No Gatekeeping Here: These Are the Best Stores to Find Vintage Gems in L.A.

By Yusra Siddiqui
published

Although NYC has its fair share of well-loved vintage shops, our editors' favorite place to source secondhand items is actually Los Angeles. You can find vintage Gucci by Tom Ford pants that were on the cover of Vogue and runway Dior from the '90s. If you're shopping at the right places, the item you put back on the racks could end up styled on an A-lister or on-screen in your favorite TV show. It's an endless treasure trove.

Since Who What Wear's HQ is in L.A., we can always rely on our West Coast editors to give the best shopping recommendations. They frequent the stores for all kinds of occasions, whether it's packing for Paris Fashion Week or finding something one of a kind for our next cover. If you're visiting for the first time or simply want to know of the best spots to buy vintage in L.A., keep scrolling.

Aralda Vintage

Clothing racks at Aralda Vintage in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

Walking into Aralda Vintage is like what you imagine the most fashionable person in the world's closet would be like. Racks are filled with sequins, tweed, and feathers—all of which you immediately want to try on. It makes sense that Euphoria costume designer Heidi Bivens picked dresses from Aralda to use in the iconic closet scene with Alexa Demie. The store houses top brands like Mugler, Prada, and Chanel and is frequented by the stylists of Zendaya, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kendall Jenner.

Location: 2691 Beachwood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Happy Isles

Woman sitting on floral couch taking a mirror selfie at Happy Isles in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: @happyisles_salon)

If vintage bridal looks are all over your wedding mood board, appointment-only vintage salon Happy Isles should be on your radar. No matter your bridal style, you'll have a variety of options, from vintage Vera Wang to Christian Dior. Founder Lily Kaizer will help you find just what you're looking for on your big day.

Location: 6150 Wilshire Blvd #8, Los Angeles, CA 90048

RLT

Rack of vintage t-shirts at RLT in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: @shop_rlt)

Rachel Tabb founded RLT nearly four years ago, inspired by her childhood love of thrifting and the style of '90s icons like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. At RLT, you can shop from an in-house collection of sleek basics as well as curated vintage items like graphic T-shirts, denim, and jewelry.

Location: 7607 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Scout

Rack of clothes at Scout in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: @scoutla)

Favorited by Editor in Chief Kat Collings, Scout is where you can find unique yet elegant pieces, like tops made from upcycled designer tags and vintage crochet dresses in mint condition. Before you head to the designer boutiques on Melrose and pay full price, see if you can find a one-of-a-kind item at Scout.

Location: 8021 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Wasteland

Silver and gold bags laid on gold fabric.

(Image credit: @shopwasteland)

One trip to Wasteland could take hours simply because there's just so much to sift through. You could find a sold-out pair of Nike sneakers you've been on the hunt for, a vintage lace suit, or a contemporary designer item from last season. Variety isn't a problem here.

Locations: 7428 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

12144 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

5910 N Figueroa Street, Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Squaresville

A pile of vintage clothes at Squaresville in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: @squaresvillevintage)

Squaresville calls itself the "sexiest vintage store in L.A.," and they're not wrong. The store buys and sells men's and women's clothing and accessories with a focus on unique and funky pieces. Scour this two-floor store and you'll be sure to come out with something that'll draw attention.

Location: 1800 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Yusra Siddiqui
Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.
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