accessory philosophy, see her quick smoky eye tutorial — proof that one bold move is all you need.)

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Ysso

Whisper of the Wind Gold-Plated Earrings

£320

In our shop

Lash Armour

No 7 - SOFT GLAM

$35

One oversized blazer over an otherwise simple outfit does all the talking. Via @katewaterhouse7

Lesson 3: Suiting is the new activewear (and activewear is the new suiting)

"One thing I loved was seeing how seamlessly fashion and wellness blended together," says Kate. "...There was a real focus on looking put together without appearing like you'd spent hours getting ready."

...It was completely normal to see women heading from Pilates or a workout straight to lunch or meetings, dressed in chic activewear layered with an oversized blazer, a great tote and designer sunglasses...

Equally, relaxed suiting had taken on an almost athletic quality — soft tailoring, easy proportions, nothing too rigid or structured. Suits you could actually move in. Suits that felt like a second skin.

How to wear it now: Invest in one great oversized blazer in a neutral — it will work harder than almost anything else in your wardrobe. Wear it over activewear for a morning-to-afternoon transition, or over wide-leg trousers for something more polished.

In our shop

Estetika

Blush Pink Makeup Bag Bundle for Stylish Organization

$448

Evening in LA calls for something that moves. This chocolate brown gown proved that monochrome dressing is the most effortless thing you can do.

Lesson 4: Monochrome dressing is a shortcut to looking expensive

Head-to-toe tonal dressing is one of the most powerful things you can do. It creates an unbroken line, it photographs beautifully and it requires almost no thought — which, at the end of a long day, is exactly the point.

The key is mixing textures within the same tone. A matte jersey top paired with a liquid satin skirt, for instance. Same family of colour, completely different finish. That's what stops it looking flat.

Head-to-toe tonal dressing is one of the most powerful things you can do. It requires almost no thought — which is exactly the point.

"The Beverly Hills look translates incredibly well to Australia because our lifestyles are similarly relaxed," Kate says. "I think Australians naturally gravitate towards effortless dressing, just with a slightly more coastal influence. Brands like St Agni, Scanlan Theodore, Dissh, Perri Cutten and Sportscraft capture that balance of ease and sophistication beautifully."

How to wear it now: Pick a tone and work top to toe. Chocolate, espresso and dark mocha are all perfect for an Australian winter. Play with fabric — matte with sheen, structured with fluid — and let the tonal palette do the rest.

Off duty in Beverly Hills — proof that the glow starts before the outfit. Via @katewaterhouse7

Lesson 5: Wellness isn't a trend in LA — it's an infrastructure

"Beyond fashion, wellness is woven into everyday life in LA," says Kate. "It feels less like a trend and more like part of the culture. Infrared saunas, red light therapy, longevity clinics and personalised health programs were all topics that came up regularly. There was a strong focus on feeling good from the inside out rather than chasing quick fixes."

The most striking shift, she noticed, was in how personalised everything had become. "Whether it's skincare, treatments, fitness or nutrition, people are investing in tailored plans designed specifically for their goals," she says. "It's a more thoughtful, long-term approach — which is something we're seeing more of in Australia too."

What you can do now: Think about one area of your wellbeing that could use a more tailored approach. Book a consultation rather than buying another product. The investment in expert guidance nearly always pays off faster than the DIY version.

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Innour

Natural Marine Collagen – Berry 30 Sachets

$75

The view that never gets old.

Lesson 6: Confidence is the one thing you can't buy — but you can cultivate it

"My biggest takeaway from Beverly Hills was that true style isn't about having more," says Kate. "It's about knowing what works for you. The women who stood out weren't necessarily wearing the most expensive outfits. They were the ones who looked comfortable, confident and completely themselves."

That might mean a smaller wardrobe with better pieces. It might mean a morning ritual that makes you feel like yourself before the day begins. It might simply mean wearing the good earrings on a Tuesday.

True style isn't about having more. It's about knowing what works for you.

Whatever it looks like for you — start there.