Traveling out to LA and SF for a bit, where should I swing by?
We're taking a road trip out West from Wisconsin and we'll be spending a few days each in LA and SF. What are some cool stores or thrift shops that ya'll would recommend checking out while I'm out there? I'm really enjoying styling inspired by brands like Portuguese Flannel, Pendleton, Norse Projects, Outdoor Research, Orslow, and RRL at the moment, but I'm interested in everything!
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For retail stores in LA you could definitely spend an afternoon checking out the shops on/around La Brea, American Rag, General Quarters, Self Edge, Mister Freedom etc. The RRL store in West Hollywood is cool to look at. Mohawk General Store is a great multi brand store in Silver Lake that has both mens and womens stuff. Snake Oil Provisions and Freenote Cloth in Highland Park are both good for Americana type stuff.
For thrifts/secondhand most of the Crossroads locations usually have good stuff. I go to the ones in Silver Lake and Los Feliz most often and have seen all of the brands you listed there. Wasteland is also good for higher end stuff. Basic thrift stores like Goodwill can have good stuff if you want to look, just avoid the ones in the trendier neighborhoods (for example the big one in Los Feliz) as theyre completely picked through. I find my best stuff at the ones in Glendale.
LA has a lot more options than SF. In SF, thrifting is good at haight ashbury. You can go to goodwill, Buffalo exchange, 2nd street, wasteland, and a bunch of vintage stores all in walking distance. Otherwise, Hayes Valley has a few shops that might be noteworthy: APC, Buck Mason, Cotton Sheep (lots of Kap). The rest of the shopping is concentrated in union square which has the big department stores and luxury stores, all in walking distance. A recommendation I actually have is to check out Ministry of Scent which is a pretty famous perfume store that stocks a lot of indie scents
LA on melrose has also a great thrifting scene with similar stores. Id also go to brain dead in LA because it’s cool, affordable and also a good LA brand. Rodeo is good for luxury and mall brands. Strangely, I like to shop in Sherman Oaks because it’s kinda quiet. There’s a Buffalo and 2nd street there as well as some streetwear spots.