WHERE TO-

My top picks for the best places to shop, stay and eat!!! (Not only in LA!)

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SHOP…

TellTale Hearts Vintage

1837 Hyperion Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
PH: (323)522-6725
WEBSITE

I’ve heard about Telltale Hearts Vintage through the blogosphere. So I decided to check it out for myself and drove to its location in Silver Lake one afternoon. I was lucky enough to have arrived right when they opened, thus scoring a coveted metered parking spot in front of the store. The interior of the store was pristine, with the clothing neatly hung and arranged on the clothes racks, shoes arranged under the clothes racks and jewelry and accessories creatively merchandised throughout the store. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners- Melissa Patchett, who told me a little about the store. Telltale was founded by her and Brandy Linstrum in March 2010. They both share a love of vintage shopping and wanted to create a store where you didn’t have to dig to find some great vintage pieces. They also sell six contemporary brands (apparel and jewelry), such as: Kain, Something Else by Natalie Wood. Funktional, Seneca Rising, Smith by Zoe Chicco and Luv AJ. Melissa and Brandy loved the idea of mixing vintage with modern contemporary pieces, which I couldn’t agree with more. I found some great pieces and when I saw that the gold sequin top (that I first saw on their website) was still available, I squealed with joy. It was even better in person! But alas, it was out of my budget range. But I must say, their prices weren’t at all bad. The vintage is kept under $100, while some of the newer brands might be higher. I had a great overall experience there and I highly recommend checking them out next time you’re in Silver Lake. Though, just letting you know, street and metered parking ($1 an hour) only. I want to leave you with this quote by Melissa, “We want every piece that you buy from Telltale Hearts to be a piece that you will keep forever.”

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Deja Vu Fashions Consignment Shop

907 W. Foothill Blvd.
Claremont, CA 91711
PH: (909)625-7277
Website

So, one day I was driving down Foothill in Claremont when I saw the Deja Vu sign (especially the other keywords on the sign- vintage and consignment). I immediately slowed down and screeched into the parking lot. It’s a quaint little shop, with a clothing rack and purse rack sitting outside, beckoning customers to stop by. I quickly browsed the racks before heading inside. My eyes literally grew wide and my jaw dropped as I saw the rows of racks, filled with clothing and the tables and counters full of jewelry, purses, shoes and hats (some newer, some vintage). Did I also mention that there is a nice stock of top-notch designer items, such as Gucci, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Carolina Herrera and Louis Vuitton, just to name a few?! I met the owner- Norma Jean Hughes, who is super sweet and told me a little about the store, which first opened in 1984. Ms. Micky Ross (now in her 80s) first owned the store and back then, everything (the business/consigning) was done on paper. The store was later handed over to another lady, who computerized the store and then nine years ago, Norma bought the shop. She receives merchandise from all over the world, including movie studios! I even had the chance to try on a few pieces that belonged to Warner Brothers Studios years back and it was just so cool to wear something of that significant historical value. Can you imagine the actresses that probably wore the garments?! Marilyn…Jane Russell, Doris Day…Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! She also mentioned that she had a room dedicated to vintage clothing and accessories. I ventured down the small flight of stairs and nearly had a hyperventilation attack as I saw the amount of fab vintage dresses, tops, etc., that that was about to immerse myself in. Expect lots of tulle, sequins and silk and even get a glimpse of one of comedian Jerry Lewis’s chairs, that is now a Deja Vu staple; as well as a steamer trunk once owned by 1930s actress- May Madison. She has garments that have been worn by actresses: Natalie Cole, Barbi Benton, Linda Gray and Lauralee Bell…the stories those garments could tell… The store is just amazing! The prices are very fair and she also takes an additional 20% off everything. So the next time you’re in the Claremont vicinity, stop by and spend a half-hour or few hours just browsing the racks at your leisure.

If you have load of clothing/accessories just sitting around at home and could use the extra cash, Deja Vu is a consignment shop and you can also bring things in to trade for store credit. BUT, please keep in mind, that the clothing has to be clean, in excellent condition, steamed or pressed and hung on a hanger. Be sure to call for an appointment.

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Laurenly Boutique

142 N Glassell St.
Orange, CA 92866
PH:(714) 538-SHOP

I’ve heard about Laurenly through the grapevine… fellow blogger, Holly in Heels had raved about Laurenly and I wanted to check it out as well. I finally stopped by the shop one Friday, on my down to La Jolla. Laurenly Boutique opened in June 2010 and is nestled in the heart of historic downtown Orange and is owned by Chapman University grad- Lauren Miller. The name “Laurenly” is derived from the combination of Lauren’s first name and her middle name being “Leigh.” It’s a small space, but very welcoming. When I was there, Lauren’s mother was manning the store and was very friendly and helpful. I wanted everything in the store, one thing in particular being the gold sparkly TOMS slip-ons (coveting!). She carries a lot of unique and handmade brands, as well as popular brands that include: Free People, Wildfox, Alternative Apparel, 31 Bits and Collective Concepts. Lauren also has merchandise that are current to her favorite trends, such as 60′s and Boho-inspired pieces, cut-off shorts, maxi dresses, anything with feathers, lace, prints and fringe. Good news for those of us on a budget, nothing in the shop is over $200. Here is a small break-down of the price points: basic tanks start at $12, tops start at $20, dresses from $30/$40′s and up, jewelry ranging from $10-$110 and denim starting at $68 and up. The next time you find yourself wandering around Orange, Laurenly is a must-stop! There’s also lots of FREE parking around the area! You can also find out more info on her website. If you want to be in-the-know for the latest merch, contests, promos, etc., become a fan on Facebook and Twitter.

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Virgo

216-A E. 9th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
PH: (213)988-8899

Amidst the plethora of fabric shops and mom n’ pop retailers stands Virgo- a shop that offers a fresh take on reworked vintage apparel, while also offering some untouched vintage pieces, as well as accessories and shoes. What drew me to the store were the clothes (lots of color and fun prints!), the bohemian looks that are featured on the mannequins, the eccentric mix of jewelry, purses and accessories; and lastly…two words…Jeffrey Campbell…enough said. The store owners- Rana Shoar and Alejandra Hernandez are also designers for their apparel and accessories line, Boos and Besito, which makes up 95 percent of the store. They have been selling vintage since 2006 at the Rose Bowl and it was recently in 2009 that they decided to open up shop in LA’s Fashion District. They had just gotten back from a recent buying trip to Peru and the evidence sits proudly on the center table in the store. Jewelry, purses, denim, you name it… is adorned with tribal prints and vibrant colors. Virgo’s prices are reasonable, compared to other vintage stores (that might sell reworked pieces), for example, you might find a reworked dress for $40 or a silk tank top for $20. Due to high demand of some of their pieces and that they only have limited runs for some product, you may want to hurry and grab your favorite Jeffrey Campbells, fringe tee or reworked 70s floral-print dress. For more information and to get the latest 411 on sales and newest merchandise, check them out on Facebook or Twitter.

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The Grove Vintage Clothing and Exchange

206 W Bonita Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
PH:(909) 625-2380
Facebook
Yelp

I was strolling in historic Claremont village one lovely SoCal day and found this gem of a vintage shop called, The Grove Vintage. This place has a plethora of goodies for the vintage connoisseur – from sequin dresses to 80’s floral pants, handmade rings made from vintage earrings and hand-beaded Mary Frances purses. Let’s say you’re somewhat fatigued from all the overwhelming racks of clothing, there’s a comfy sitting area with 70’s era couches and a plasma TV in the back to take a breather.
What began as a burgeoning eBay business a couple years back, has become so popular, that owner-Donna Daniel needed to open up shop in Claremont. She chose the location because she felt it would be the perfect market. It was so perfect that due to the high-demand of her vintage pieces, she also brought on two of her friends, Kim and Rhonda, to sell their vintage and jewelry on consignment. They each bring their own “eye” to the shop; Donna is into the Anthopologie style, while Kim caters more to the street wear portion and Rhonda sells her handmade rings made from vintage earrings. Having grown up in the era of shoulder pads, scrunchies and sequins; Donna is still a die-hard fan of the 80’s. Which is probably why she has such a vast collection of 80’s (and 90’s) apparel. Visitors to The Grove Vintage will find very affordable pricing, as nothing is over $30, except for maybe five percent of the merchandise (like a jacket or dress). Every visit is bound to be another shopping adventure, as she brings in new wares all the time and tries to stay true to every season and trend. I can guarantee one thing, and that is: when you visit this quaint little Claremont store, you won’t leave empty-handed!

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UNIQBILL
215 S. 6th (corner of 6th and Spring) Street, Suite 116
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Hours: Wed- Sat 1-6pm
http://uniqbill.blogspot.com/

LA designer Houstina Summers (known for her signature halter dresses) and her sister, Billie Summers recently opened up a small boutique called UNIQBILL in the Gallery Row district of downtown LA. They sell Tina’s Cowgirl Heaven line, along with various unique clothing from sample sales and local designers, as well as some vintage pieces. Did I mention I spotted a few GUCCI bags?!? They also carry handmade and vintage jewelry (some of which came from Turkey).
Since they opened in April, they’ve already had two very successful DTLA artwalk nights (as they are right in the hub of the action) and are continuing to be quite successful. Their prices are reasonable, ranging from sale items that are $20-25, $175 for some vintage pieces, the Cowgirl Heaven line sells for $45 and up and now Tina has added designer shoes to her repertoire; and those range from $150 and up. Although the store consists of mostly the CG Heaven line, they are accepting new unique designers to put their work in the store. If you want to know more about Cowgirl Heaven, go to the brand’s Facebook page!

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GlamAmor

110 East 9th Street, Suite A1179
Los Angeles, CA 90079
PH: (888)731-2413
http://www.glamamor.com/

Located in the prestigious California Market Center, in the heart of LA’s Fashion District, is my friend (and fellow blogger)- Kimberly Truhler’s vintage shop: GlamAmor. The showroom has a modern feel with bursts of color that project from the racks of vintage clothing. Being sort of a perfectionist myself, I loved that the clothing was color-coordinated and there was at least an inch of space between each garment. Kimberly has quite a nice vintage “empire” with her blog GlamAmor, the showroom and now she is also producing vintage originals. She started selling vintage about a year ago, only sticking with bright, colorful, sophisticated yet sexy pieces. She then expanded to having a style blog as well, which showed her influences in classic cinema and how those influences resonate to most fashion today. She might also show a look from the runway and then show where that actually came from (what movie). Then she would post how she puts her vintage outfits together while she’s out and about, as sort of a guide for women who want to piece together a cute vintage-inspired outfit. Now, because her vintage pieces are one-of-a-kind, some of her clients have had a hard time finding their size, which inspired Kimberly to segway into creating vintage originals (or My Essentials).

Kimberly has such a desire for vintage (especially from the 50′s and 60′s)and when you meet her, she’s always dressed impeccably in a beautiful, bright dress. It’s like she stepped out of a page from 1950′s Vogue. Years ago, after watching Alfred Hitchcocks’s Rear Window, it dawned on her… ‘shouldn’t we all dress like that?’ She admires the works of Edith Head- whose designs are colorful, sophisticated, fun and has clean lines. “The ‘Hitchcock thing’ about dress like a lady when you’re out and about but it’s ok that that same lady is a little naughty in the bedroom…That sexy doesn’t have to mean showing every part of your anatomy when you’re out at a party, you can be sexy but still be covered up…”

Whether you need a chic dress for work (that can segway into the evening for a night out), check out GlamAmor. Her pieces range from $165-200 for a dress, $250-350 for a coat. Her vintage originals will be starting at $200. Definitely do yourself a favor and invest in a key statement piece. You won’t be disappointed!

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Last Chance Boutique

8712 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-2322
Ph:(310) 287-2333

I was fortunate enough to be invited to tour “Last Chance Boutique” in the Helms district of Culver City. Last Chance was founded in 2001 by Samera Arkel as a sample outlet. It has since developed into a sought-after designer discount boutique with 50-80% off brands such as: Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, James Perse, Zac Posen, Ksubi, J-Brand, Peter Som, Stella McCartney and Eva Franco to name a few. The space was quite ample; with two cozy couches and coffee table, stacked with current fashion magazines. They offer a wide variety of clothing, jewelry, purses and other accessories, as well as some shoes. I also loved that the sales people were friendly but thankfully gave me my space as I browsed the racks. Now is your chance snag items that have been seen on shows like: “The Hills”, “CSI Miami” and “Ugly Betty.” Last Chance is open Tues-Fri 10-6pm, Sat 10-5pm.

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Haute Olive Boutique

838 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone:(213) 413-4888

I first heard of Haute Olive when I did a fashion show with the owner- Amara Wilson. At the time, the store was in Echo Park, but in February 2010, she decided to move to a more burgeoning place in Downtown LA. It’s situated on Spring Street, near the California Market Center in the heart of the “Fashion District.” It’s a quaint little shop, the door is usually open, welcoming customers in. There is also a sale rack placed outside on sunny days where shoppers can browse items on sale. The clothing and shoes, Amara credits to her modeling days, where she didn’t want to get rid of the clothes or give them to Goodwill, so needing a creative outlet, she decided to open up shop. After her stint in Echo Park, (and following her desire to move to the now booming Downtown locale) she had an opportunity to move to her current location on Spring Street. Her best-sellers, she says, would have to be the party dresses (mostly from the ’80′s- her favorite era), which go for $15-40. “My stuff, you could get on the red carpet in it… and you could’ve just been at the beach in it. But then you can turn around.