Shopping In Los Angeles: Vintage Clothes
Vintage clothes in LA can be anything from hardly worn designer styles, clothes from decades past, or yesterday’s cast-offs. Sifting through the racks takes time at charity-run thrift stores such as Out of the Closet and Goodwill. You may well find treasures among the donated goods, but it’s all hit and miss. Hipsters and teens favor shops trading in funky recycled fashions. Squaresville on Vermont Avenue and Wasteland on Melrose Avenue have some of the most popular retro looks in stock. Don’t be surprised by some of the high prices, as some vintage clothes are quite valuable.
Aaardvark’s is known for its seemingly endless supply of used jeans and is a must-stop at Halloween. For slightly more contemporary styles, try Buffalo Exchange.
Clothes that come straight from film and TV show wardrobe departments can be found in the Valley at both It’s A Wrap and Reel Clothes & Props. Those that were worn by celebrities have higher price tags to match.
Specialty Shops
Hollywood memorabilia is on sale throughout LA. Fantasies Come True sells only Disney related items. Located in the heart of Hollywood, Larry Edmund’s Cinema Bookshop is a cinephile’s dream. It has new and used books, plus vintage posters. Dark Delicacies has everything for the horror fan, with some truly creepy items on sale.
Every Picture Tells A Story sells original art from children’s books and has a comfortable reading room for youngsters. For unique, handmade items, The Folk Tree in Pasadena has a superb selection of Latin American arts and crafts, while New Stone Age sells unusual artisan ceramics and jewelry.
Children’s Clothes In Los Angeles
Seasonal styles sell quickly at big box retailer Target, which offers good value for children’s clothing. Old Navy has low-priced, trendy styles, and popular end of season sales, while GapKids can be found at most malls, selling the popular casual jeans and T-shirt look. Kids with a high-end brand sensibility can visit Bloomingdale’s for labels such as Guess and Juicy Couture.
For designer kids’ clothes, be prepared to spend at speciality boutiques such as Flicka on Larchmont Avenue. Babystyle on Montana Avenue offers durable and stylish outfits, plus some kid-sized furniture. For the baby who has everything, James Perse is the store for sophisticated allcotton clothing that has won over many Hollywood moms.
