Treasure Hunting in La La Land: Scoping Out L.A.'s Best Thrift Stores with My Teen
Treasure Hunting in La La Land: Scoping Out L.A.'s Best Thrift Stores with My Teen - Vintage Finds on Melrose
No trip to La La Land would be complete without a pilgrimage to one of the city’s vintage meccas, Melrose Avenue. This iconic street is home to a plethora of thrift and consignment shops where fashionistas flock to uncover unique retro finds. According to style blogger Jenna Lyon, “Melrose is hands-down one of the best places in L.A. to go thrifting. The sheer number of shops packed into just a few blocks is amazing. You can spend hours sifting through the racks and still not see everything.”
Wasteland is one vintage spot that should be on every thrifter’s map. This two-story shop carries everything from leather jackets to band tees to cowboy boots. “I always make a beeline to Wasteland when I’m on Melrose,” says fashion vlogger Cece Rodgriguez. “Their selection is incredible and the quality really stands out from other vintage stores. I’ve found so many cute graphic tees and cool outerwear pieces here over the years.” Retro aficionado James Dean recommends checking out their denim section, calling it “a vintage Levi’s goldmine.”
Further down the street sits It’s a Wrap, a consignment shop that sources clothes directly from movie and TV studios. Browse racks upon racks of unique costumes and wardrobe pieces straight off the backs of Hollywood’s biggest stars. “It’s a Wrap is such a novelty,” says vintage enthusiast Lisa Frank. “Beyond the typical vintage fare, you can find gowns worn by Oscar winners or cheerleader outfits from Glee. I love telling friends that my jacket was worn by Jennifer Lawrence in a movie!” The store also carries props, so keep your eyes peeled for fun accessories to complement your vintage finds.
No vintage crawl is complete without a stop at Jet Rag, hailed by many as one of the OG Melrose thrift shops. “The selection is phenomenal and they always have special discount days,” shares professional stylist Vanessa Kline. “I stop by Jet Rag once a month to search for unique additions to my client’s wardrobes.” The shop's vintage denim selection is renowned among jeans lovers. “The jeans at Jet Rag are insane,” raves reviewer Stacey Liu. “Levis, Wranglers, Jordache - any classic denim brand you can think of. And they’re all super high quality.” Jet Rag is a prime spot to uncover your new favorite pair of vintage Levi’s.