Rodeo Drive Walk of Style

Just about everyone in the world has heard of the glamorous, luxurious and expensive Rodeo Drive, but few that have seen it noticed the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style.

The Rodeo Drive Walk of Style was created in 2003 to honor the legends of fashion and entertainment by the City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee.  Fred Hayman, the Father of Rodeo Drive, conceptualized the idea.  Among the legends honored are : Giorgio Armain, Tom Ford, Gianni and Donatella Versace, Herb Ritz, Mario Testing, Princess Grace of Monaco and more.

While you may have walked right past the bronze plaques in the sidewalk honoring the fashion legends, the aluminum bust of a nude female at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Via Rodeo is sure to have caught your attention. It was created to launch the Walk of Style by legendary artist Robert Graham and it marks the beginning of the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style.

Los Angeles is huge on various “walks”.  The most famous is the Hollywood Walk of Fame where the comparative stars in the sidewalk are quite obvious.  This isn’t the case with the Walk of Style.  The plaques line the sidewalk of Rodeo Drive close to the curb and they don’t really stand out.  You have to be looking for them.

The ceremonies honoring the recipients of plaques on the Walk of Style are huge affairs.  Giorgio Armani was the first recipient of the Walk of Style award on September 9, 2003,  Sthe star studded evening on Rodeo Drive featured such luminaries as Sofia Loren, die Foster, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steve Martin, and Debra Messing.

Tom Ford was presented his award by Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson in front of an audience of over 800 guests.  When famed fashion photographers Herb Ritts and Mario Testino were inducted to the Walk of Style the award was presented by Angelica Huston, Cameron Diaz, Patrick Swayze, and Anna Wintour.

So when you’re visiting Rodeo Drive on your California Vacation, look for the bust of the nude woman, then look down at the sidewalks along either side of Rodeo Drive north of her to see the Walk of Style plaques.

Other walks in Los Angeles include the Rockwalk in front of Guitar Center, the Grammy Walk and the AIDS Memorial Walk.  Read more about Rodeo Drive here.

More photos after the break…

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