Suffice to say that in-person shopping is finally back in full force post-COVID — and Los Angeles is no exception. As we turn to a new version of normal, in-person shopping is seeing a major boom, especially after the lockdowns that made e-commerce so popular. In Venice Beach, Abbot Kinney — aka the “coolest block in America” — is once again packed with LA locals frequenting its trendy boutiques and hole-in-the-wall coffee shops. Ditto Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard, and Rodeo Drive, where tourists and locals alike queue — masked and socially distanced, of course — in front of luxury shops that are finally back in action. LA has a store for every shopper, and after the past two years, we’re all due for some much-needed retail therapy.
The first stop for a decidedly Angeleno aesthetic is none other than LCD. Originally established as an online boutique in 2016, LCD now has two brick-and-mortar locations, including its first shop on the bustling Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, and another in Downtown LA. Founder Geraldine Chung began her career in music, and it makes sense that she took inspiration from contemporary art, streetwear, and independent labels to fill her space: Whether it be the thoughtfully curated merchandise, the eclectic décor, or the store’s soundtrack, Chung’s energetic, charismatic personality is noticeable at both locations. Thanks to collaborations with local and global artists, up-and-coming designers, musicians, and other creatives, LCD is stocked with exclusive goods you won’t find anywhere else.
Just across the street from LCD is Heist by Nilou Ghodsi. “To simply put it, Heist is a bigger version of my own closet,” Ghodsi told Grazia Gazette: Los Angeles. “From our inception in 2004, I have personally hand-picked every article in here.” If you’re a lover of minimal, timeless pieces and subtle-yet-statement-making garments, you’ll love Ghodsi’s style, brought to life on every rack in his boutique. Emerging designers you may have never heard of – yet – are lined up next to well-established brands like Nili Lotan and Ulla Johnson.
Leaving Venice Beach driving east on Santa Monica Boulevard, make sure to stop at Mameg, hiding behind the Maison Martin Margiela on Little Santa Monica. Mameg showcases a curated collection of designer fashions, jewelry, home décor, and collections that are only available to purchase in-store. After a quick 15-minute ride to Culver City, you’ll find its Teller, a colorful and airy boutique stocked with more than 70 independent womenswear brands, including Anine Bing, Apparis, GANNI, and more. Teller celebrates the diversity of the LA woman’s style through its wide range of offerings.
Back in WeHo, on Sunset Boulevard, you’ll find the gold standard of Hollywood shopping experiences: Fred Segal. With five locations, including the 21,000 square foot flagship location, and a major online presence, Fred Segal remains the O.G. for A-listers and influencers, more than six decades since the store opened in 1961. The founder behind the eponymous label and retail space was a pioneer in creating the fashion scene in LA. Segal, who passed away last year at age 87, dressed Hollywood’s most notable names, from Diana Ross, to The Jackson 5 and Angelina Jolie, making the space a worthwhile stop for its history alone. After a day of shopping, grab a bite at the adjacent Mauro’s Café. Down the block at Sunset Plaza, H. Lorenzo features a diverse lineup of today’s trendiest labels, including Area, Jacquemus, Bottega Veneta, Dion Lee, and many more. Lorenzo and Fred Segal are conveniently located just a few blocks down the street from The Tower Bar at The Sunset Tower Hotel, making for a perfect intermission for lunch and A-plus people-watching. (See: What’s Good with Deuxmoi.)
Heading further into West Hollywood on Fairfax Ave (also home to paparazzi fave The Grove) you’ll find Des Kohan. Before becoming a store owner, Founder Desiree Kohan was a trend forecaster for Prada, Gucci, and Miu Miu, making it safe to say that the curation of Des Kohan is not only in fashion, but probably even ahead of it. Kohan’s background shows in the unique offering of oh-so-sophisticated high-end and emerging designer fashion, accessories, and stylish home objects. A born and raised Angeleno, Kohan opened her boutique in 2005 to bring international style that is timeless yet transcends seasonality with personalized attention to detail to LA, and that’s exactly what you find when you walk into the Fairfax Avenue boutique.
While New Yorkers visiting LA tend to gravitate toward the familiar and buzzy WeHo, venturing a little off the beaten path to Los Feliz leads to hidden treasures Desperate LA and LAKE, two boutiques with a fantastic offering of unique fashion you just may not be able to find anywhere else. After working in fashion in New York for more than ten years, Melissa Lovoy, the owner of LAKE, moved to LA with the dream of opening a boutique. She was inspired by the small shops in NoLita and wanted to bring the city energy to Los Angeles. As soon as you enter the store, there is welcoming energy that could brighten anyone’s day. Current favorites you can find at the boutique include Rachel Comey, Soeur, Apiece Apart, and R13.
Meanwhile, over at Desperate LA, founder Claudia “Cicci” Cassina, a Milanese-born wardrobe stylist explains, “I wanted to bring Italian sensibility to the City of Angels.” Desperate LA first opened up in East Hollywood before merging with iconic shoe shop Vamp Shoes in the city’s cool and youthful Los Feliz. Today, the store features independent designers from all over the world, and Cassina has curated the space full of conversation pieces specifically for fashion enthusiasts who like to have a little more fun with their clothes; expect pieces from breakout designer Batsheva, Ashley Williams, Naya Rea, Adam Selman Sport, as well as jewelry, homewares, and a curated intimacy essentials collection for the bedroom. After shopping with Cicci, stop in for a cozy snack right down the road at neighborhood staple Little Dom’s, or do it the Italian way and enjoy an espresso at the most stylish roaster in town, Maru, located just across the street from Desperate.
And since fashion is such an essential part of the LA lifestyle, it’s only natural that Los Angeles has its very own fashion district in DTLA, where streetwear fans and hypebeast congregate at Dover Street Market. The ultra-cool retail space attracts some of the coolest kids in LA thanks to an eclectic mix of high-end clothing and fashion-forward garments displayed as a gallery walkthrough that you can try on and buy.
One thing is for sure: This city is so huge, and its fashion offerings are appropriately diverse and epic. Last year showed us how much we really missed in-person shopping and interactions. With the uncertainties that new variants may bring, now is your time to get out and explore all the wonderful city of Los Angeles has to offer, safely masked and vaxxed of course.
