La Jolla Concours d’Elegance 2025: A Love Letter to Chrome and Coastal Glamour

Let me confess something right up front: I did not arrive at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance as a car aficionado. I came as a fashion devotee, someone who’s far more fluent in silhouettes and fabrics than in cylinders and suspensions. To me, cars were simply shiny accessories to an outfit, background players in a carefully styled Instagram post, or sleek props in a Tom Ford campaign. But after one dazzling day along the La Jolla coastline, flanked by a fleet of vintage marvels and modern masterpieces, I walked away with a new obsession… and a surprising appreciation for the quiet power of automotive beauty. The 2025 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance was more than an event; it was a curated experience, a place where heritage met innovation, where old-world elegance collided with cutting-edge design, and where chrome shimmered like couture. Held at Ellen Browning Scripps Park overlooking the Pacific, the setting itself was nothing short of cinematic. The ocean sparkled just beyond the velvet-roped show field, and a soft marine breeze gave the whole scene a Riviera-esque aura. It was the kind of California day you dream about, sun-drenched, effortlessly glamorous, and filled with stories waiting to be discovered.

And let’s talk about the cars! From pre-war Bentleys with wide fenders and regal lines to modern-day Rolls Royce’s that look like they were carved by wind, every single vehicle on display was a work of art. I found myself drawn to the details: the glint of a chrome hood ornament catching the light just so, the butter-soft leather interiors that rivaled the craftsmanship of any Hermès handbag, the bold palettes — from racing greens to high-gloss burgundies that made every car feel like a statement piece. There was a 1936 Delahaye that practically glided down the field, timeless, rare, and impossibly elegant.

I quickly learned that these vehicles weren’t just beautiful but they were steeped in story. Many were family heirlooms, carefully restored and loved across generations. Others were ultra-rare finds sourced from across the globe. Each owner I met spoke about their car the way a curator might speak about a master painting with reverence, pride, and deep emotional connection. And somehow, that passion was infectious. I listened to conversations about carburetors and wheelbases with the same energy I usually reserve for runway recaps. Somewhere between admiring a candy-apple red Ferrari and a stately Rolls-Royce Phantom II, I realized: I was hooked.

But the cars weren’t the only head-turners. The crowd was its own spectacle. Guests arrived dressed with intention: linen suits, fedoras, vintage sunglasses, spectator shoes, silk scarves tossed over shoulders. It was style at its most considered, its most elevated, and it all felt right at home alongside these million-dollar machines. Walking the field felt like flipping through the pages of an editorial spread: part Town & Country, part Vogue, all perfectly styled. Even the cocktails served in the VIP lounge came with a sense of occasion — classic martinis, champagne on ice, and an espresso bar for a mid-day perk-up. Because darling, what’s luxury without a little ritual?

One of the standout moments of the day was witnessing the Best of Show presentation — not just because of the anticipation, but because of the collective reverence the crowd had for true craftsmanship. When the winner was announced, it wasn’t about flash or trendiness; it was about authenticity, preservation, and the vehicle’s ability to tell a compelling story through design. It reminded me so much of fashion where the most unforgettable looks are rarely the loudest. They’re the ones built with care, history, and heart.

Leaving the event, I felt transformed. The fashion lover in me still swooned at the style on display, but now I could see the cars for what they really were, moving sculptures, rolling expressions of creativity, and objects of desire in their own right. There’s a romance to a well-designed car, a soulfulness that echoes the best of fashion. Both require vision, both are fueled by obsession, and both are meant to stir something in the person lucky enough to experience them.

So yes, I came to the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance a style guy, and I left an auto romance. And while I may not be ready to tinker under the hood anytime soon, I can now admire a 1961 Jaguar E-Type with the same respect I give to an archival Dior. Beauty is beauty whether it’s worn or driven. I don’t know how you’ll top yourself next year, but I look forward to finding out, until then!

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