The Lucky Los Angeles Store Directory

Locals head to this bustling bazaar to take advantage of the well-edited, wallet-friendly selection of vintage clothing. Keep an eye out for the booth singularly stocked with nicely distressed leather boots.

7850 Melrose Ave., melrosetradingpost.org

With a design philosophy rooted in vintage workwear, this chainlet is packed with shrunken leather jackets and charcoal-hued strapless dresses.


100 N. Robertson BLVD., L.A., 310-432-8484

With an exterior shrouded in shrubbery, Church is almost easy to miss. But everything inside the West Hollywood boutique—from the plaster warriors that serve as mannequins to the tissue-thin leather jackets by Grai that swing from the rafters—makes a serious statement. The owners ferret out emerging designers, like Another Happy Birthday, along with offbeat bits of decor (glass lanterns, Moroccan chairs, bronzed tables) that are also for sale


7277 Santa Monica Blvd., 323-876-8887, churchboutique.com

The designer behind this overwhelmingly successful collection was 31 when he started his line in 2005; now he can boast four gorgeous stand-alone boutiques. The Los Angeles shop was the third to open (there are others in New York and Tokyo), but it's arguably the best-looking, with painted foam walls and cool slate floors. An understated elegance is the abiding theme behind the clothes too, from lace-edged camisoles to pintucked blouses. There are also pieces from the organic Go Green Go collection.


631 N. Robertson Blvd., 310-289-0888, 31philliplim.com

The tiles on the walls of 06+ are cracked, the floor is scuffed, the lighting dodgy—surprising for a just-opened spot, but it's perfectly in line with the meticulously thought-out decor of high-concept stores of Tokyo, on which this boutique is based. All of the displays and offerings are fabulously offbeat, like a stunningly chic necklace that's strung together with safety pins and made of both cheap charms and precious stones. Look for inventory from fresh, emerging Japanese designers—like For Ceremony and Undercoverism—that you'll find only here.


125 W. Fourth St., No. 106, 213-626-6606

There are only three locations of this much-loved French retailer in the States. The outpost in West Hollywood—just off bustling Melrose—feels like a general store, with cement floors and simple iron fixtures. It's an appropriate backdrop for the wildly chic, straightforward wares, which are cut in utilitarian shapes (streamlined printed dresses, perfectly draped trench coats).


619 N. Croft Ave., 323-297-0414, apc.fr

This spot consistently takes chances on pieces that won't appeal to everyone—dead-stock sunglasses, vintage handbags, and Sid Vintage—but those who are drawn to them will appreciate them tenfold.


8403 W. Third St., 323-653-4651

This 2008 addition to West Hollywood looks like it was carved from a single piece of white material. It's an inspired and streamlined setting for the highly structured silhouettes, though we're particularly taken with McQueen's forward-thinking accessories.


8379 Melrose Ave., 323-782-4983, alexandermcqueen.com

A few of the local American Apparel stores also sell a curated selection of '70s-inspired vintage picks under the name California Select. One can be found at the Echo Park flagship, alongside an ample array of the company's bestselling leggings and long layering tees.


2121 W. Sunset Blvd., 213-484-6464; plus other locations, americanapparel.net