These successful Scottsdale gents prove that success also comes with an eye for the art of fashion.
PHILIP MANGHISI PHOTO BY CLAUDIA JOHNSTONE
Founder, WUNDERKIND (wunderkind-az.com)
Living in Scottsdale is amazing for a variety of reasons, but being able to sport a layered look is not one of them. “It certainly hinders my ability to feature outerwear,” says Philip Manghisi, founder of luxury womenswear boutique WUNDERKIND. “I pray for a cold front so I can wear my sweaters. Otherwise, the Arizona lifestyle just further reinforces my already casual approach to dressing.”
Manghisi, who grew up in New York and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, honed his fashion chops first at Jeffrey New York, the since-closed high-end department story in the city’s Meatpacking District. After rising the ranks there, he moved to L.A. and worked for retail legend Elyse Walker as her buyer for all women’s designer merchandise. Manghisi then moved to Scottsdale to open WUNDERKIND. “The shop opened in January 2022 after a lifetime of planning,” he says. “I learned from the best and have applied that knowledge to my own business.”
While Manghisi’s boutique carries a gorgeous selection of clothing and accessories from a multitude of brands like Zimmermann, Tom Ford, Balenciaga and more, his own style is on the more subdued side. “Plain and simple with good accessories” is his motto. “When I go to work, I try to look put together but have to stay comfortable, so it’s all about a jean with stretch—thank you, Frame denim—a tee or polo from ATM, and a cool pair of sneakers,” he explains. “My current sneaker obsession is Dior and I own more pairs than I care to admit. I hoard cashmere sweater so love to wear those out to dinner with jeans and sneakers.”
On the weekend, casual looks are Manghisi’s go-to. “It’s a Lululemon story,” he says. “If I choose not to feature an athletic look on the weekends, I am likely wearing a James Perse T-shirt and shorts.” Special events call for a tailored Prada blazer with a white button-down and a dressier jean (usually by John Elliott) paired with a belt by Hermès or Bottega Veneta and a good boot.
Besides those lines, current brands on Manghisi’s radar are a bit more obscure. “Officine Générale can take all of my money,” he says. “I’ve also recently started collecting Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses and am usually wearing a pair,” he adds. “If you don’t know about this line yet, you are about to become obsessed.”
While his job requires him to be on the lookout for fresh items at WUNDERKIND, Manghisi—who is working on some top-secret projects at the moment—rarely adds new pieces to his own wardrobe. “I think for a long time before I add anything new,” he says. “I don’t buy fast fashion and I very infrequently get rid of my investment pieces. That said, I love everything I own.”
"I think for a long time before Iadd anything new. I don’t buy fast fashion and I very in frequently get rid of my investment pieces."– Philip Manghisi
MAURICIO UMANSKY PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AGENCY
CEO, The Agency (theagencyre.com)
His wife, Kyle Richards, may be one of the official stars of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but Mauricio Umansky’s laid-back attitude, penchant for a good time and unbridled love for his family have put him in the spotlight as well.
Beyond Bravo, Umansky has made a name for himself as one of the country’s top real estate stars. As CEO of The Agency—the real estate firm he founded with Billy Rose in 2011 with more than 60 offices and 1,500 agents around the globe, including a Scottsdale location—he’s had incredible success. “I have had the pleasure to have represented some of the world’s most noteworthy properties, including the Playboy Mansion—the first house to sell above the $100 million mark—the Walt Disney estate; and residences owned by Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Prince, to name a few,” he shares.
This has led to a new venture for Umansky, a family affair that combines his success in the real estate world with his experience in front of the camera. “I am thrilled that The Agency is arriving on Netflix this fall in Buying Beverly Hills,” he shares. “We’re excited to give an exclusive look inside life at The Agency, a day in the life of my business with my family, our talented group of agents and a glimpse of the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles.”
With all of this time in the spotlight, the Mexico City-born bon vivant has picked up plenty of style tips, especially from his well-dressed family. “My wife and kids very much influence my style,” says Umansky, who looks to James Bond and Idris Elba for outfit inspiration, and loved Don Johnson’s Miami Vice style as a kid. “Sometimes I walk into a room with something I bought and they are very honest about how they feel. And, of course, they compliment me when they think I look good.”
Umansky feels most like himself when dressed in elevated casual styles, and only shops in-store. Brunello Cucinelli, Neiman Marcus and Saks are all go-tos in L.A.; Ralph Lauren and Pitkin County Goods are Aspen favorites; and Bergdorf Goodman is his NYC shop of choice. While visiting The Agency’s Scottsdale office, he reaches for lighter items, both in heft and in tone. “I love anything linen and I like to dress in neutral and earth tones while visiting the hot desert,” he says. “I go for linen button-downs by day and layer them with a light sweater or blazer when the temperature cools in the evening. Also, sunglasses and an Agency baseball cap are a must to shield from the desert sun.”
"I love linen and I like to dress in neutral and earth tones while visiting the hot desert."– Mauricio Umansky
MARK CANDELARIA , AIA PHOTO COURTESY OF BRADLEYWHEELERPHOTO.COM
Founding principal, Candelaria Design (candelariadesign.com)
Even as a younger man, Mark Candelaria, AIA, looked to classic stars and timeless designers for aesthetic inspiration. “I’m an old soul,” says the Scottsdale-based founding principal of Candelaria Design, who names Frank Sinatra and Ralph Lauren as men whose style he’s admired for ages. “I’ve always loved nice clothes, sport coats, ties and shoes.”
Since then, not much has changed for Candelaria, who describes his style nowadays as classy. “[It’s] Rat Pack mixed with Ralph Lauren—old-school and timeless.” However, his attitude toward dressing has evolved with time. “I feel I have gotten braver,” he shares. “I’m older now and I really don’t care what other people think about what I wear. I want to have fun and express my creativity.”
This confidence is certainly well deserved after the incredible career highlights he’s achieved thus far. Candelaria started working for his professor, architect George W. Christensen, FAIA, in 1982 while still attending Arizona State University. “By 1987, I was made a partner of this 26-person firm and we became CCBG,” he explains, noting that he started his own firm, Candelaria Design, in 1999. “We have now been in business designing award-winning homes all over the world for the past 23 years.”
Over that time, Candelaria has garnered many accolades, including winning Kitchen of the Year from Houzz in 2018, snagging a Gold Nugget Award from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, and designing the first 3D printed and permitted home in North America for Habitat for Humanity this year.
Through it all, he’s dressed the part. In the summer, he’s partial to button-down shirts with no tie, seersucker and light-colored jackets, blue jeans and comfortable shoes. “In the cooler months, it’s still a button-down shirt but with a nice tie or fun bow tie I’ve likely purchased in Italy, an Evan DeLaney custom-made sports coat with a creative pocket square, slacks or jeans, and shoes purchased while in Italy or anywhere from my travels,” he shares. “I also love cowboy boots anytime, being a Scottsdale charro.”
Go-to sources for Candelaria’s closet include Carter’s at 44th and Camelback, Ralph Lauren, Stefano Ricci and Evan DeLaney, who designed one of his favorite pieces. “It’s what I call my ‘love sports coat!’ It’s a [custom-tailored] jacket featuring a collection of pictures from Isabel and my wedding day at Villa d’Este in Lake Como as the jacket lining. You can wear it with a T-shirt and jeans, or I have worn it to blacktie events with plenty of accolades,” says Candelaria, who names Jerry Colangelo and Larry Fitzgerald as clients and friends whose style he admires. “How does it get any more sentimental or better than that?”
"I’m older now and I really don’t care what other people think about what I wear. I want to have fun and express my creativity."– Mark Candelaria
SAM FOX PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM FOX
Founder, Fox Restaurant Concepts (foxrc.com) and Author & Edit Hospitality (authorandedit.com)
When asked to define great style, Sam Fox’s answer is, well, inconclusive. “I’m not sure I should try to define great style,” says the founder of Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC) and Author & Edit Hospitality. “It usually defines itself.”
Something that’s certainly not inconclusive is Fox’s status in the restaurant world where he’s a bona fide star. The 12-time James Beard Award nominee has opened more than 100 restaurants, including Wildflower in 1998, but it wasn’t until he partnered with Dr. Andrew Weil to open the first True Food Kitchen in Phoenix in 2008 that he became well-known.
In 2019, Fox sold FRC and all of its concepts (including Flower Child, Culinary Dropout and The Henry) to The Cheesecake Factory, but has stayed on as CEO. Now, he’s cooking up a new business, Author & Edit Hospitality. “Through my growth as a restaurateur, I wanted to take on a new challenge, and the logical place to look was the hotel business,” he explains. “We recently opened a multilevel dining, cocktail and music experience, The Twelve Thirty Club... with Justin Timberlake in Nashville. Currently, we are underway with construction on The Global Ambassador, an internationally inspired luxury hotel in Arcadia, which will open in late 2023.”
Through it all, his style has been inspired by his surroundings. “Honestly, I draw a lot of inspiration from the cool, young people in our restaurants,” says Fox, who mostly shops online. “But my man Richard at Neiman Marcus always takes care of me,” he notes. Typical outfits include Theory pants, a James Perse T-shirt and Common projects shoes to the office; an Isaia sport coat or suit and an Ermenegildo Zegna dress shirt and pants for dinner or special events; and casual athleisure by Vuori, Outerknown and Saturdays NYC—paired with Air Jordans or Vans—on the weekend. “My wife, Emily, has given me some great watches over the years and I can’t wait to hand them down to my kids,” Fox adds.
While Fox feels most like himself in a work environment wearing casual clothing, there’s one look he’d love to try one day. “That would be Luke Wilson’s tennis star style in The Royal Tenenbaums,” he shares. “I need that look to go with my pickleball game.”
"I’m not sure I should try to define great style. It usually defines itself."– Sam Fox
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