Shop til you drop in Los Angeles

Without wanting to overcook this, there’s something a little bit special about The Grove. Los Angeles local’s favourite mall has managed to do what most malls shy away from – embrace its history. Before the 50 or so glitzy stores in this outdoor mall were built, the site was home to a farmer’s market. Rather than convince the farmers to set up shop elsewhere, the two coexist in harmony – adding that touch of local flair to global branding and familiar franchise faces. Make no mistake, you’ll be keen to swerve the fruit and veg for a seat at the Cheesecake Factory, but seeing LA locals shop for daily supplies adds an extra touch to the special shopping experience the Grove does so well. 

On Wednesdays, we wear pink. If you’re all over the cult classic movie reference, you’ll love the Beverly Centre. One of the three malls used as a filming location for Mean Girls, this Los Angeles mall might look a little different these days, but still draws in the crowds. Rather than carve out an exclusive niche for itself, the Beverly Centre allows you to do much more than window shop. Fast fashion giants H&M mingle with Versace and Prada, with a little UniQLO added in. Whatever your wallet size, you can shop here. Which isn’t always the case in some of LA’s more exclusive shopping districts. If ever there was the ultimate place to build a capsule wardrobe around a statement designer piece (or two), this is IT. And, if you’ve grown up glued to the silver screen, finally being able to set foot in a Bloomingdales or Macys might just be a dream come true. 

Can we ignore the largest shopping mall on the west coast just because of an Orange County address? That’s a hard NO. The South Coast Plaza is an overwhelmingly gorgeous, 64 acre plot stuffed with art, couture and classy dining spots. There’s no Cheesecake Factory or IHOP (International House of Pancakes) here. That minor inconvenience aside, this is the place to browse the rails of Alexander McQueen, slip into some Jimmy Choos, wrap yourself in a Hermes scarf and see if Tiffany & Co have anything in your size. If the glittering prices are a little steep, there’s always the chance to dine at the jeweller’s first foray into cuisine at The Blue Box Cafe. No, we didn’t see that one coming either. Still, it’s a meal few outside California will experience, for now. Upscale, but still accessible, South Coast Plaza keeps things real by including a J.Crew and a Pottery Barn to spend it up in.  

Stylists and creatives in the city often swerve the Los Angeles mall scene to shop here instead. The reason? Since 1997, Sunday’s at the Melrose Trading Post market on Melrose Avenue have been a reliable source of vintage clothing, handmade jewellery, sought after antiques and those unique design pieces we all go crazy for. Add in the non-profit vibes and raising money for a local school never felt so good. The $5 entrance fee buys you a place in the ‘real’ LA, a chance to see some local music on the performance stages and a graze along the food trucks too.