Los Angeles: A Vintage Fashion Mecca Fuels Hollywood Glamour and Global Style

Los Angeles has firmly established itself as a global hub for vintage fashion, evolving beyond a mere lifestyle trend into a significant cultural pillar. From Melrose Avenue to West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the East Side, vintage boutiques and showrooms are ubiquitous. The city’s vintage scene, nurtured since the mid-1990s, showcases the complete history of American and international fashion, the ingenuity of designers, and the enduring influence of Hollywood glamour.

The Way We Wore, a true vintage temple, has recently transitioned into a showroom operating by appointment only after two decades on Beverly Boulevard. Founded by Doris Raymond, who began her vintage journey in San Francisco in 1981 before relocating to Los Angeles in 2001, the boutique quickly gained recognition, becoming a go-to destination for stylists, designers, collectors, and artists. Raymond’s extensive collection spans from late 19th-century historical pieces to evening gowns and cocktail dresses from luxury houses like Chanel, Fendi, Chloé, Roberto Cavalli, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Nina Ricci, and Paco Rabanne, covering the period from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Raymond approaches her collection with a museum-like dedication to preservation, meticulously caring for each garment, including pieces acquired during her travels to Mexico, Iran, and China. A significant sale in 2022, featuring over 400 treasures by Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Versace through Julien’s Auctions, solidified her reputation as the “fairy godmother of fashion inspiration.” The Way We Wore continues to attract a high-profile clientele, including stylists like Jared Ellner (Sabrina Carpenter’s chief stylist) and artistic directors such as Nicolas Ghesquière, John Galliano, and Olivier Rousteing, as well as actresses like Busy Philipps. Prices begin at $500, with items like Gucci pumps available for $295. The showroom is located at 8057 Beverly Blvd Suite 200, West Hollywood.

Ressurection, another vintage legend, was established in 1996 in Los Angeles, following the opening of its New York location (which closed during the 2020 pandemic). Founders Kathryn McLaughlin and Mark Haddawy were pioneers in treating vintage clothing as art, elevating its status to that of contemporary haute couture. Ressurection played a crucial role in establishing vintage as a luxury market and fostering fashion collecting. Today, it offers rare and iconic pieces from the 20th century, with a focus on clothing from the 1960s to 2010 by designers like Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Helmut Lang, Mugler, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Prada, and Jean Paul Gaultier, with starting prices at $450.

The collection draws stylists and celebrities to its showroom (now discreetly located on Melrose Avenue), attracting stars like Katy Perry, Hailey Bieber, Tate McRae, and Kim Kardashian. Ressurection also offers a rental service, the Resurrection Rental Archive, allowing access to statement and avant-garde pieces from renowned American, European, and Japanese fashion houses on a daily, monthly, or weekly basis. The address is 8006 Melrose Avenue.

Hidden in the Hollywood Hills, in Beachwood Canyon, Aralda Vintage has become a celebrated destination. The shop boasts a striking orange interior and an atmosphere reminiscent of a stylish cabinet of curiosities, adorned with antique furniture, vintage florals, old clocks, and issues of fashion magazines like The Face, I.D., and Vogue. Created by Brynn Jones, a former model and avid vintage hunter, Aralda features pieces from major fashion houses, including Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Mugler, and Dolce & Gabbana, blending maximalist and minimalist styles from the 1970s to the 2000s.

Recently featured items include a Gianni Versace baroque dress from Fall/Winter 1991, a Thierry Mugler haute couture dress from Fall/Winter 1992 (“Glamour Punk”), and a black and gold Yves Saint Laurent "Rive Gauche" dress from Fall 1986. Aralda’s curated selection is frequently seen on red carpets and worn by stars like Jennifer Aniston, Ariana Grande, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Liza Minelli. The boutique is located at 2691 Beachwood Drive, Hollywood.

Recess, a fashion landmark on La Brea Avenue (with a second location now open in Palm Springs as of 2024), was opened in 2013 by Marie Monsod. The boutique combines pieces from major luxury brands with a wide selection of red carpet outfits from the 1940s to the present, featuring Valentino, Chanel, Thierry Mugler, Dior, Balmain, Pucci, Gucci, and independent designers. It also offers jewelry, accessories, tableware, and home décor in Art Deco and Hollywood Regency styles. The new Beverly Hills location, though smaller, maintains the Hollywood Regency aesthetic with a marble counter, pink terrazzo floor, and patterned wallpaper. Prices range from $225 for a Geoffrey Beene lace top to $1,295 for a Pucci dress.

All Los Angeles stylists, including Law Roach and Bradley Kenneth, are familiar with Recess. The boutiques are located at 111 North La Brea Avenue and 220 N Canon Drive.

Timeless Vixen, founded by Lauren Lepire, began as an online store before opening its Beverly Hills showroom in 2017. Lepire, a vintage enthusiast since her teenage years, grew her online hobby into a reputable business. Her curated collection spans all decades, featuring rare haute couture and iconic pieces by designers like Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler, Emanuel Ungaro, Yohji Yamamoto, and Tom Ford. Recent finds include a Ralph Lauren dress from Fall/Winter 2014, an ivory silk chiffon creation by Angelo Tarlazzi from 1990, and a cape worn by Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac.

Red carpet dresses range from $3,000 to $22,000 for a 1950s Carven haute couture piece. Lepire showcases dresses on the boutique’s Instagram account, and her pieces have been worn by celebrities like Courtney Love, Kate Moss, and Ariana Grande, and featured in Hollywood productions. She recently collaborated with Alexander McQueen, lending pieces to the “House of McQueen” exhibition. The boutique is located at 1100 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.

In November 2022, Richard Wainwright, a vintage enthusiast and collector, opened Arcade at Row DTLA in the Arts District. Wainwright is also the co-creator of A Current Affair, a popular pop-up market in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Arcade, dedicated exclusively to women, presents a rotating selection of rare pieces from a network of vintage dealers, including Versace, Oscar de la Renta, Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel bags, and Louis Vuitton, displayed in an art gallery setting. Prices range from $300 for a Jean Paul Gaultier dress to $998 for a Celine dress and leather goods. Pickwick Vintage, a monthly market curated by Wainwright, also takes place at Row DTLA. The address is 777 S Alameda St, Row DTLA.

American Rag, founded by Mark Werts on La Brea Avenue in the 1980s, initially focused on importing vintage European clothing and offering a unique selection of contemporary pieces, particularly denim. Forty-five years later, the concept remains largely unchanged. The store continues to attract Los Angeles stylists, fashion creatives, and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Dakota Johnson, Ashlee Simpson, and Cindy Crawford. The store is organized into three spaces: a central room with affordable contemporary brands, a Vintage space with thousands of items and a “Collectible” section, and Maison Midi, featuring decorative items and tableware. Prices range from $40 for a shirt to $500 or $1,000 for collectible items. The address is 150 S La Brea Avenue.

Scout, opened in 2003 on West Third Street and relocated to Melrose Avenue in 2013, is known for its selection of vintage fashion from the 1970s to the 1990s, sourced from European and Japanese designer collections. Co-founder Joey Grana, also co-curator of A Current Affair, offers a curated selection of brands including Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Dries Van Noten, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. The boutique attracts a clientele of artists, musicians, stylists, and celebrities like Isabel Marant, Kelly Wearstler, Humberto Leon, and Sophie Buhai. Prices range from $150 for a top to over $1,000 for designer pieces. The address is 8021 Melrose Avenue.

Brian Cohen, originally from Westchester County, New York, has been collecting vintage items since his teenage years, with a particular passion for post-war fashion from the 1940s and 1950s. Mentored by Bobby Garnett of Boston’s legendary vintage shop, Cohen opened his Los Feliz boutique in 2016, catering to musicians, designers, and Hollywood productions. His collection features pieces from the 1940s to the 1990s, with bold prints and handmade items, including a vast collection of Hawaiian shirts. His pieces have been worn by Johnny Depp, LP, Leon Bridges, and Pharrell Williams. Prices start at $250. The address is 4659 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Feliz.

Golden Age Hollywood, founded in 2016 by Frenchman Ludvic Orlando and vintage specialist Jesse Bardy, is located in the Silver Lake neighborhood. The boutique, decorated with portraits of Hollywood stars, offers French workwear (Le Mont Saint Michel, Lafont, Le Laboureur), vintage military clothing, and American pieces, including Levi's and Korean War-era masks. They also have their own line of women’s heeled shoes inspired by Hollywood’s golden age. The selection attracts stylists, costume designers, musicians, and actors like Angelina Jolie, Lily Rose-Deep, Hedi Slimane, Austin Butler, Jeremy Allen White, and Jacob Elordi. Prices start at $80. The address is 3210 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood.

Ending Soon, founded in Paris and now with locations in Los Angeles, New York, and soon Paris, offers a transcontinental vintage experience. The Los Angeles studio, located in Melrose Hill, resembles a large apartment with white parquet flooring, brutalist furniture, and ikebana arrangements. Founders Houman Farahmand and Senya Barski curate a collection of unique contemporary clothing from around the world, including Marni, Prada, Celine, Christian Dior, and Yohji Yamamoto, as well as leather goods, striped shirts, and evening dresses. The studio also features jewelry by Stacey Nishimoto, fashion books, and candles. Prices start at $250 or $300. The address is 544 N Western Avenue.

Lily and Co., opened nearly 40 years ago in Beverly Hills by collector Rita Watnick, is renowned for its museum-quality collection of 20th and 21st-century vintage designer clothing. Watnick believes that old clothes are not relics but timeless pieces. The intimate space features pieces from Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Chanel, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Paco Rabanne. The boutique has dressed celebrities like Demi Moore, Renee Zellwegger, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Ariana Grande, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Margot Robbie, Kim Kardashian, and Penelope Cruz, and collaborated with fashion museums. Prices range from $300 to several thousand dollars. The location is Red Building East Wing by Appointment Only, 750 N San Vicente Blvd.

Elizabeth Mason opened her vintage store in Los Angeles in 1995, following the publication of her vintage shopping guide, "The Rag Street Journal" (1992), and its sequel, "Valuable Vintage." The Paper Bag Princess, named after a children’s book, opened on Melrose Avenue in 2017, featuring pieces from Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Roberto Cavalli. Celebrities like Kim Petras, Ana Furtado, Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Lana Del Rey, and Kim Kardashian have utilized her services. Prices start at $800 and can reach several thousand dollars. The address is 8050 Melrose Avenue.