So Details did THE BEST MENS SHOPS IN L.A. Though I agree with their choices why only 3? Yes, LA is incredibly style challenged. On any given day all you see is too-skinny, slacker actors in too-skinny colored jeans, vintage tees and those girly lil tennis shoes that make a man’s foot look like he’s a tranny at an all girls parochial school. This however just means they should stop shopping at Urban Outfitters (in the girls section) or Fred Segal (in any section).
These boys just pick wrong. That’s it! They have broken pickers!
Here are my fave stores in LA:
Douglass Fir
Owner Jon Noble says “basically we just buy what we like & put it in the store.” Jon has really good taste. This understated cool boutique has been around for 10 years & counting. One day while shopping the crew who recognized me & were super cool, cut me a break on a pair of Paul Smith boots. They were on sale at Barney’s and the guys matched the price. That’s customer service.
Faves: Paul Smith, Martin Margiela
8311 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 651-5445
Apartment Number 9
I’ve known the girls from Apartment Number 9 for ages. Their 1st store in on Damen Ave in Chicago remains one of my favorites and is a must visit each time I return home. Their cozy, lil store in Santa Monica’s Brentwood Country Mart is a haven of cool, wearable clothes for the guy that wants to look great without a lot of tricky bells and whistles. Don’t go unless you wanna buy something because what you are looking for is there.
Faves: Seize Sur Vingt, Steven Alan, Trovata, Mason’s
225 26th St., Santa Monica, (310) 394-9440
I have a major love/hate relationship with American Rag Cie. The worst customer service in LA. The best shoe department in LA. The coolest mens vintage in LA. The worst merchandising in LA. The coolest collection of books & music in LA. The worst customer service in LA. The only store more over-priced than American Rag Cie is Fred Segal. They really do have a great selection of new and established designers but it’s a fight to pull a hanger out of the racks & God forbid you need help from the pouty, insouciant sales staff. This is where disgruntled hipsters work before they go to die at Fred Segal Melrose.
Faves: Acne, Fred Perry by Raf Simmons, Comme des Garcons
150 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 935-3154
J. Lindeberg
Don’t even get me started with “J.” The best tailored suits at a surprisingly inexpensive price (if compared to comparable designers like John Varvatos, Helmut Lang, and Paul Smith). Sleek, minimal, perfect are words I think of when describing Stockholm based designer J. Lindeberg. Every man needs a tux and no one cuts a young, hip tux like J. When you see Brad Pitt dressed up, odds are he’s wearing J. Lindeberg. I’ll never get over the fact that he no longer does boot cut trousers! Never.
Faves: Mark Dressed Wool Trouser, Mick Dressed Wool Blazer
8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 659-7340
Legion Los Angeles
Coolest thing on Larchmont Blvd. I’m a huge fan of their mens accessories. The store is sort of uneven. For every cool thing there’s a slightly cheesy thing. You kinda have to be careful here and edit well.
Faves: Engineered Garments, A.P.C., Gilded Age, Rogan, Marc by Marc Jacobs
141 1/2 N Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 871-1900
Alpha Man
It’s not just because the owners Darren Gold & Christos Garinkos are such cutie patooties, it’s because this store is a mens emporium. From the best cashmere sweaters to the coolest underwear to the newest in skincare to the best stationary, games, books, gadgets, et al., this is the store to get the guy, that has everything, the gift he doesn’t have!
Faves: John Richmond, Vince, John Bartlett
8625 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (310) 855-0775
Opening Ceremony
The coolest mens & womens store in LA. Period. I haven’t been so floored by a store since the 1st time I entered Colette in Paris in ’97.
Faves: Rodarte, Gitman Brothers for Opening Ceremony, T by Alexander Wang
451 La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-1120
Ronen is sexy. You can just imagine Ronen wearing is barely there swimsuits, sunning himself in Capri. I love that this store doesn’t just sell Parke & Ronen but also cool tees and even cute tennis shoes by Le Coq Sportif.
Faves: Corcovado Bikini, Naples Shorts
8012 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 852-1635
Details choices (while maverick they are a bit too specific for my taste). I do like Craft but would like to see more:
Vintage furniture and beach-bum-worthy hoodies.
1624 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 450-4891
Rugged classics by Filson and Pendleton, plus its own denim label.
1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-7200
Alden shoes and Moscot glasses, along with Japanese heavyweights like Sugar Cane jeans.
513 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 855-3976
And 1 store I’m terribly excited for:
My pal & sidekick Andrew Christian is opening his eponymous store later this month. AC* has become one of the top mens underwear and swim wear designers in the world with his sexy take on very male iconology (firefighters, policemen, rugby players, etc.).
8943 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (no phone # yet.)
So there you have it! I take on LA’s hottest mens stores with just a little help and inspiration from Details magazine. Think I missed anything? Please comment below! Happy shopping!