Por Catalina Greloni Pierri
Are you traveling to LA and do not know where to start? At Le Banana we select the best concept stores, drives, cool and vintage stores where you can find everything you need.
Elodie K:
When in Melrose Place, Elodie Khayat´s store is a must go. The young French entrepreneur opened a small two-floor shop featuring her jewelry collection and special selection of shoes, purses, glasses, tunics from designers like Aquazzura, Gianvito Rossi, Sophia Webster, Illesteva and Les Petit Joueurs. Prices are high but great opportunities can be found during sales.
Where? 8428 Melrose Place, West Hollywood. www.elodiek.com
Opening Ceremony:
Humberto Leon and Carol Kim´s concept store in LA is one of our favorites. Located in Charles Chaplin´s former dance studio OC brings together the latest trends from all the coolest brands. Vetements, Alexander Wang, Hood by Air, Mansur Gavriel, Acne Studio and Adidas Originals are some of the more than 500 brands available in their stores in LA, New York and Japan. Also, they build collabs with brands such as Fossil, Vans, Calvin Klein and Esprit.
Where? 451 North, La Cienaga Blvd www.openingceremony.com
Fred Segal:
Originally a denim store, during the 60s it was popular meeting point for musicians, celebrities and American icons. Actually, they have stores in LAX, Japan and have just opened their online store. It’s THE place to go in Hollywood to run into celebrities.
Where? 8100 Melrose Av. Crescent Heights, West Hollywood. www.fredsegal.com
The Grove:
Family friendly and outdoors, this mall is the cutest of Los Angeles. Most brands are in it and has a delicious food market, live music and a very quaint classic trolley. Please go during holiday season and enjoy Christmas ornamentations.
Where? 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles. www.thegrovela.com
Rodeo Drive:
When you say Rodeo Drive, we think about Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. Both a tourist and luxury point par excellence. Prices are highly restrictive but it is a great place to tour, do window shopping and get a sense of LA women´s style.
Where? Roder Dr. www.rodeodrive-shop.com
Lorenzo H:
Lorenzo is one of the most virtuous places in LA for its design selection. Its owner travels around the world looking for the most avant-garde brands like Kapital, Im Siki, Undercover, Anne Demeulemeester and Junya Watanabe. It’s quite expensive but worth looking for new labels.
Where? 8660 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood. www.shop.hlorenzo.com
Maxfield:
The Maxfield stores are quite spacious, luminous and minimalistic. Also, they have best selection of designers like J.W. Anderson, Rick Owens, Sacai and Simone Rocha and other more mainstream like Celine, Gucci and Isabel Marant.
Where? 8825 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood. www.maxfieldla.com
VINTAGE SPOTS
Melrose St:
Melrose is the perfect street to buy clothes from past seasons and other decades. You will have to spend some time in order to get good prices and to look throughout lots of clothes but you surely you ll find some incredible relics!
Recess:
Already mentioned at Le Banana, this one is one of the best vintage stores in town. With a unique selection of hats and jewelry, in Recess everything is outstanding. Its curatorship is impeccable and there are great finds from brands like Pucci, Versace, Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe.
Where? 111 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles. www.recessla.com
Wasteland:
Our favorite vintage in Melrose has a fine West Coast aesthetic. It is the perfect place to sell used clothes, buy and find exceptional signatures pieces from Balenciaga, Gucci or YSL, at incredible prices.
Where? 7428 Melrose Avenue. www.shopwasteland.com
