MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County premiered in 2004, and honestly, the world wasn't ready for it. It was this weird, glossy hybrid of a soap opera and a documentary that basically birthed the modern reality TV era. While everyone was busy picking sides between Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari, there was one person who just seemed to be operating on a totally different frequency. That was Trey Phillips.
He wasn't the guy picking fights at the beach or crying over a high school breakup in a driveway. Instead, Trey Laguna Beach fans remember him as the creative soul—the guy who organized massive fashion shows for charity and seemed more interested in his sketches than the local gossip.
It's been over twenty years since those cameras stopped rolling at Laguna Beach High School. Most of that cast stayed in the reality loop or pivoted to lifestyle influencers. But Trey? He actually did exactly what he said he was going to do.
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The Design Kid in a Land of Jocks
Most reality stars from that era were desperate for screen time. Trey Phillips always felt like he was accidentally in the shot. While Stephen Colletti and LC were navigating their "did they or didn't they" drama, Trey was usually seen with a clipboard or a garment bag.
Remember Active Young America (AYA)?
That was the youth organization he helped run. It wasn't just some fake plot point for the show. They actually put together full-scale fashion shows to raise money for various causes. Watching those old episodes now, you can see how much he stood out. He had this quiet confidence. He wasn't trying to be "famous." He was trying to be a designer.
He eventually left the bubble of Orange County to attend Parsons School of Design in New York City. That’s a heavy-hitter school. It’s not where you go to "find yourself"—it’s where you go to work eighty hours a week until your fingers bleed from sewing.
Life After MTV: The Vera Wang Years
A lot of people think reality stars just disappear when their shows get canceled. Sometimes they do. But for Trey, leaving the show was the start of his actual career. He didn’t join The Hills. He didn’t try to launch a podcast immediately. He went dark and studied.
After graduating from Parsons, he landed a job at Vera Wang.
That is not a small feat. We’re talking about one of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world. He spent years there, working his way up. He wasn't "Trey from Laguna Beach" in those hallways; he was a designer. Specifically, he became an Associate Designer for the Vera Wang Collection. He worked on ready-to-wear lines that ended up on runways and in high-end boutiques.
He stayed there for a long time. Over a decade.
In an industry that is notoriously fickle and prone to high turnover, that kind of longevity says a lot about his skill. He wasn't just a "personality." He was a professional. It’s kinda refreshing, right? To see someone actually follow through on the dreams they talked about when they were seventeen.
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The Move to Amazon and Beyond
By 2023, Trey had shifted gears again. He moved into the corporate side of fashion and design, taking a role at Amazon. He works as a Lead Designer for their private brands.
It’s a different world from the high-fashion runways of Vera Wang, but it’s where the industry is moving. Data-driven design. Mass-market appeal. High-volume production. It requires a completely different part of the brain. He’s been living in the New York area for years, far away from the Pacific Coast Highway and the surf culture that defined his teenage years.
Where Does He Stand with the Old Cast?
Social media gives us a tiny window into these old friendships. He’s still incredibly close with Stephen Colletti and Lauren Conrad. If you look at their Instagrams, you’ll occasionally see him pop up at a wedding or a casual dinner.
A few years back, Lauren Conrad posted a photo of their 10-year high school reunion. There was Trey, looking exactly the same but with better hair.
When Stephen and Kristin Cavallari started their Back to the Beach podcast a couple of seasons ago, fans were dying to hear from the "forgotten" cast members. Trey eventually made an appearance. He was exactly how you’d expect: humble, slightly embarrassed by his high school self, and very well-spoken. He talked about how the show was edited and how his "Active Young America" projects were his genuine passion.
He doesn't seem to have any bitterness about the show. He just views it as this weird, surreal thing that happened to him while he was trying to graduate.
Why the "Trey Laguna Beach" Legacy Matters
There’s a reason people still search for him.
In the mid-2000s, representation of "creative" guys in mainstream teen media was pretty narrow. You were either a jock, a nerd, or a rebel. Trey didn't fit. He was athletic, he was popular, but he was also an artist. He showed a generation of kids watching MTV that you could be from a small town, be part of the "in-crowd," and still want something bigger and more creative than what was right in front of you.
He also avoided the "Reality TV Curse."
He didn't chase the dragon. He didn't do Celebrity Rehab or Marriage Boot Camp. He used the platform as a stepping stone, or maybe just a footnote, and built a life based on actual merit. That’s rare.
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What He’s Doing Now
Today, Trey is living a relatively private life in New York. His Instagram isn't filled with sponsored posts for gummy vitamins or betting apps. It’s mostly art, travel, and glimpses of his design work.
He’s a reminder that you don't have to stay stuck in who you were in high school. Even if that high school experience was broadcast to millions of people every Tuesday night.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creatives
If you’re looking to follow in a similar path—moving from a public-facing platform to a technical career—here are a few things to keep in mind based on Trey’s trajectory:
- Education is the Great Equalizer: Trey didn't rely on his MTV fame to get a design job. He went to Parsons. If you want to be taken seriously in a technical field, get the credentials.
- Pivot Privately: You don't have to announce every move. Trey went "quiet" for years while he worked at Vera Wang. Sometimes the best growth happens when no one is watching.
- Maintain Your Network: Stay in touch with the people who knew you before things got crazy. His enduring friendships with Lauren and Stephen show that he values "real" connections over industry networking.
- Value Versatility: Moving from high-fashion (Vera Wang) to tech-retail (Amazon) shows an ability to adapt. Don't get so locked into one "vibe" that you miss where the industry is heading.
The story of Trey Phillips isn't one of "fading away." It’s a story of growing up and moving on. He’s probably the most successful person from that show in terms of achieving his original, non-TV-related goals. And honestly? That’s way more interesting than another season of reality drama.