A Shopper’s Guide to LA

It's ok to be a little excited about getting to cross Rodeo Drive intersections diagonally. 

Rodeo Drive 
You have to go. Even if you don’t buy anything, just walk up and down while taking in the visual overload, and then reward yourself with a crepe, a coffee or a cupcake at some adorable place close by. Rodeo Drive is truly breathtaking, but it’s not the only shopping in the area. Wilshire Road, at the foot of Rodeo, has the most beautiful Barney’s in the country and a Neiman Marcus with an amazing shoe department. If your budget isn’t quite big enough for Bijan (and even if it is, please don’t go there), Beverly Drive next to Rodeo has more affordable options such as Intermix, Planet Blue and Scoop. Other cool-girl stores in the area include Kyle Richards’ store Kyle by Alene Too and the Anastasia Beverly Hills salon/shop.

My favorite stores: Barney’s, Chanel, Gucci
Grab a bite: Afternoon tea at Blvd, Fred’s at Barney’s, Il Pastaio, Sweet Beverly

Third Street Promenade 
Where Rodeo focuses on quality, Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica opts for quantity. This massive outdoor shopping street has more than 100 stores, though only a few are retailers you can’t find at a mall in any other major-ish city. A note about the Promenade: Santa Monica, unlike beach towns like Malibu and Laguna Beach, has legalized homelessness, so you will see many homeless in the area. You’ll also see a lot of teenie boppers. For a more grown-up, fancy outdoor shopping experience, try nearby Montana Ave.

My favorite stores: Nike, Nasty Gal
Grab a bite: Shophouse, Cassia, The Ivy, The Misfit

The Grove 
Honestly, I have never understood the appeal of The Grove. Average stores, average restaurants and scarce free parking. The highlights of this West LA shopping destination are its movie theater and farmer’s market.

My favorite stores: Riceteria, Taschen, Nike again
Grab a bite: Laduree, Farmer’s Market 

Robertson Blvd 
I love Robertson. Chic, unpretentious and not even bragging about having LA’s best lunch spot and biggest Intermix. On the southern outliers of the shopping blocks of the street, you’ll find more goodies like the super clean, cute and reasonably priced Nailbar, where the nail techs do amazing art, give you champagne and speak perfect English. Also, there’s Robertson Blvd Medspa, the walk-in medical spa that does a really, really good job at mystery maintenance for a competitive price. And all the way up on Robertson, you’ll find Lisa Vanderpump’s hotspots Sur and Pump.

My favorite stores: Intermix, Curve
Grab a bite: The Ivy, Sur, Petrossian

Malibu Country Mart
One of the most appealing things about going to Malibu Country Mart is the scenic drive up the PCH. And once you get there, you’ll find that lower Malibu is pretty picturesque too in a cute, untrendy, laid-back kind of a way. Here at the city’s one-stop shopping strip, you’ll find beachier versions of the same shops you’ll find at other LA shopping destinations. Intermix, Curve, Sephora, and a few swim shops (duh) accompany a lux grocery store, a Chipotle, a Mr. Chow’s and Cie Sparks salon, where Heather Cie (who used to do my hair at Meche) now looks after the tresses of Malibu’s locals. 

My favorite stores: Planet Blue, Wildfox, Madison
Grab a bite: Mr Chow, Nobu, Vintage Grocers, Geroffrey’s

Melrose Place
Just incase you’ve never actually seen a single episode of Melrose Place and don’t know what it is, let me tell you. It’s another shopping destination for West Hollywood’s cool crowd. It’s stores range from better brands for fashionistas to premiere designers, with a few cafes and salons thrown in for fun. 901 is a top three LA hair salon, Alfred is way, way better than Starbucks and DASH has a surprisingly good selection of pieces for the perfect LA girl wardrobe. 

My favorite stores: Dash, Isabel Marant, Reformation, Fred Segal
Grab a bite: Mauro’s, Alfred, Taste on Melrose, Blu Jam Cafe