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San Francisco has its fair share of amazing shopping. In fact we'd say we have the the DIY, locally-made and sustainable—yet still totally fashionable—shopping market cornered. But Los Angeles, we must concede, has some retail opportunities that can't be beat.
We reached out to our Los Angeles Editor Leslie Price to find out what not to miss when it comes to SoCal shopping, and she's come up with a tempting list that will make you want to head south even if you weren't already planning a weekend getaway. You'll find everything from the amazing vintage L.A. is famous for at Shareen Vintage, the Rose Bowl's flea market bonanza and more, to big names like Topshop and Barneys, to fashion-forward faves like Opening Ceremony and Isabel Marant. Time to fill up that gas tank, create the perfect six-hour playlist, and throw some empty suitcases in the trunk—they will for sure come home bursting at the seams.
If you've timed your visit right, this massive flea market held on the second Sunday of every month is worth the drive to Pasadena. It features more than 2,500 vintage and antiques vendors who set up outside the Rose Bowl stadium for thousands of shoppers. Everything and anything is available: art, housewares, clothes, accessories and odds and ends of all sorts. Bring cash and water, dress for sunshine and prepare to dig.
The Grove is an outdoor shopping center that manages to at once be a little cheesy (there's a pond with a fountain that "dances" every hour and a trolley car runs through the complex), a little comforting (its one of the safest places to walk and gawk in the city and was built to resemble a small town Main Street) and a little Hollywood (the tabloid show Extra is taped here M-F from 9am to 2pm). The mall also boasts the West Coast's first Topshop, a Nordstrom, an Apple store and a Barneys; sitting adjacent is the Farmers Market, a food-focused collection of shops and eateries where you can snag good Mexican food, artisanal pastries, fine French fare and more.
Dropped amongst warehouses just northeast of Downtown LA's center, Shareen is a women's-only zone filled with racks and racks of fairly affordable vintage dresses from all eras. Prepare to disrobe publicly (the reason for the men-not-allowed rule) and to try on tons of stuff. Since the sheer scale of the place can be overwhelming, staffers are trained to help pull looks for clients.
Founded by Paige Mycoskie (sister of Blake, the dude behind TOMS), this is the place to snag those super-casual sweats and tees you didn't think to pack. It's also just one stop on a LA's most strollable stretch, Abbot Kinney—a street that also includes high-end designer emporium Heist and heritage men's denim shop Stronghold. If you're thirsty, drop by Local 1205 to snag a juice or nut milk.
Design nuts will freak out over A+R, a store filled with an incredible assortment of modern furnishings, kitchenware and other goodies. It's located on an up-and-coming shopping strip, La Brea, which is also home to denim emporium American Rag, cool men's shop General Quarters, concept space Shelter Half, sneaker spot Undefeated and more. Grab lunch at nearby Sycamore Kitchen, which boasts a pleasant outdoor patio and seriously amazing pastries.
If you're headed east, make time for Mohawk General Store. The reason this boutique shows up on so many "best of LA" lists is its impeccable curation of men's and women's fashion, home goods, accessories, shoes, furniture, magazines and more. It's also a stone's throw from Silver Lake retail and food hub Sunset Junction, which offers a great cup of coffee (Intelligentsia) and more browsing.
Cali's only Rag & Bone shop opened up last year on Melrose, and it's pretty show-stopping. There's a full selection for men and women, including their in-demand footwear. When you're done looking around, walk down the block to Urth, a perpetually-jammed cafe designed for people-watching.
In search of gifts? New Stone Age is the right place to head. They have jewelry, they have books, they have housewares—everything is a bit quirky and collected with a careful eye. Close by is a very good travel book store, and across the street is always-packed neighborhood lunch spot Joan's On Third for a bottle of wine, a pastry, a coffee or a full meal.
They've got their own parking lot (a serious bonus in this car-dominated town) but that's not the reason to visit Opening Ceremony. Go for the space, a two-story warren of multiple tiny rooms, and the selection (designer goods from cutting-edge labels). When you're done, fulfill an LA stereotype and head across the street for a meal at vegan eatery Real Food Daily (the mashed potatoes with gravy are surprisingly killer). If you want true immersion, just down the street is mega mall Beverly Center and discount spot Beverly Connection, which has a Nordstrom Rack and a new Target.
Isabel just opened this beautiful, airy boutique a few months ago and it's a must-stop for any Marant-aphile. It's also just the place to kick off a luxury spree on tree-shaded Melrose Place, which also has an ODLR shop, a Chloé and a Marc Jacobs. Fellow newbie (and neighbor) Alfred Coffee is a great place to rest your legs and get a caffeine fix. Note: Marant is closed Sundays and Mondays.
If you've timed your visit right, this massive flea market held on the second Sunday of every month is worth the drive to Pasadena. It features more than 2,500 vintage and antiques vendors who set up outside the Rose Bowl stadium for thousands of shoppers. Everything and anything is available: art, housewares, clothes, accessories and odds and ends of all sorts. Bring cash and water, dress for sunshine and prepare to dig.
The Grove is an outdoor shopping center that manages to at once be a little cheesy (there's a pond with a fountain that "dances" every hour and a trolley car runs through the complex), a little comforting (its one of the safest places to walk and gawk in the city and was built to resemble a small town Main Street) and a little Hollywood (the tabloid show Extra is taped here M-F from 9am to 2pm). The mall also boasts the West Coast's first Topshop, a Nordstrom, an Apple store and a Barneys; sitting adjacent is the Farmers Market, a food-focused collection of shops and eateries where you can snag good Mexican food, artisanal pastries, fine French fare and more.
Dropped amongst warehouses just northeast of Downtown LA's center, Shareen is a women's-only zone filled with racks and racks of fairly affordable vintage dresses from all eras. Prepare to disrobe publicly (the reason for the men-not-allowed rule) and to try on tons of stuff. Since the sheer scale of the place can be overwhelming, staffers are trained to help pull looks for clients.
Founded by Paige Mycoskie (sister of Blake, the dude behind TOMS), this is the place to snag those super-casual sweats and tees you didn't think to pack. It's also just one stop on a LA's most strollable stretch, Abbot Kinney—a street that also includes high-end designer emporium Heist and heritage men's denim shop Stronghold. If you're thirsty, drop by Local 1205 to snag a juice or nut milk.
Design nuts will freak out over A+R, a store filled with an incredible assortment of modern furnishings, kitchenware and other goodies. It's located on an up-and-coming shopping strip, La Brea, which is also home to denim emporium American Rag, cool men's shop General Quarters, concept space Shelter Half, sneaker spot Undefeated and more. Grab lunch at nearby Sycamore Kitchen, which boasts a pleasant outdoor patio and seriously amazing pastries.
If you're headed east, make time for Mohawk General Store. The reason this boutique shows up on so many "best of LA" lists is its impeccable curation of men's and women's fashion, home goods, accessories, shoes, furniture, magazines and more. It's also a stone's throw from Silver Lake retail and food hub Sunset Junction, which offers a great cup of coffee (Intelligentsia) and more browsing.
Cali's only Rag & Bone shop opened up last year on Melrose, and it's pretty show-stopping. There's a full selection for men and women, including their in-demand footwear. When you're done looking around, walk down the block to Urth, a perpetually-jammed cafe designed for people-watching.
In search of gifts? New Stone Age is the right place to head. They have jewelry, they have books, they have housewares—everything is a bit quirky and collected with a careful eye. Close by is a very good travel book store, and across the street is always-packed neighborhood lunch spot Joan's On Third for a bottle of wine, a pastry, a coffee or a full meal.
They've got their own parking lot (a serious bonus in this car-dominated town) but that's not the reason to visit Opening Ceremony. Go for the space, a two-story warren of multiple tiny rooms, and the selection (designer goods from cutting-edge labels). When you're done, fulfill an LA stereotype and head across the street for a meal at vegan eatery Real Food Daily (the mashed potatoes with gravy are surprisingly killer). If you want true immersion, just down the street is mega mall Beverly Center and discount spot Beverly Connection, which has a Nordstrom Rack and a new Target.
Isabel just opened this beautiful, airy boutique a few months ago and it's a must-stop for any Marant-aphile. It's also just the place to kick off a luxury spree on tree-shaded Melrose Place, which also has an ODLR shop, a Chloé and a Marc Jacobs. Fellow newbie (and neighbor) Alfred Coffee is a great place to rest your legs and get a caffeine fix. Note: Marant is closed Sundays and Mondays.
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