Sammy says that he has a very love/hate relationship with growing up in LA. It has somehow worked for him to push against the “cookie cutter” culture that LA can be for him and the rub against the homogeneity has strengthened his individuality. He digs deeply for inspiration and has loads of it from the New Romanticism of Brian Eno to the New Wave of Deborah Harry to the Androgony of Boy George. Starved for diversity having grown up in the sprawling burbs , it’ “oxygen” for Sammy to connect to like minds (something I relate to enormously and thus the reason for this site) and a “rush” for him when he sees certain pieces that will ultimately be a part of him forever, and it’s not Juicy Couture! One of these is his Comme des Garcons sheer cardigan, which he wears literally, as in bareing all. Right now he is in a “Futuristic Punk” phase that blends his passion for the counter culture of the 80′s with contemporary designers like his graphic Keith Haring for Jeremy Scott leather jacket and the unisex court jester-esque Costume Dept. leggings. His arm of Hello Kitty with heaps of early Madonna black rubber bangles is a signature, along with his zebra print nail polish. But don’t let the punk exterior fool you – one look into those warm and loving eyes wrapped in liquid eyeliner and you are melting or rolling on the bed and kissing, as he was with his lifelong best friend and stylist partner, Judy, during our interview.

If you like Sammy, you might also enjoy Nick Cohen, Sam Murkofsky, Contessa Stuto, or Emmanuel Limon.