I love shopping around the world: Los Angeles

Hi guys! Recently a dear friend of mine, who is about to leave for a romantic getaway, asked me some advice to combine the romanticism of the situation with a bit of healtly shopping, which never hurts. So I though to share these special advices with all you guys. So, are you ready to pack your things? This time we'll fly to Los Angeles, one of the biggest and coolest cities of California and of the United States, in general. 

 

Chaotic and decadent, is the reflection of the american mentality and consumerism, but not less fascinating, even if, it is to admit, it offers a little too little in cultural field, except perhaps for the Getty Center and MOCA Museum. Anyway, is impossible to walk through the street of LA and not feeling like a modern Julia Roberts who looks bewitched and bewildered at the windows of the storees that extend as far as the eye. With its trés chic boutiques and several stores, Los Angeles is, in fact, a mecca for american shopping addicted.

The heart of shopping in Los Angeles are, surely, Beverly Hills and the shining Rodeo Drive, captivating but inaccessible for the vast majority of ordinary mortals! Interesting is, instead, West Hollywood full of restaurants and fashionable stores and in which you'll find flagship stores of brnads like Marc Jacobs and boutiques like H.Lorenzo (8660, West Sunset Boulevard), that proposes a mix of clothing and accessories of the most known fashion brands and Opening Ceremony (451, North La Cinega Boulevard): the store, distributed on two floors, proposes a wide selection of brands like Christopher Kane, Peter Pilotto and Reyn Spooner. 

I am a huge fan of vintage style and when I'm a new city I always look for best vintage shops and markets to enrich my wardrobe. In this sense, obligatory step, in my opinion, is Fairfax Vintage Market (Fairfax Avenue) where is possible to find the true californian vintage, a little tacky maybe, but original. Other cult addresses for your vintage shopping are American Rag Compagnie (160, South La Brea Avenue), one of the most innovative and trendy stores in the city offers a wide selection of vintage clothes found by a team of cool hunters all around the world; Buttons and Bows (111, West 7th Street Suite R11), that I particularly recommend for the warm welcome that you'll receive and in which you can find vintage pieces of brand like Givenchy, Chanel, Jil Sander and Balenciaga; The Closet (2708, Main Street), that contains some of the most prestigious brands like Marc Jacobs and Dior with very small prizes and that give you the chance to sell your old clothes; Wasteland (7428, Merlose Avenue), surely one of the best shops in Merlose Avenue. The fairy look of the store contrasts with the interior of the store in which clothes are piled and scattered all around without a precise logic, but if you can exctricate you'll surely do great deals.

Always in Merlose Avenue there are stores like Kiston (115, South Robertson Boulevard), a well known multi brand, the american version of the french Colette but obvioulsy more tacky; Ron Herman (8100 Merlose Avenue) and Traffic. In the same district you'll find Erik's (8673, West Sunset Boulevard) in which you can buy the shoes signed by Jeffrey Campbell. And if we're talking about shoes, I can't not to mention Rif Los Angeles (334, Little Tokyo Downtown), Madewell (10250, Santa Monica Boulevard), Posers (7417, Merlose Avenue) and Blends (125, W 4th Street), my favourites!

Other stores that, in my opinion, deserve to be seen are Last Chance Boutique (8712, Washington Boulevard) where you'll find pieces by Vivienne Westwood and Prada at very unbelievable prizes; Westside Pavillion: with more than 150 stores you'll surely find what you're looking for; The Grove, great place if you want to do quality shopping without spend a fortune but in which is possible to find brands like Banana Republic and Gap.

And after a so wide session of shopping, there's no better way to end the day than sip a drink in the glamorous Chateau Marmont! As always I hope to be helpful. I see you next time to shop all around the world!