LA denim tour

[annay]

Hiya, i'm a nooby here and i love all your knowledge you guys are crazy. Next month i'm going over to LA and San Francisco with my boss and i'd like to do some jeans shopping and hes game too. Its my first time and i reckon i can blag a few free days in each city to see some denim, so can you guys hit me up with a good itinerary? I dont wanna get lost so i wanna make a plan before i get there. Ive seen a few shops mentioned like Fred Seagal and Hollywood Trading Co. Anything else i shouldnt miss.

Thanks! xxAnna

[justinbaily21]

Self Edge!

[aubrgene]

American Rag et Cie on La Brea Avenue

Mister Freedom on Beverly Blvd. It's around the corner from American Rag.

Hollywood Trading Company on Beverly Blvd. Next door from Good Eats

Then you go to Fred Segal in Sta. Monica -- move closer to the beach and go to 3rd Street Promenade and visit the Levi's Store that carries LVC's. The weather promises to be good so think Spring. Yes, you may bring your trenchcoat. Hahah.

[PG2G]

What do they carry at Mister Freedom?

[annay]

American Rag et Cie on La Brea Avenue

Mister Freedom on Beverly Blvd. It's around the corner from American Rag.

Hollywood Trading Company on Beverly Blvd. Next door from Good Eats

Then you go to Fred Segal in Sta. Monica -- move closer to the beach and go to 3rd Street Promenade and visit the Levi's Store that carries LVC's. The weather promises to be good so think Spring. Yes, you may bring your trenchcoat. Hahah.

thanks aubry:) Thats just what i wanted. Any cool malls or department stores?

Justin yeh i know about selfedge. I wanna check it out. Are there any other places in SF? A nice tour like that nice aubry just gave me would be hella nice:):)

not just raw denim either please i like it on a man but sometimes washed is good.

[No -]

^I saw Mr. Freedom x Sugarcane denim in the new Lightning magazine.

[aubrgene]

What do they carry at Mister Freedom?

Anything vintage-- from boots, jeans, t- shirts, etc. Check them out. They do sell Sugar Canes and Christophe ( owner ) , designed a 30's inspired workwear jeans with SC. It's a Mister Freedom Colloboration with Sugar Canes ( MRxSC) It will have a cinch - back. Due by the end of this month. Check it out!

[aubrgene]

thanks aubry:) Thats just what i wanted. Any cool malls or department stores?

Justin yeh i know about selfedge. I wanna check it out. Are there any other places in SF? A nice tour like that nice aubry just gave me would be hella nice:):)

not just raw denim either please i like it on a man but sometimes washed is good.

I forgot to mention that a few stores down from America Rag et Cie heading north is undefeated ( now famous shoe store), Volcom, Stussy, etc. Malls -- start at the Grove/Farmer's Market on Third Street. From Third Street you can walk west going towards La Cienega Blvd. where you'll find the Beverly Center Mall. Third Street , not to be confused with 3rd Street Promenade in Sta. Monica, you'll find nice boutiques as well such as Douglas Fir, Franck, small cafe's. etc. Happy hunting!

[Chicken]

rose bowl?

[jaspar]

^

If you can, avoid the Beverly Center or Third St. Promenade (in Santa Monica) entirely, and even be wary of The Grove; however you should check out the farmer's market adjacent to the Grove. LA shopping culture (speaking to its suburbanity) tends to be mall-fixated, so the cooler and less trafficked stores are certainly outside these malls. In terms of brands at each stores:

1. American Rag's World Denim Bar (lame name) on La Brea carries conventional american brands like Earnest Sewn, Rogan and LVC, as well as a few less common lines like Chimala, Cassette and KMW.

2. Douglas Fir just now carries KMW as well, and there sales staff is among the nicest in LA (one of the owners is British too).

3. I strongly recommend South Willard on 3rd St. (in West Hollywood); they carry APC and Rag & Bone, but most importantly their own South Willard brand manufactured entirely at the same factory as 45rpm in Japan, using really top-tier denim. Those come in 2 fits. Also Ryan the owner, is the nicest retail salesperson in LA.

4. Hollywood Trading Company is also very cool-ly staffed and stocked, and they tend to rotate featured brands from month to month. This month it's been RRL but they also are the only US retailer for HTC's own brand, Stevenson Overalls. They also have a branch at Fred Segal in Santa Monica.

In lieu of any mall, I would visit Barney's in Beverly Hills and/or any of the other high end department stores there. Beverly Hills tends to feel like a sprawling outdoor mall anyway, and at least you don't have to suffer flourescent lighting and the constant smell of Cinnabon. Dior Homme and the Levi's store (which stocks a lot of LVC) are within 2 blocks of each other.

[aubrgene]

Hmm.. I'm not aware of a Levi's Store in Beverly Hills 2 blocks from Dior Homme . What street is it on?

[jaspar]

^ Beverly Dr.

[aubrgene]

Thanks!

http://www.lasplash.com/StyleAndFashion/Levi_s_New_Store_Opens_in_Beverly_Hills.php

[Mr Calvin Oscar]

HTC is all you need... and random thrift stores around that area

[iequalratings]

When you come to SF

-SelfEdge

-Azalea Boutique

-American Rag

-Villans and Villans Vault

also I guess--Bloomigdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom etc.

[nb!]

this place Strong Hold just opend by my house, seemed pretty cool. went in there the other day to get my flatheads hem. guy told me they make customs, you pick denim, rivits, thread, etc for 286+, im not a "hardcore" denim guy. but he had some pretty cool colors/etc to pick from

[aubrgene]

this place Strong Hold just opend by my house, seemed pretty cool. went in there the other day to get my flatheads hem. guy told me they make customs, you pick denim, rivits, thread, etc for 286+, im not a "hardcore" denim guy. but he had some pretty cool colors/etc to pick from

Where is Stong Hold? Do you live in L.A. area? Thanks.

[blake]

Where is Stong Hold? Do you live in L.A. area? Thanks.

stronghold is on abbott kinney blvd. very cool store. stronghold has its own line. It was actually the first denim brand from los angeles. I believe the company was created in 1898.

selfedge is an obvious choice. here are a couple that do not get talked about as much

villains vault and villains. I believe those two stores combined have more denim than just about any store in the country, more than a dept store! lots of mainstream brands, but they do have a decent selection of nudie, april77, rag and bone etc

also, you have to check out the best denim store that does not get very much press and it is called A.B. Fits. they have two denim stores both on grant ave. The newer one is in Union Square. They are like the O.G. they were doing limited denim before anyone else......

[soraanaam]

i live in the la region but personally, i think sf has much better stores and selections. everything is this dam region is overpriced

[Mr Calvin Oscar]

cerritos isn't in la... and you can find lots of cheap stufff in la.

[nb!]

stronghold is on abbott kinney blvd.

,

yeah and that would be in Venice, fred siegel santa monica, is about a 10min drive from there, which hollywood trading co. has a store in also

[annay]

Thanks everyone, you guys are real honeys, especially aubrgene and jaspar. :) Can you give me the exact addressed of all those shops? im petrified of getting lost,

Will I need to hire a car to get around or can i do it by taxi and on foot? Im a but scaried of public transport.

Chicken what and where is Rose Bowl? Blake are those places you mentioned in LA or SF?

Will I need a car in SF or can I get around by taxi and those trams ive seen on TV? xx

[Guest Methimphibian]

Which store in LA has the best deal on Nudie's?

[the black arm]

also don't forget rolo http://www.rolo.com/ 2 1/2 locations (1/2 for rolo garage outlet)

ab fits http://www.abfits.com/ 2 locations

When you come to SF

-SelfEdge

-Azalea Boutique

-American Rag

-Villans and Villans Vault

also I guess--Bloomigdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom etc.

[annay]

is it better to fly or drive from LA to SF? How long does it take to drive? thanks xx:):)

[blake]

is it better to fly or drive from LA to SF? How long does it take to drive? thanks xx:):)

fly. is is about six of the most boring hours ever, and only one in and out.

[aubrgene]

is it better to fly or drive from LA to SF? How long does it take to drive? thanks xx:):)

Since you're on holiday, I would drive from L.A. to San Francisco BUT only if you're taking Highway 1. It really is a must and one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the country. You may want to spend the night in Cambria and visit the San Simeon Castle and also an hour or so away from Big Sur/ Carmel. The highway 5 is faster, but as Blake mentioned, it's a boring drive. Otherwise, it takes less than an hour to fly from L.A. to San Francisco. It's the same flight time from London to Paris.