How To Be Ready For The Style Of Los Angeles
Have you ever seen a person in a bikini, uggs and a fluffy colorful jacket on top?
Welcome to beautiful Los Angeles!
Los Angeles is the land of creativity, everyone comes to L.A. to make their dreams come true. People come to Hollywood for creativity and they bring it not only into movies, but into the spirit of the city.
Fashion lives in every single one of us. You might not like fashion, but every morning when you open your closet, you become a part of it. Your style is your voice, your trademark, a continuation of you and is a big part of who you are.
We dress to attract, to please, to protest, to show, to hide, to express, to laugh, or to feel good. Clothes are a choice and everyone makes their own. That is one of the choices that unites us all.
We all dress differently depending on where we are and what time of the year it is. In New York on Christmas day one wears a warm puffy jacket with uggs. On a summer day in St. Tropez one wears a bikini that is a little too small. However, in Los Angeles, despite the season, you might need both of these: uggs and a bikini.
To become a part of this City of Angels, you will have to get to know its specifics, its surprises and most importantly its core. Whether you are visiting, moving to or living in L.A. you might have thought about your wardrobe specifics. This article will help you to understand a little bit more of what to wear in this beautiful, unique city and not look lost. Let me show you my journey through this rich fashion city.
I was born in Moscow, Russia and moved to the sunny south of France, Monaco when I was 13 years old. I have owned different styles of clothes throughout those years. In Moscow, in winter it was around 5 degrees Fahrenheit, so as you can imagine, I wore lots of thick jeans, insulated snow pants, warm winter tights under every piece of clothing and lots of snow hats and gloves. When my family and I moved to Monaco, winter there was mostly sunny and the temperature did not drop below 49 degrees Fahrenheit. I finally got to wear shorts, dresses and put my uggs away for good.
I was always inspired by the ocean, living in Monaco and getting used to being so close to the water made me realize that pursuing my studies I had to choose a city that is close to the water. When I was little I enjoyed watching Disney channel, feeling all that creativity in L.A. seeing picturesque sunsets, palm trees, and mountains. When I graduated high school in Monaco, I got accepted into a university in L.A. and I was very excited to go, but due to COVID-19 I was not able to visit L.A. myself and see the city and the climate before saying yes to the university.
After my first year online, it was the end of summer of 2021 and it was time to pack. I had no idea what to actually pack in my suitcase. Fashion means a lot to me, I love expressing my own style, feeling good in my clothes and being prepared for any situation. So, you can imagine that packing for a year abroad is a huge mess. I really care for my clothes, but the night before leaving I remember them being all over my bed, under my bed, on the floor, even in my puppy’s house (all though she probably stole my sweater from my room).
The only way I could prepare my bags was by asking my friends, who were living in L.A. what to bring. Every single one of my friends told me to pack some summer clothes as well as some winter jackets. I really did not expect to need any warm jackets because L.A. is often portrayed as a very warm city. I remember one of my friends telling me that most of the time she wears uggs; however, I took it as a joke and did not listen to her. Talking to my friends just made me more confused so I was desperate to get any ideas about style. I started rewatching all the movies/shows set in L.A. like “Pretty Woman”, “Jonas Brothers” and “Never Have I Ever” trying to anticipate the style of clothes that I should pack, but I could not understand the specifics and necessities. In the movies I saw people wear jackets in summer and wear short dresses in winter. There were so many different styles, and I really did not know how to anticipate all the different seasons in L.A. So, I packed up everything and ended up just taking one thin denim jacket and a couple of hoodies.
When I got to L.A. it was the end of August 2021, I was very excited to still wear my summer shorts and dresses. However, my first night in L.A. really shocked me, I went out to get some ramen in Venice and I remember it being freezing outside. Looking back, even though, during that fall and winter I wore shorts and a crop top all day long, at night I recall really missing my uggs and warm coats that I left in France.
After my first year living in L.A. I have learnt that even when it is summer in L.A. and the temperature during the day is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, at night with those Pacific ocean winds it drops significantly and you start craving for a sweater and uggs. Now after each summer break, knowing more about the specific L.A. climate, when I pack from Europe to go back to L.A. I pack differently based on my experiences. I do believe that every time I am getting closer and closer to understanding this city. This summer my husband, our dog and I arrived with nine suitcases. It is definitely a pain to travel so heavy, but at least we are prepared for the L.A. weather.
This project will help to solve the problem of being unprepared for L.A., to avoid mistakes that I have made. Reading my work will allow you to connect with L.A. and become a part of it.
Los Angeles has a very unique style, with every district having their own distinct identity. People in L.A. have all kinds of styles: Laid-back casual, loungewear, country, activewear, hipster, daring, festival, bohemian, classy chic, trendy…
I visited over 50 stores across L.A. to get a better feeling and dive deeper into L.A. fashion.
Here is a little outlook of every area that is significant in style to L.A.:
(Click on the link for a more detailed view)
01
Malibu
A place with beautiful beaches, you will feel sweater-weather vibes. Filled with villas of famous stars and peaceful beaches, it is the place to ride on PCH and fall in love with the coast line.
02
Topanga
(A district 10 minutes away from the road to Malibu) Driving up from Pacific Coast Highway into scenic mountains you forget that you are 30 minutes away from L.A. You will get a strong country and rodeo feeling.
03
Santa Monica
A district that you see in all Hollywood movies. You will get a lot of daring clothes, beachy vibes and even office attires.
04
Venice
A district close to Santa Monica; however, much calmer. The two neighbourhoods that grew together ended up having opposite styles of clothing. On the streets of Venice and mainly on their fashion street (Abbot Kinney) you will see a lot of people in sports clothes and loungewear.
05
Beverly-Hills
Does not need an introduction as you may assume it is a home to all luxury brands like Saint Laurent, Chanel, MaxMara…You will see a lot of runway styles and classy fits.
06
Melrose
Is a hipster district with daring, coachella vibes. You will never get bored walking through the shops there, being greeted with sales assistants dancing on the street, doing pop up events in their stores and blasting party music to create the mood.
07
Downtown Los Angeles(DTLA)
Is very diverse. You will see people wearing business attire going to offices in the skyscrapers, but at the same time you will get neighborhoods like Maple Avenue with all the stores focusing on the trendiest outfits and brands. On Maple you can get anything you want at a very affordable price.
08
Fashion District
Will introduce you to local, independent rising designers. You will find lots of casual, streetwear, classy stylish clothing brands.
09
Redondo/Manhattan Beach
Is a neighborhood thirty minutes from L.A. (opposite of Malibu). You will find a mixture of country, beach, artsy, chill-out styles. Everyone in these neighborhoods value comfort and always look cozy.
Despite all the districts being so distinctive from each other, you will still be able to find a little bit of every style (vibe) in every single one of them.
I/ Los Angeles’s fashion style has been in the center of attention for a long time.
There are many books written about LA style, which just highlights how complex and crucial fashion is in L.A. “City of Style: Exploring Los Angeles Fashion” by Melissa Magsaysay in which she describes the style as “cool, edgy and always fabulous”. “Fashion in L.A.” by Tania Fares talks about how the movie business has shaped the fashion style of L.A. Susan Ingram and Markus Reisenleitner wrote a book called “L.A. Chic” in which they discuss the depths of what stands behind fashion in L.A.
Los Angeles’s fashion has been a big topic of discussion for a long time. Many designers and journalists have written books about it. Trying to figure out how the style in L.A. started, what impacts it, how it evolved and what its future. Reading these books might make you feel connected to the city and learn more about foundations of fashion in L.A.
However, not everyone is ready for heavy reading, so if you are not a big reader you might have found yourself browsing the internet for answers to “How to dress in L.A.?”. Researching that you most likely, will find many arguments like this one (Why Do People Dress so Casually in California?, n.d.). That is because there is a constant debate over people being underdressed and overdressed in Los Angeles. Some say, that all they see is sweats and hoodies around them, some say, that anywhere they go people try too much. I think there is a place for both opinions. Going to Nobu, a very luxury Japanese restaurant you might notice people in their sweats and Yeezys. However, you can also be going to Catch LA, a very trendy Melrose restaurant and notice people all dressed up, fresh from hairdressers/barber shops with full face make-up, stylish fits. The restaurants are half a mile apart, but have completely different styles. This is possible only in L.A.
In this big, dynamic city you will definitely see a lot of different styles and that is the beauty of it. If you are feeling all snazzy then why not dress up, no one will judge you. However, if you are not bothered to spend hours preparing for a night out… just put the “superstar” look on, rocking those sweats and tinted glasses.
Even though it is difficult to believe it, Los Angeles has not always been the way we know it now with celebrities walking on the streets and many events happening every night, etc…
Just about 100 years ago
L.A. was full of rodeos, ranches, and cowboys. That gave birth to the western style of L.A. that is still present nowadays. In Venice I found the oldest cowboy store Stronghold (LA based and made) that has been there since 1895 and they are all about the Midwest. However, despite their age they always move forward working with other brands and presenting them in their shop. They truly represent the history of L.A. selling the oldest brand of Hawaiian shirts that was established in 1936. Hawaii is associated with the birth of surfing that is very prevalent in L.A. This Hawaiian brand is very unique as they only do four patterns a year preserving the simplicity of surf life. However, that is not the only brand you can find in Stronghold. They also sell the oldest footwear from New England contributing to L.A. and American’s history once again by using only U.S. products. Elysia, a sales assistant, told us that the Midwest is a big part of L.A. fashion and the store will make you travel in time and space.
If you are in L.A. and really feeling the country vibes, you should definitely stop by Brixton.
This shop, which was founded in 2004 by three Southern California friends in an Oceanside garage, who now creates unique hats for the whole world spreading L.A.’s Wild West heritage.
In L.A. country style is not only for men, if you love country, but feel a little bit girly, Eclai is the brand that you should go to. Esthepany Rodriguez , who created the brand, mixes femininity and western in one showing the importance of embracing history and representing it in different ways.
If you are in L.A. and miss the style from when L.A. just started growing you can find all of the nostalgic trends in Topanga’s Hidden Treasure. This vintage thrift shop highlights how different L.A. style has been through the years. Just driving up from the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) you will find yourself surrounded by clothing pieces from the 1800s. Darrel Hazen, the owner and founder of the store started by selling his clothes on the side of the road back in the 1970’s. 50 years later it became a huge store with many, many hidden gems. Through the store’s decorations you get to know the creator of the store and what was in style from the 70’s till nowadays. In the store you will find decorations from the Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones and many others. Darrel focuses on hippie style and believes that it is associated with vintage. The store looks like a house with a history, and that can be explained by it being a restaurant and a dentist office back in the 1930s. Want to explore Topanga’s Hidden Treasure with me/through my eyes? Check out this video…
II/ Los Angeles is associated with Hollywood, land of dreams and possibilities
The 1920’s and 1930’s became big influential years during which Hollywood grew big and people went crazy for the styles they had seen on screens. Hollywood brought a lot of movie stars, celebrities, singers, influencers to L.A. which explains another important, historically established style in L.A., the bohemian chic. There are numerous stores that focus on creating unforgettable looks for red carpets, big fashion events and celebrities.
Celebrity boutique on Melrose “For The Stars” by designer Jacob Meir closely works with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Niecy Nash, Heidi Klum, etc… to make sure their outfits are exactly how they desire and even better. Anyone will feel like a superstar in this shop, which is a big part of L.A. Everyone comes to L.A. to make their dreams come true, this store will be with you to help you look like Beyonce on her Renaissance tour…breathtaking!
Having Hollywood so near, there are a lot of people with confidence in L.A. So, for those who like to go big and bold they need some Cosmo and Donato in their life. The two designers Cosmo Lombino and Donato Crowley co-own Cosmo&Donato, Cosmos Glamsquad and ShoeWhore. These brands are created for the stars and quoting Cosmo Lombino “We are all stars”.
Cosmo and Donato call their style of clothes festival, theatrical and editorial. Prince, a sales assistant at Cosmos Glamsquad, told me that they also do lots of custom clothes for movie clips, red carpets, etc… Those pieces are very unique and jaw dropping. They created clothes for Beyonce, Madonna, Gwen Steffani, Justin Bieber, etc…
Having all these celebrities in L.A. makes people want to dress and look like them. Many celebrities live in L.A. and are often spotted wearing glamorous looks but also activewear. The sports look of celebrities has become very trendy, even what comes with it, people all over L.A. go crazy for the famous acai bowls and hot yoga and any new trends influencers might be doing.
In L.A. you will get a lot of people wearing sports clothes all day long. Many of those are customers of Free People (FP) movement where they match their activewear shorts and tops to the famous FP Movement puffy and fleece jackets. Many celebrities love to style their Alo yoga legging with their Hermes and Chanel bags. Normally sportswear and luxury brands do not mix, but L.A. once again, breaks “normal” and creates its own style.
Designer houses love how celebrities style their clothes and accessories in L.A. and many luxury brands love the L.A. weather as they can show both short summer dresses and fluffy, fuzzy jackets. Louis Vuitton in their Cruise 2023 show showed chic, comfy, country pieces that complement the unique L.A. fashion style.
Chanel did their Cruise 2023/2024 show in Hollywood Hills. Their statement behind it was simple “From the beaches of Malibu to the basketball courts of Venice beach, Chanel’s vision of the Californian way of life comes alive amidst an ultra-violet dusk”- Chanel. Their collection presented cozy looks with bikinis, vests/coats, and sparkly dresses. Traveling to L.A. you have to be prepared and pack all of the above with you. Their show was profoundly L.A. vibe with alluring palm trees, sunsets, and even country vibes that highlighted the spirit of this city.
French and Italian designer houses are big in L.A. and many of their flagship stores are on Rodeo Drive.
Here are some unique factors about these designer houses in L.A.
Christian Dior (CD) on Rodeo Drive is already their flagship store; however, Atoosa Zia, sales assistant told me that they are working on opening a bigger store with three floors, a restaurant and a valet as their clientele base is getting bigger. “In our new store we are going to present a unique collection of fine jewelry made just for Beverly Hills”-Atoosa Zia. Despite the strong French influence around the store, L.A. still impacts it. On their glass tables you see high-knee boots presented right next to summer sandals. You will also find warm winter sweaters laying next to thin silk neck scarves. Even though the shop presented a fall winter collection, you will still see many elegant summer sun-hats.
Louis Vuitton (LV) on Rodeo Drive is the flagship store of the west coast., with an exclusive choice of unique pieces sold in North America to accommodate their clients needs. A lot of desired iconic bags come to them in just one unit making their clients feel special and important even though they are away from Paris. In their Rodeo Drive store LV presents for a limited time only a rare collection of bags that was created with Japanese artist YK (Yayoi Kusama).
The boutique also has a special bag for Beverly Hills that they get every year and a half. “ Our Louis Vuitton in L.A. is known for its exotics. We have a lot of bags with rare leather and colors. The store itself is color coordinated in sunset colors bright yellow, pink, blue, dark red which is very L.A.”-Kristen Mabry, sales assistant. The designers and the marketing team of LV know very well that people from all around the world know about Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills and do not hesitate to show how unique the store is.
Dolce&Gabbana (DG) on Rodeo Drive looks like a Red Carpet with its beautiful stairs going up and a see-through dome as a roof. Jose, a sales assistant, told me that the Rodeo Drive boutique gets unique pieces, and if their clients want something that the store location doesn’t have, Jose can order it and get it shipped in a day. In their boutique they like to stay true to L.A. weather, so all their winter accessories are styled next to sunglasses(which is a must-have in L.A.-due to the sun exposure, hangovers or just to look cool), they know that their clients need both: summer hats and a warm scarf.
Gucci on Rodeo Drive is their flagship store with its reputation of having the best exotic bags like crocodile skin, snake skin, etc… Miumi, a Gucci sales assistant, showed me how their store mixes sandals and wool for winter anticipating that their clients need both in one. In their store no matter the season they present summer head bandanas with glasses; however in winter time in addition to summer accessories you can also find wool hats with scarfs, gloves and wool bags.
Not too far from Rodeo Drive you can find many stylish shops that resell vintage, rare pieces of popular brands. Such stores are owned locally and have local buyers who choose clothes from international brands. Here are three stores that stood out to me with their unique collections of brands together:
H. Lorenzo is a store based and founded in West Hollywood constantly changing their brands who they work with and selling in their shops. They work with modern brands like Mugler, Vetements, Luis de Javier. However, they also present very expensive brands like Dolce, Gucci and Chanel. Edgar, a sales assistant, told me that the collection stays the same throughout the year, you can always find jackets, shorts and even any little black top.
In this shop you will find a lot of tourists that get intrigued by the displays as well as some locals that like the variation of the brands they carry. The style of the shop is very trendy, and the fashion they present is very hipster, yet classy. For example if you are looking for a suit, it is going to be in bright colors, with a sweater under or even styled with a tank top. The store is big on female energy with photographs, statues and clothes for women who are ready to explore and experiment with their style as they sell a lot of feminine, yet daring, head-turning clothes.
Maxfield is a luxury retail store that was founded by Tommy Perse in 1969 to allow Dolce, Prada, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Celine, Bottega Venetta to live and spread beyond their original boutiques. Enzo, a sales assistant shared with me that the store does not focus on jackets too much; however, with new waves of tourists exploring the shop more and more they still sell many winter clothes for those who visit from New York, London or Paris.
Nowadays, there are two main local buyers that Tommy works with, Sarah Stewart and Anthony Cataldo. The store seems like a museum presenting rare vintage and antique items with no photography allowed to keep their identity private and unique. However, despite that they keep up with new trends and brands like Sokio that even made seven exclusive jackets just to be presented in their store.
Fashion in Los Angeles means a lot. Maxfield, for example, is not only a store, but a hangout spot, a venue for exhibitions and a place to make connections. Whenever they work with a new brand, they organize a pop-up event in their exhibition salon. This November they had an event for dog lovers with Bootzy couture where they presented cheeky harnesses, leashes and bags. That shows that many things revolve around fashion in L.A..
Fred Segal, founded in 1961 is a retail store that combines many many different designers and styles. Fred Segal has multiple locations all over L.A. However, my favorite one is in Malibu.
Malibu is known to have beautiful beaches, breathtaking hikes, but also unique stores. Fred Segal’s Malibu location is special as it is very L.A. You can find fur or leather coats, but at the same time bikinis and hawaiian-japanese shirts. Connor, a sales assistant from Fred Segal, told me that this summer they have had lots of heavy jackets and they had no idea how they were going to sell them. However, people loved it and bought their jackets in summer while shopping for bikinis.
It is the only location of Fred Segal that sells bathrobes, slippers and pajamas, loungewear, sportswear, leggings, sweats, underwear, and towels. The team and the boutique are very relaxed and friendly. Everyone who enters the shop seems to know each other. It feels like you are at a family-gathering in Malibu chatting with the neighbor while petting Gunner (Connor’s dog) at the shop’s cafe near the veranda. Stopping by this shop will allow you to discover not only many local designers, but also the stories behind them. Connor knew a story behind every designer that shows the respect that the store has for the people who they work with. This true commitment even made my husband fall for two unique pieces that he will wear and eventually share their stories.
The location of a store has a lot of impact on the store itself. For example Maxfield has two locations: Malibu and Melrose. The collections, the styles, the stores, the customer assistants differ a lot in these two districts. The Malibu location has a lot of laid-back, chill, cozy style. The shop features brands like Alanui, which is famous for their cardigans, Les Tien with collections of loungewear, Sablyn with their cashmere pieces. “We get a lot of locals that regularly come shop here, we are a much smaller, but cozier location here in Malibu”- Rachel, manager of Maxfield Malibu.
Shopping in Maxfield will make you feel local, classy and trendy, just the way to feel when you are in L.A.
The shop is three times smaller than the one in Melrose. However, it is definitely worth it to visit both, the Melrose Maxfield location is very private even though it is right on Melrose, no one can see the store from the outside, you have to go through security to see their collections.
To live in L.A. and feel trendy and chic you don’t have to shop on Rodeo or buy brands. Maple Avenue in DTLA is covered with shops selling everything you might have seen on celebrities and dreamed of having.
Shops display many choices for an affordable price. You want Gucci tights, you got it! You want Sophia Webster butterfly heels-here you go! You want Beyonce’s Renaissance silver look-you don’t need to look far! If you are looking for beautiful gowns or suits for a quinceañera, prom or wedding. On Maple Avenue you will find stores like L.A. Apparel, Ron Tomson and many other local shops that will give an overview of what’s popular all around L.A. with everything presented in one place.
III/ L.A. has people with completely different lifestyles living in it
A big part of this city is festivals, parties, and social gatherings. People go from country shirts and sweats to sparkly shirts and leather bottoms. Venice has two stores that are sister-shops that manage to combine leisure and party in one.
Bree, Marley and Katy work in Ananda. They described their store as “the boho festival fairy, edgy beach, Coachella, valley, Joshua tree vibe.”-Ananda sales assistants. They said that in their store their customers are the people who wanna be seen, they are the people who want to be asked: “Damn…Where did you get it from?”. In their store you can always find a sparkly top with ripped jeans and a faux-fur white big jacket.
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Their sister shop Skylark was described as “Rock’n’Roll, grunch, indy, cozy, subtle and dark.”-Wednesday, a sales assistant. People come to both of these shops to prepare their wardrobe for partying, depending on the party’s style people choose one or another. But I think the coolest thing is to mix them both.
You cannot forget Melrose when looking for a unique party outfit. Eden Sky has everything from a famous silver crop top to a butterfly top to short tight dresses to see-through heels. Allen, a sales assistant, shared with me how Eden Sky always stays on point. When Barbie was showing at the movies, their shop seemed like Barbie’s closet with everything pink, girly and sparkly. “When Beyonce was on her Renaissance tour, we played her songs and presented a lot of silver and Beyonce outfits and people really vibed (had a good time) when they came into our store”-Allen.
Another Melrose shop, Rock Etiquette, that definitely stands out by thinking out of the box with their unique sayings on a chalkboard at the entrance. “We change the writings everyday, we get funny and creative with them to lighten up everyone’s mood”-Ella, store manager.
The store works with local designers like Blond, Bandida, etc…and also creates fashion in-house like denim crop tops. In the store you will find many sparkly tops with leather biker jackets, perfect for a music festival.
So-called sweater-weather was born right here in L.A.
What I discovered across all of the stores in L.A., and talking to people who live here is that you always need a little cover up. I am not talking about dressing up like a cabbage and having many layers. Being here, no matter the season you need a scarf, sweater, vest or a hoodie to stay cozy with ocean breezes in the evening.
In Los Angeles you will see a lot of people dressed in a little dress with a big, yet pretty thin jacket on top. You will also see a lot of people wearing short shorts and a sweater just like Miley Cyrus in her clip “Malibu”.
If you are inspired by Miley Cyrus’s style in this video clip then, Frankie’s Bikini is made for you. During the winter collection, in the store you will find super cute bikinis with cozy pjs and sweaters to be comfy around xmas time. During summer, you will also find bikinis but this time with sheer, girly, stylish cover ups. Their best-seller is their cherry bikini, which they have made in pink, white and now also is black. They have collaborated with Victoria’s Secret, Pamela Anderson (who herself came in the store and promoted the line), Sophia Richie, Sydney Sweeney, etc…to spread the awareness of this sweater-weather style in L.A. Jessica, a sales assistant, told me that they are proud to be from L.A. and they advertise the L.A. weather a lot. In the middle of their store there is even a Christmas tree with a surfboard in front of it…very L.A.
If you are in Malibu and feeling casual then Nati Malibu is for you. Sweaters and sweatshirts with Malibu written on them, knitted tops and Cowboy hats is Nati’s vibe. Anat Winston is dedicated to fashion starting by selling her clothes thirty years ago out of a truck and now having stores all over LA and New York.
Redondo, being geographically opposite of Malibu, serves very strong country and beach styles. Redondo is a breathtaking place with some would say the most beautiful sun sets in L.A. with very cozy shops. Renessa and Fernando Adames (and Lola the mascot of the shop, who if you are lucky will let you sit on her cozy armchair) own the store “Fernando’s” and take care of their store like their baby. Leaving the store you will have discovered so many unique styles and stories, you will definitely leave with a unique “wow” jacket and a big smile on your face.
Watch this video if you want to see how Fernando creates his jackets from scratch to a unique and tailored piece:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein
Bel Kazan, being in Row Dtla, it is still a perfect example of those Malibu vibes. Belinda Kazanci designs beautiful garments. They are full of life, lights, colors, flowers. However, now in her boutique there are even hats and scarfs. Entering her shop you will be greeted by her dog Maurice who will be your companion while shopping. “Our print is designed by us in Bali and hand printed on our clothes. All our garments are very light and easy to wear”-Belinda Kazanci.
Living in L.A. you will notice that sweaters will become your best friend. Feeling warm with the Pacific Ocean winds is a must, Naadam on Abbot Kinney got you covered. The shop is adored not only by locals that always pass by, but by tourists as well before leaving L.A. who make sure to stack up. The store works with Mongolian cashmere, it is the softest, coziest and as you’ll notice is super stylish. They are famous for their beige and chocolate sweaters that people love for their “hug-like” feeling. Erica, the store manager told us that even in summer their best-sellers are their tank tops and crop tops that are also made from cashmere keeping you warm and sexy.
Another store that you need to stay warm living by the ocean is, Marine Layer. It has all the necessities all year round. Luc, a sales assistant there, told me that during summer you will find warm comfy jackets and pants, and during winter you will rediscover some country shirts and cozy dresses. They even sell ski jackets and mountain gear for the locals thwho go adventure around Mount Wilson (or others) in the winter.
There are many stores founded locally and based all over the city. Designers and buyers of/for the shops identified the fashion in L.A. as cozy, sporty, chic, country and stylish. That comes from the city being so spread out, and there are many people that in a day completely change their style. How do they do that you might wonder…In L.A. wherever you go you need a car. Hence, many people in the morning pack multiple outfits with them for a day.
We learned how to get most of these outfits, with the bikini and sweater look, the glamorous chic or classy and country looks throughout the city but there is one more essential one for a true Angelino, the street style. People in L.A. move fast and do multiple things in their day. You will meet a lot of active people in L.A., who constantly move around, travel, do sports, juggle multiple jobs and that requires proper attire. That type of clothes should feel good, soft on the skin, and the person wearing that clothes is ready for anything.
Ruti, the brand encourages women to wear comfortable, oversized, loose and baggy things to style it yourself and complement your own body. They use travel material that you can simply put in the wash after wearing it and it’s fine. They go towards architectural style, which is very different from everything else on Abbot Kinney. “The clothes, at first, seem strange, but you have to try it on and then you fall for it” -Tammy, the sales assistant. “It changes, it adapts to your body” -she said. Despite that comfort, they stay chic. Their best-seller is a scarf that goes around your shoulders and finishes any outfit. Their clothes can be mixed and matched, giving freedom to imagination. Ruti Zisser had three rules for going into the fashion business. “It must be cool”, “It must be flattering” and “It must be practical”. “80% of my collection are clothes that I wear everyday. 20% of my collection is aspirational – it’s for the woman I daydream of being”. -Ruti Zisser, designer of Ruti.
Angelinos love casual, but to live in L.A. you have to pick your casual with style. Shades of Grey by Micah Cohen gives a variety of subtle, pastel or vivid yummy colors.This brand will have you covered both in winter and summer with their light-weight shorts that you can even swim in if you want, and with warm jumper that you jump right in after the sun goes down.
Many people in L.A choose casual and street style since it can fit in every situation.
The L.A. founded store Buck Mason started as a garage, in fact, in Venice the female boutique is the first original store. The whole point of the store is to feel at home while shopping. When you enter their shops you see a beautiful record player, with a sales assistant casually changing records next to a small bar to give that home ambiance. Unique shelves dividing different clothes and a selection of classic books. We were told that locals stick to the shop and always return to it, feeling like they are coming back home.
Buck Mason is not the only store that feels like home, Apt. 4B on E. 7th street is literally shown like an apartment. You enter through a door full of graffiti and immediately feel like you are stepping in a New York building in the 80’s. You will be able to check your mail at the mailboxes in the entrance, then enter the living room and see a sales assistant on the couch playing space invaders. In the corner of the couch video cassettes of all the classics. Walking further you find yourself in a kitchen with a fridge full of stickers, paintings on the walls and food on the stove. Continuing, you find yourself in a typical bedroom of any teen in the 80’s with shoes sticking out from under the bed and clothes all over the bed, cupboards, and hats hanging on the wall between posters. Walking through the apartment you will eventually end up in a spacious closet with collector figurines, records and jerseys. If before exiting the apartment you find a piece of clothing you like, you will have to seal the deal on the table in the entrance, just like when you were a teen asking your parents to go to a sleepover.
Angelinos love finding their stylish casual fits from thrifting, you can find thrift shops on Melrose and check them out while you are waiting for an evening drag show or going to your dance class at Playground L.A.
Topanga also offers many good thrift shops if you are driving to get some fruits from a farm in the area or Row Dtla while waiting for your open air cinema. No matter where you thrift from you will be able to find some rare, jewel pieces. Here are some of the best thrift stores I have found around L.A.:
Wasteland store on Melrose corresponds to its name very, very well. Coming to the shop for an interview, I ended up spending two hours there and it was so worth it. It is definitely a unique place with irresistible pieces. Julius, a new sales assistant, told us that this store has been here for thirty years. There are two separate entrances, one for sellers and the other for buyers. You can come and sell your clothes, after assessing how much they are worth, you will get 30% of the final worth. All you need is to have your id. “We often get stylists, celebrities bring in pieces that were never worn or just once for a shooting or an event, which is pretty cool” -Julius.
Arcade Vintage in Row Dtla is a thrift shop that works with people all around the world, who come to them and wish to give their unique pieces to the shop. Anna, a sales assistant, told us that they work with a model (cannot publish the name) who lives in NY and brings her clothes to this shop from all her shootings and events in the 70s. She told us that even if they hang out some winter jackets now, if you ask they will bring you all the summer things from the back.
{}/ Fashion in L.A. can be confusing but is definitely very fun to play around with!
No matter in which “fashion area” a store is, there is no doubt that the sales assistants, buyers, designers, and owners love their stores and treat them with so much care. From everyone who allows the shop to exist, you really see that they are passionate about their stores. Just like Jose from Dolce & Gabbana who treats his box bags like his babies and knows all about them “We’ve got my beautiful box bags upstairs”-Jose. Jessica who knew everything and beyond about the fashion of Frankie’s bikinis. Connor who through telling us more about the shop made us loyal customers of Fred Segal.
As you can see through my journey fashion is very, very important in L.A., so, it is no surprise that there are many local design schools here:
I went ahead and spent a day in Otis, college of fashion and design talking to students and professors about what inspires them to create. I was very happy to learn from Professor Joffery Black in Otis, who told me that everyday he is inspired by people who he works with and students themselves. It just shows how much creativity there is in this city. To get to know the future of L.A. of fashion and design you can watch this video.
This was my experience though Los Angeles. I am still learning more and more about fashion in this beautiful city. People inspire each other to dress and show themselves through their clothing. No matter where you go in L.A. you get a feeling that fashion means different things to people, but everyone has one thing in common -is that it matters.
People in L.A. dress the way they want, and no one is there to judge them. That open-mindedness allows creativity to spread and revive. Fashion unites us all and helps each one of us to stay unique and true to ourselves.
Thank you for following my journey;)
Special Thanks to Kelly and Elliot Renard!