what are people wearing at courage bagels?
breaking down the street style at LA's shrine to sourdough bagels.
Thank you to everyone who came to the bathhouse reading and said hi!!! The best part of the whole thing was meeting and chatting with you guys. I’ll be sharing the essay I read later this week. Also, I’m seeking sources for a Wi Spa style story—send a note to vivthemole@gmail.com :)
Whenever I’m visiting LA, I dedicate at least one day to get Courage Bagels for breakfast.
I get excited about the sunny yellow awning and fringed white umbrellas and stubby blue stools. I am aware this is Emily in Paris behavior, but I really do love this place as a shrine to excellent sourdough bagels. The crumb structure and massive air pockets are perfect, you can’t find bagels like this in the East Bay. And because there is always a line, the people-watching is reliably juicy (but not as juicy as the couple breaking up at Sqirl across the street).
I was so exhausted and puffy-eyed the morning after the event, but determined to make the trip despite the tempting convenience of Erewhon next door. So I threw on my Uptown Girls skirt with a knit cardigan and red sandals and called a Lyft to Courage.
In the hour I spent there, I saw outfits ranging from baggy gray sweatsuits and Eckhaus Latta baby tees to Repetto ballerinas and a Frenchie in a studded Saint Laurent dog carrier (!). Also, there are a fair amount of tourists and out-of-towners who are more dressed up for the *vacation pics.*
It’s impossible to categorize outfits into any one distinct style, but here are 7 “frequently seen items” that feel emblematic of the 2025 Eastside sartorial sensibility:
First up, the most popular gender-neutral accessory by far was a…
Paisley Bandana
Worn around the head like a scarf to keep hair out of the face. I do think there’s a bit of a barista/baker/food service worker aesthetic cosplay going on. They were styled like the workers at Courage. If it weren’t for the aprons, I honestly couldn’t tell who was staff vs. customer. Probably some larger cultural influence from the ‘The Bear’ as well. But LA is such a major food city, it makes sense that trends are set in the kitchen!
Navy and indigo were the most popular colors. A bandana is the easiest thing ever to buy secondhand on eBay. I also like these $40 raw silk ones on Etsy that will probably hold onto your hair better than the OZMA washed silk ones (nice, but slippery).
The rest of the outfit will typically include: baggy jorts, tattoos, 5 lbs worth of silver jewelry exuding a California Dirt vibe. Let’s call this archetype “bandana basic” (endearing).
Personality Sunglasses
You need sunglasses in LA. You just do. The UV is blindingly harsh. As a result, I think living there forces you to figure out what works for your face shape.
Everyone at Courage is on their frame game: