Where to shop in Los Angeles
Where to shop in Los Angeles
A complete retail guide to finding the best clothing, home goods, and nick-nacks around Los Angeles.
Your next dinner party shoes
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Sprezza Shopping Guides
I’d love your feedback on these guides or any tips on places you would add to this list. I spend hours creating these guides and appreciate the love!
Guest guide by Leland Grossman, a dear friend of Sprezza
After eight glorious years in the fashion capital of America (NYC), I recently moved to calmer and sunnier Los Angeles. The move came warmer winter days and the realization that I would no longer need all the dope outerwear I had been stockpiling for those fun sub-30-degree months.
To be fair, Angelinos do wear parkas when it drops below 60, but that’s another story…
Style in New York is eclectic and creative—LA feels the opposite. A few weeks ago, I was in line for a furniture sale, and nearly everyone was wearing some shade of grey, beige, tan, or black. A bit cult-like.
But that’s LA in nutshell. There are folks with good style, but the vibe I’ve gotten here is more about blending in than standing out, which leads to a lot of athleisure and simple brand logos.
Let’s get into it. All stores are listed in random order.
Follow Leland on Instagram here, or email him if you wanna link up in California (leland.grossman@gmail.com)!
(Over)generalizations about LA and style
Comfort is king: No matter where you go, people dress like they came from a workout class. Sometimes it creates a nice high/low athleisure vibe, in other cases, it comes off as a bit lazy and uninspired. We’ll call this look the “Emily Oberg,” who for the record, pulls off this look quite well.
Color is scary: Tones, tones, and more tones. The standard color palette in LA has little color of any kind, which is a bit uninspired. I’m not asking for rainbows, but can a kid get a little pop of color!? And no, a Dodgers hat doesn’t count, even if it has Aime Leon Dore scribbled on the side.
Vintage everywhere: Vintage is booming. Cropped Carhartt jackets over wife beaters, painter pants, band tees, etc. This is probably where LA competes closest with NY regarding consistent self-expression.
MadCherry: These brands are from Los Angeles (Cherry+Madhappy), they look almost identical, and they’re everywhere. Don’t get me wrong, they both produce nicely made products with catchy graphics, but there’s a “rich-kid-that-stands-for-nothing” energy I can’t shake. These brands signal something, I’m just not sure what exactly.
Would love to hear what spots you’d add to this list!
Brands
No Maintenance // Contemporary, Vintage
Neighborhood(s): Glendale
Price: $$
Featured Brands: No Maintenance + assorted vintage (Levis, Carhartt, etc)
NOTES: No Maintenance is a relatively new label that gained notoriety when Kendall Jenner was spotted in the brand’s signature cardigan. Their appointment-only showroom is a bit of a mission but well worth the trip. Inside, you’ll find a thoughtful team that seems to enjoy working there and a tasteful selection of in-house pieces mixed with vintage. The white Togo couch doesn’t hurt the vibe, either!
Lady White Co // Classics, basics, made in USA
Neighborhood(s): Silverlake, DTLA
Price: $$
NOTES: One of my favorite brands, mostly for its perfect t-shirts. Great colors, fits, and fabrics—it’s hard not to find something wearable from Lady White. The team has cultivated a clean and modern aesthetic that can now be found at two locations in LA.
Both have their charm, but Silverlake is the more complete brand experience. Seeing them getting their flowers is cool, and it’s well deserved. Their t-shirts are a perfect gift for a sartorially minded friend that might not buy for themselves but would certainly appreciate.
Braindead // Streetwear, Graphics
Neighborhood(s): Fairfax
Price: $-$$
NOTES: This retail experience is one of the most complete and thoughtful in all of LA. Braindead took an old silent film movie theater and converted it into a store-cafe-theater hybrid space with all the characters and touchpoints highlighting why in-person shopping is still worth your time. The store upstairs is stocked with all the Braindead products you could want, both mainline and collabs, with an outdoor cafe in the back to sip cold brew while you contemplate whether you need that t-shirt.
In all seriousness, hats off to the Braindead team—if every brand created a considered retail experience like this, shopping would be a lot more fun and interesting for everyone. This is a store worth checking out, even if you have no interest in streetwear or the brand!
Olderbrother // Contemporary, Plant Dyes, Vintage Fits
Neighborhood(s): Venice
Price: $$-$$$
NOTES: Each season, Olderbrother dyes their clothes with a fresh arrangement of interesting plants—some you’ve heard of, some you haven’t. This recurring theme gives the clothes a subtle worn-in feel while telling a unique story. To bring that tale to life each season, they redesign the shop to reference whatever plant(s) were used to dye the clothes.
From a mushroom listening room to an indigo lab, visiting Olderbrother is a must on any LA retail tour.
Bode // Designer
Neighborhood(s): Melrose / West Hollywood
Price: $$$
NOTES: Wow, what a store. In partnership with Green River Projects, this retail experience is as good as they come. Not just in LA but the whole world. I can’t say enough about this shop's beauty–from the discrete entrance to the ample space within.
While this brand isn’t for everybode* (both in terms of style and price point), the world that Emily and the team have built in their LA outpost is truly something special.
Jacques Marie Mage // High-End Sunglasses
Neighborhood(s): Venice
Price: $$$
NOTES: $800 sunglasses are expensive for anyone, but before you shun the idea, do yourself a favor and visit this store. Go in knowing you won’t buy anything and leave with a lasting imprint of retail bliss. For a shop peddling overpriced shades, the experience is memorable.
Custom furniture and beautiful interior details make JMM’s Venice location one of LA's most elegant and aspirational shopping experiences. This store, in particular, begs the question: is good retail just for buying things or like a museum exhibit meant to be experienced?
Virgil Normal // Graphic Tees, Streetwear
Neighborhood(s): Silverlake
Price: $
NOTES: Virgil Normal is different than the other stores on this list. This small Silverlake shop is a little chaotic, but it’s in that chaos that you’ll find a rare authentic beauty. An old school t-shirt/skate/art shop, walking in there is a bit like a time warp to childhood.
A bridge to simpler times when all that mattered was whether you liked the graphic on the shirt, not if it was ‘hype’ or worn by [insert rapper]. Shopping here might give you a little anxiety but the good kind that makes your brain tingle.
KOTN // contemporary, basics
Clayton’s pick
Neighborhood(s): Highland Park
Price: $-$$
NOTES: While most brands greenwash their way around sustainability, KOTN is one of the few that walks the talk. The Canadian brand—a certified B corp—is in it for the long haul. Oh, and their products are dope, too. They started the brand focused on quality basics and have expanded to knitwear, denim, and accessories. All the tones and shapes of each item are fantastic.
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, KOTN is one of those spaces where you can buy five random things, and they all go together.