KDHamptons was so excited to catch up with legendary lensman Arthur Elgort recently. Not only is he an old friend whom I got to island hop with during my days as a Conde Nast fashion editor, he is also a longtime Southamptonite, an inspiration, and a legend in the world of high fashion photography. Carrying on his legacy, Arthur’s daughter Sophie Elgort is one of the hottest young photographers on the scene [check out Sophie’s My Hamptons profile here. Arthur’s son Ansel is one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs, and equally stunning Warren is a director and videographer. Hope you enjoy Arthur’s exclusive KDHamptons Lifestyle Diary and photography below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: How long have you been coming to the Hamptons?

Arthur Elgort: A long time, since 1971 more or less and I used to rent with my future wife Grethe in Sagaponack and then I got tired of renting so I bought a house on Meadow Lane. Went looking all over never expected to be in South, then the realtor took us down Halsey Neck lane with all of the branches hanging over and I bought it without even going inside the house because of the horizon – I said, “I’ll take it” and the realtor said “what’s your bid?” and I said “whatever”. I didn’t realize I was supposed to name my price, so I just paid whatever it was listed for without ever stepping foot inside. Couldn’t get a building permit to make it bigger as the family began so I bought the house next door and again I bought it for full price again so we didn’t take the risk of losing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Why do you love the Hamptons so much? Do you come out  all year round? Which is your favorite season in the Hamptons and why?

Arthur: I love the Hamptons so much because you can see people if you want, or you can see nobody. A lot of my friends are there that I don’t get time to see if I’m in the city, but you have the choice to see people or not. I was married on the deck of the house. We don’t come out all year round anymore, just in the spring summer and fall. In the beginning of having the house there was no heat so the pipes would freeze and my wife, Grethe, would go under the house with a hair dryer trying to unfreeze the pipes so we could stay out there as long as possible. I like it in the summer now because once your children grow up, you can go out much more on the weekends because you don’t have to watch your children. I would go there all the time if we could.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Please describe your Hamptons home, and decorating style?

Arthur: It’s a real beach house, conglomeration of all sorts of stuff, lots of instruments and right on the water.

 

 

KDHamptons: Do you have a Hamptons “uniform”? Which designer do you wear the most?

Arthur: I wear pink Brooks Brothers shirts, LL Bean T-Shirts, and Brooks Brothers or LL Bean pants. Favorite winter fashion item is my french beret and plaid pants, which I get custom made in Scotland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons. What is your favorite Hamptons restaurant? Do you have a favorite dish?

Arthur: I like to have a cappuccino at Sant Ambroeus and the weekend fall buffet at the Southampton Bath and Tennis Club, and we love picking up food from La Parmiagiana. Also we even like Sip and Soda because I like the Malted Milkshakes (I’ll go in there just to have a malted). We really miss John Ducks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Please describe your perfect Hamptons day for our readers?

Arthur: In the summer it would be: wake up, take a swim in the pool which I keep very hot, take some pictures on the deck by the water especially of my kids, go for a cappuccino at Sant Ambroeus or a coffee at Tates (where my kids like to go), go to the club for lunch with the family, then in the afternoon I find somebody to take pictures of, maybe visit my friend Marianne in Watermill, edit my photos and put them into Hessel albums, go to Morris Photo to drop off the latest rolls and chat with Jim, the owner, and then dinner outside on our deck or screened in porch with the family and sometimes some guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What is the greatest part about your job? If you could snap your fingers and instantly have another career~ what would be your dream job?

Arthur: I meet new people all the time and I like to talk to them and then I always remember them because I take their picture. I like photography so I wouldn’t want to have any other career. In fact I like it so much that my daughter Sophie is now a photographer, and my son Warren is a film maker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Do you have a “best kept secret” place to shoot in the Hamptons? Please share one..

Arthur: Yes, I do but I’m not going to share it, maybe you’ll see it in a photo if you look very carefully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: If you could photograph anyone [dead or alive] who would you choose?

Arthur: Louis Armstrong and maybe Sidney Bechet~ who were both before my time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What is your favorite magazine?

Arthur: Gramophone magazine, I read it religiously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Whose photography inspires you most?

Arthur: Irving Penn, Dick Avedon and Cartier-Bresson because they’re good and they did something with themselves.

 

 

KDHamptons: Who is your favorite model right now?

Arthur: Karlie Kloss because she’s got the body of a dancer and she can jump and she’s a nice girl whom I’ve known since she started and she hasn’t changed that much.

 

To learn more about Arthur Elgort, visit: ArthurElgort.com

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much Arthur! xo Kelli