Tie-wearing is rare in southern California and life proceeds at a relaxed, more informal pace – particularly in the laid-back desert communities outside Los Angeles.
This may explain why Sunnylands, a 200-acre estate close to Palm Springs, was chosen by White House officials as the venue for two days of talks between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping of China.
This weekend’s meeting has already been dubbed the “shirtsleeves summit”. While it is a chance for the two leaders to talk about pressing concerns, such as cyber security and North Korea, the meeting is also an opportunity for Mr Obama and Mr Xi to get to know each other in a less stuffy setting, according to White House officials.