Photographer and stylist Jasmine Benjamin introduces City of Angels, her debut coffee table book spotlighting the unique street style of Los Angeles—published by the renowned Italian house Damiani. Spanning 160 pages, the visual tribute captures a raw, intimate portrait of the city’s cultural landscape through more than 120 images of local creatives—80% native to L.A. Beyond fashion, the project reflects Benjamin’s mission to honor and preserve the authenticity of the city’s visual identity.
Far from Hollywood stereotypes, City of Angels focuses on the real faces shaping the city’s cultural pulse. Shot entirely on location across Los Angeles, the book serves as both a fashion chronicle and cultural time capsule—celebrating the grassroots aesthetic that defines the city’s soul. Alongside the photography, a section of the book features interviews with selected subjects, offering personal insights that deepen the connection between style and lived experience.
A California native and creative force with over 17 years in the industry, Benjamin has styled some of music’s biggest names, including Donald Glover, Miguel, Anderson .Paak, and Chaka Khan. Known for bridging fashion history with contemporary vision, City of Angels marks a new chapter—one where Benjamin steps fully into her roles as photographer, creative director, and curator.
From her early start at FIDM to shaping iconic looks for artists and global brands, Benjamin’s work has long influenced the cultural conversation. With City of Angels, she invites readers into a striking visual and narrative exploration of L.A. style—one that is equal parts timeless, rebellious, and thoughtfully crafted with in pride.
(Photos courtesy of Jasmin Benjamin)
To learn more about the book and her creative process, Coachella Magazine caught up with Benjamin for an email interview:
Coachella Magazine: Let’s start with City of Angels. What was the spark that first inspired you to create this book?
Jasmin Benjamin: I’ve lived in L.A. since 2002, and I’ve always felt that the true style of this city was being overlooked—especially the way it lives outside of Hollywood communities.. City of Angels started with a quiet urgency: to document what I knew was already iconic before the world caught up. I wasn’t trying to chase trends—I was trying to archive a spirit, a pride, a language of style that’s always been here.
CM: You’ve captured over 120 subjects across L.A.—how did you go about selecting them?
JB: I followed instinct. Every subject was chosen because they said something visually that couldn’t be taught—whether through how they dressed, how they stood, or how they carried a sense of place. I was intentional about reflecting the full landscape of L.A.—Eastside to South Central, Venice to the Valley. The goal was to honor the individuals who are the city’s style vocabulary, even if they’ve never had a platform before.
CM: What does “L.A. Style” mean to you personally? Has working on this book changed your definition of it?
JB: L.A. style is personal, prideful, and deeply rooted in cultural inheritance. It’s not manufactured—it’s lived. Working on this book didn’t change my definition, but it deepened it. I started seeing how much of our aesthetic is tied to survival, geography, and self-determination. It’s how people say, I exist, even when others tries to erase them.
CM: There’s an interesting mix of subcultures represented—from Echo Park to Watts. What do you think unites them as distinctly “L.A.”?
JB: It’s the quiet confidence. The refusal to perform for outside validation. Whether it’s lowrider culture, punk, cholo style, or skate, there’s a shared sense of this is who I am, take it or leave it. That kind of integrity is very L.A.—it’s not about assimilation, it’s about assertion. Everyone’s remixing legacy, but staying hyper-local in their lens.
CM: How did you build trust with your subjects to get such authentic images?
JB: Trust is everything. I didn’t come in with an entourage or a big camera crew. I met people where they were—literally, on their blocks, in their shops, at their spots. I listened more than I directed. My background as a stylist helped too—I know how to make people feel seen, not just styled. That intimacy shows up in the photos because it was there in the moment.
CM: You wore many hats on this project—photographer, creative director, curator. How did those roles interact during the process?
JB: They weren’t separate to me—they were all part of the same mission: to tell the story right. Photography was the capture. Creative direction shaped the energy. Curation made sure the sequence felt like a conversation. I’ve spent years moving between roles in fashion and culture, so this project was where all those skills met and finally spoke the same language.
CM: You’ve spoken about having a nuanced perspective as a woman of color documenting style in L.A. How has that identity shaped this book?
JB: I see what others miss because I come from the communities they overlook. Being a Black woman in this industry means I move with a different kind of intention—I’m not just documenting, I’m protecting. This book isn’t about voyeurism or trendspotting. It’s about honoring legacy, preserving style lineages, and giving people their flowers while they’re still living.
CM: Your styling work has had a huge impact—especially with artists like Miguel and Anderson .Paak. How did your styling career inform your eye as a photographer?
JB: Styling taught me how to shape narrative through detail. How someone wears their clothes tells a story—and I learned early on how to read and respect that. Working with artists like Miguel and .Paak trained me to balance instinct with intention. So when I moved behind the camera, I already knew how to frame people in a way that elevated them without changing who they were.
CM: You’ve helped shape the visual culture of a generation. What do you hope your legacy will be in fashion and photography?
JB: I want my legacy to be about authorship and access. I hope people look back and say: she didn’t just document the culture—she preserved it, protected it, and expanded it.
CM: Do you see City of Angels as the beginning of a series or the close of a chapter? What’s next for you creatively?
JB: This is definitely the beginning. City of Angels is the foundation—a love letter and a declaration. But now I want to keep expanding: more books, more visuals, a documentary, My mission is to keep creating platforms that center real people, real stories, and real style. I’m just getting started.
Social: @jasibenjamin
Buy the Book: www.damianibooks.com