los angeles: what to buy

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Clearly I can’t actually cover ALL of the shopping to be had in LA, but what I can do is just point you in the direction of a few of my favorite spots.

 

ABBOT KINNEY BOULEVARD, Venice
Named for the man who built the Venice Canals, Abbot Kinney is a mecca of cool bars, hip restaurants and super chic shops. My favorites:

AVIATOR NATION
1227 Abbot Kinney
+1 310 396 9100
'70s-inspired California lifestyle sweats and t’s that are super soft and fairly priced. But they are so of the place that to go back to real life without something from this throwback shop would be a total shame.

BURRO
1409 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 310 450 6288
You’ll find it all here – from cute stud earrings and other inexpensive jewelry to cozy sweats, knick-knacks, beautiful coffee table books and housewares.

CAYANA
1140 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 844 326 6005
Best lightweight cashmere scarves and leather totes.

CURRENT / ELLIOT
1132 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 424 291 3300
Great jeans and other denim stuff. Their boyfriend jeans are slim enough so you don’t look huge.

ILLESTEVA
1329 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 310 581 0800
Best. Sunglasses. Ever.

MARINE LAYER
1144 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 310 314 4041
Super soft shirts.

SUNDRY
1415 Abbot Kinney
+ 1 310 310 3593
More cozy clothes. See the theme here?

 

THE THIRD STREET PROMENADE, Santa Monica
No cars allowed, great (but more mainstream,) shops and a real Farmer’s Market on Sundays and Wednesdays.

THE GROVE
189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles
Nothing too surprising at this Disney-like open-air shopping mall. But the kids love it, and it’s fun to walk around.

MALIBU COUNTRY MART
Malibu strikes again with the coolest “mall” ever. Restaurants include Mr. Chow and shops such as LA faves Ron Herman and Madison have outposts here. It’s totally worth a stop.

VIOLET GREY
8452 Melrose Place,  Los Angeles
+1 323 782 9700
I fell in love with the Violet Grey website (a curated site of “the industry’s best beauty edit) so was even more excited to stop into their only brick and mortar store. I wasn’t disappointed. On the high end Melrose Place, the shop is luxurious and hip and chock full of every amazing beauty product you could ever want.