SHOP: CLOTHING
The Los Angeles-based sustainable clothing line’s brick-and-mortar store on Melrose (8000 Melrose Avenue) is everything you think it should be: Airy, with high ceilings, and racks of their cool-girl pieces sorted by colour. A row of shelves by the entrance also stocks an assortment of accessories from other brands like footwear label Loq and Malibu-based natural skincare label Osea.
Also located in Melrose, New York multi-label store Assembly’s LA outpost (7977 Melrose Avenue) is pure joy for folks who love discovering new and emerging brands (we spotted t-shirts from LA label Collina Strada on its racks, as well as a wide variety of accessories from bucket bags to sandals). And if you’re gunning for a minimalist ‘gram, the store’s white-walled exterior is the perfect setting.
More showroom than retail store, The Apartment By The Line (2nd floor, 8463 Melrose Place) is a concept dreamed up by The Line, which describes itself as a “modern and personal approach to retail”. Designed to look like a home, both interior design buffs and shoppers alike will be enthralled by every inch of this space, which stocks clothing, beauty products and home furnishings. You can make a private appointment ahead of time to consult with a personal stylist on designing your wardrobe or home, or just stroll in to wander and explore every nook and cranny here.
For a taste of quintessential LA style (read: achingly hip looks from head to toe), mosey over to Mohawk General Store (4011 West Sunset Boulevard) in the Silverlake district. On its racks, you’ll find a whole host of designer brands like Dries Van Noten and Maison Martin Margiela, alongside chic accessories by Comme des Garcons and Rachel Comey.
SHOP: ACCESSORIES & BEAUTY
Fans of Le Labo, rejoice: The French fragrance brand’s store (3531 Sunset Boulevard) offers a sensorial journey begging to be experienced. Designed with a homey, rustic feel, there’s an area for you to sniff candles at, and its walls are stocked full with bottles of body washes and lotions you’ll be sorely tempted to bring home – and not just for aesthetic reasons.
Just a few doors down is Italian eyewear brand Retrosuperfuture’s retail space (3531 Sunset Boulevard). Every frame here is handmade in Italy, and are amazingly light to boot. Celebrities like Rihanna and Justin Bieber were also spotted wearing them. So if you’re looking for zany, eye-catching designs with bright, loud colours, this is a must-visit.
Hands up if you like brands who support charitable causes: At American eyewear brand Warby Parker, for every pair of frames or sunglasses sold, a pair will be distributed to someone in need. The brand’s Abbot Kinney store (1422 Abbot Kinney Boulevard) is chock full of chic tortoiseshell frames and the like. Oh, and their collaboration with Virgil Abloh’s cult streetwear label Off-white last July sold like hotcakes – need we say more?
EAT: RESTAURANTS
Two words: Truffle pizza. But if you need further convincing, the restaurant’s chic marble-clad interior (700 South Grand Avenue) is great Instagram fodder, and they have a delightful bakery section full of the prettiest pastries and macarons. A friendly word of advice: This place was packed when we visited on a Sunday afternoon, so be sure to book ahead.
This French bistro in Silverlake (3932 West Sunset Boulevard) makes the perfect brunch stop pre- or post-shopping spree. We love its breezy al fresco area, and also the lemon ricotta pancakes here (hands down one of the best we’ve ever had).
Recommended by editor Noelle Loh, the restaurant (1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard) is located close to iconic Venice Beach. It serves up hearty American and Italian dishes, ranging from pizza to heftier mains like crispy duck confit. Unfortunately, it’s currently undergoing renovations till September 2018 – so if you’re in the area then, be sure to check it out.
EAT: CAFES
Like your eggs runny? The folks at Eggslut (317 South Broadway) are champions of that – so it’s no surprise that their cafe space in LA’s Grand Central Market frequently experiences long queues. Thankfully, it isn’t just the egg that’s the draw here – the buns used are buttery and soft, and the bacon is crispy yet juicy. Our only wish – that the burger came in upsized versions.
You cannot leave California without trying Blue Bottle Coffee (300 South Broadway) at least once. The brews here are ones that caffeine fiends will go crazy over, and with good reason: Their almost fanatical attention to the quality of the beans they roast and how it is brewed ensures that you’ll get maximum enjoyment with every sip.
Another popular cafe with the locals is Intelligentsia – you won’t be able to miss it, thanks to its distinctive rust-coloured entrance for its Silverlake location (3922 Sunset Boulevard). We like the spacious outdoor seating options, while the indoor section comes decked in picture-perfect blue patterned floor tiles. The Chicago coffee brand carefully sources its beans from places like Central America and Rwanda, and also has a wide selection of teas from China, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan available. What’s more, it’s situated right next to Cafe Stella – talk about convenience.
This hip joint (705 North Alfred Street) is clearly a millenial pink lover’s dream come true, since everything from the colour of the walls to the drinks are in that shade. With two overseas locations in Aoyama and Shinjuku, Japan, Los Angeles is the only other place – so far – where you can indulge in some of their flavourful teas. And while you might scoff at cafes that are obviously trying too hard to appeal to a certain demographic, the drinks here (we recommend the rose milk tea) are surprisingly good.
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