WHIRLED Style /STYLE FILE

Jet Set

Ben Barton takes style to new heights at Alto Lounge.

By Leslie Hoffman I Photography by David Bachman

 

Ben Barton, photographed on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

Nestled above Copeland Street in Shadyside lofts Alto Lounge, the cool blue hideaway that is the haute nightclub envisioned by Ben Barton.

Originally from Fox Chapel, the Shadyside resident loves to travel — to St. Martin, to New York City, and to Los Angeles — where he often visits on business for his film company Smithfield Street Productions. Alto serves as a lovely backdrop to the movie business; after takes on films such as the upcoming culinary comedy Hollywood and Wine, filmed on the McKees Rocks sound stages, stars such as Chris Kattan, David Spade, and Norm MacDonald can unwind amidst the cerulean atmosphere’d VIP rooms.

How would you describe your personal style?
Casual but refined. It comes from my father, from the way he dresses. He always dresses very well, but he’s also always very conservative.

What are you wearing in this photo?
True Religion jeans and a Façonnable shirt. They seem to be the only shirts I wear and the only ones in my closet.

How many do you have?
More than 25. Anytime I go to New York City, I stop at the Façonnable store, and there’s a whole section in my size that fits perfectly, so I pick up one or two every time I’m there.

Besides the shirts, are there any other wardrobe staples that you can’tlive without?
The Ulysse Nardin watch that my grandfather gave me 15 years ago. I couldn’t live without it. It’s kind of old-school, conservative-looking. Nothing too fancy about it, but it’s just something I never take off.

What is your necessary extravagance?
Sushi at Umi. I go there at least once a week. My favorite thing to order is omokase, which is whatever Mr. Shu decides to feed you, his choice. And I also love to travel. I lived in Syndey, Australia for a year and a half when I was 12 years old because my dad worked there. On our way home, we traveled the world. Ever since I was there, I got a taste of what it was like to see different cultures and lifestyles. I’ve always been one to travel.

What is it like being an executive producer?
I have a lot of variety in my day; I work with everyone from the director to the electric guys, to the camera men, to the actors. It’s really the best of all the worlds, because I’m able to pretty much oversee everything, and if I want to redo something or see something in a different way, I’m able to do that.

How do you make your decisions?
The first movie I did was really a learning experience. I learned a lot from everyone that was already in the business: What you need to look for in an actor or actress, different camera angles, different ways to look at a scene. I always watch movies, and now I am constantly looking for screw-ups.

When you bring actors to Pittsburgh, what do you find their reaction to the city to be?
A lot of them are from Los Angeles, so it’s an automatic culture shock. Typically, they find that people here are a lot more hospitable; people here say “please,” and “thank you,” and “hello.”

What advice would you give someone in Pittsburgh who wants to become involved in the burgeoning film industry here?
Take whatever job you can, and work your way up. Learn as much as you can at any given position on the film crew. That way, you can understand any type of problem that arises because you’ve been able to experience as much as you can.

What piece of style advice would you like to share with our readers?
Wear something that you’re comfortable in. And when in doubt, ask a woman!

Alto Bar, 728 Copeland St., Shadyside. 412.682.1074.



Ben’s favorite ...

Drink... Jameson on the rocks. “But if they’re out, I’ll go for a good glass of wine.”

Shirt ... Façonnable. But you don’t have to go to New York to find this shirt, buy it at Nordstrom, Ross Park Mall, Ross Twp.412.548.4300. nordstrom.com.

Jeans... True Religion Jeans. Pick up a pair at the new True Religion Jeans store at Ross Park Mall. True Religion Jeans, Ross Park Mall, Ross Twp., 412.364.8605. truereligionbrandjeans.com.

Star power... Actress Eliza Dushku visited Alto Bar when she was in talks with Smithfield Street Productions on a movie role.




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