Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [174]
Babeland (Map; 323-634-9480; 7007 Melrose Ave, Mid-City; noon-10pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun) This women-owned store quite literally puts ‘babes in Toyland’ but don’t expect the PG variety. Neatly arranged between candy-colored walls are dildos, handcuffs, strap-ons, vibes and other tools to tickle your fancy – or whatever. All staff are ‘sex educators’ happy to advise on how to play.
Pleasure Chest (Map; 323-650-1022; 7733 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood; 10am-midnight Sun-Wed, 10am-1am Thu, 10am-2am Fri & Sat) LA’s kingdom of kinkiness is filled with sexual hardware catering to every conceivable fantasy and fetish, though more of the naughty than the nice kind.
Other sexy stores:
Agent Provocateur (Map; 323-653-0229; 7961 Melrose Ave, Mid-City; closed Sun) This British chain is one of the hottest tickets in hubba-hubba playwear.
Panty Raid (off Map; 323-668-1888; 2738½ Glendale Blvd, Silver Lake; ) This little indie panty parlor has all the cool labels – Hanky Panky to Hard Tail.
VINTAGE & RESALE
LA is a shopper’s paradise for those with diva tastes but more pauperlike bank balances. Thanks to leagues of label hounds addicted to staying ahead of the fashion curve, there’s plenty of great used clothing to be found across the city – and we’re not talking musty thrift-store chic.
Decades & Decades Two (Map; 323-655-0223, 323-655-1960; 8214 Melrose Ave, Mid-City; 11:30am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun) Industry stylists and celebs love Cameron Silver’s knack for digging up rare ’60s and ’70s couture and accessories by such design legends as Pucci, Courrèges, Paco Rabanne and Chanel. His recently expanded style salon also includes Decades Two, where the focus is on barely worn contemporary styles that may include Jimmy Choo heels, Stella McCartney jackets, Prada totes and Marc Jacobs skirts.
Shareen Vintage (off Map; 310-276-6226; 350 N Ave 21, Downtown; 10am-5pm Wed & Sat, noon-6pm Sun; ) You’ll feel like the ultimate insider journeying down a grimy cul-de-sac to this signless warehouse where Shareen Mitchell wants you looking fab in yesteryear’s fashions. If that mod mini is all wrong for you, she’ll let you know. Most items sell for between $20 and $45 with some going for $1 to $5 during blowout sales every third Saturday of the month.
St Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop (off Map; 323-224-6280; 210 N Ave 21, Downtown; 9:30am-6pm; ) This ‘Pentagon-sized’ thrift shop is the best in town, bar none. And it’s just a few doors from Shareen Vintage.
Sielian’s Vintage Apparel (Map; 310-246-9595; 9013 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood; 11-7pm Mon-Fri, noon-6pm Sat) Like Shareen (see above), Sielian used to sell her frocks on flea markets but now her fan base of artists, stylists and celebs like Lucy Liu can feed their fashion cravings in a neatly kept storefront with dressing rooms. Most items cost between $60 and $180.
Melrose between La Brea and Fairfax is resale city. At warehouse-sized Wasteland (Map; 323-653-3028; 7428 Melrose Ave, Mid-City; 11am-8pm Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm Sun) you could pocket an American Apparel tee along with a Prada bag and ’70s polyester shirt for less than $50. Prices are lower and styles more contemporary across the street at Crossroads (Map; 323-782-8100; 7409 Melrose Ave; noon-8pm Mon-Sat, noon-7pm Sun), which has premium denim (Seven, True Religion) and coveted Calvin, BCBG and other labels. Around the corner is Jet Rag (Map; 323-939-0528; 825 N La Brea Ave; 11am-7:30pm), famous for its Sunday ‘rag picker’ parking-lot sale when each item sells for $1.
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IT’S A WRAP
Dress like a movie star – in their actual clothes! Packed-to-the-rafters It’s a Wrap (www.itsawraphollywood.com; 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat & Sun) Beverly Hills (Map; 310-246-9727; 1164 S Robertson Blvd) Burbank (Map; 818-567-7366; 3315 W Magnolia Ave) sells wardrobe castoffs from TV and film studios –