I can’t believe that this is my final #DestinationSOREL story! If you’ve been following along, you’ve traveled to Seattle, Austin, and Charleston with Stephanie (of Honey & Silk) and I. We’ve seen and done some amazing things along the way, but for our final chapter, we’ve decided to take you on a shopping tour of our own city – Los Angeles. So whether you’re on the eastside or the west, you’ll be sure to find some treasures.
So let’s start with the westside for some of our favorite shopping destinations where Stephanie and I laced up our SOREL sandals (how cute are her white wedges?!) and hit the pavement. I live on the eastside in Echo Park, but I spend a good amount of time in West Hollywood. One of my favorite spots to hit up is Melrose Place. It’s this tucked away little block of shops that has a quieter feel than Melrose Ave.
If you find yourself on this little block, here are my must-visits. Violet Grey is an incredible makeup boutique that feels like shopping in a chic friend’s own private collection. It’s miles away from being like Sephora, and where I’ve found some of my favorite products. For clothing there’s APC, Rachel Comey (drool), and of course Isabel Marant. Make sure to take some pictures in front of their huuuuge succulent garden.
Need a boost of caffeine? Okay, you have to make a choice here. There’s Alfred Coffee for delightful cappuccinos and lattes – but if you want a bit more of a photo op, you HAVE to hit up Alfred Tea across the street. Trust me. It’s all sorts of blush pink goodness, and even if you aren’t a regular tea drinker, you will love what they have. Try the rose tea latte and thank me later.
If you’re not too shopped out, stop in JetRag (vintage heaven) along the way to Echo Park. It’s multi-level vintage shopping, so try not to get overwhelmed.
re/done high rise ankle crop / monogram tee / SOREL Torpeda Sandal / sezane purse
Now if you’re over in my neighborhood – Echo Park – you have some smaller boutiques and some lines you may not have heard of. Yet. It’s a growing shopping destination, and there are plenty of great choices. For clothing I recommend Ali Golden (chic minimalist pieces) and Myrtle (blend of vintage and new and oh so colorful) – for housewares and jewelry it HAS to be Esqueleto. It’s where my engagement ring and wedding band are from, plus their pottery selection is insanely good.
Still need more caffeine? Hit up Eightfold for my favorite cappuccino in all of LA. It’s a calm spot inside for a bit of R&R in between shopping. And if you’re hungry I recommend Ostrich Farm for brunch, lunch, dinner – you name it. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of marble surfaces in there too.
The number one thing I can recommend if you want to shop in LA is where comfy shoes. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover as LA is a very spread out city. And so many of my favorite spots have been discovered by accident while walking by. Park your car, get out and walk an area to find gems. I chose these SOREL Torpeda lace up sandals for the day, and was thankful for the cushiony sole. Plus they make taking #feetsndeets photos fun.
If you’re craving a scenic break in between all of the shopping, skip Santa Monica pier, and instead visit the Venice Canals. There’s nowhere else like it on the west coast, and the photo opps are plentiful. Plus, while I was there I saw like 6 golden retrievers, so I’m counting that as a major come up.
zara tee bodysuit / SOREL torpeda sandal / sezane purse / zara skirt
Now if you’re already over by the canals, you may as well do some shopping in the neighborhood, right? Abbott Kinney is basically the other side of the world for me since I live on the eastside, but it’s always worth the traffic. The street has seen a lot of change over the past few years, and the amount of shops to hit up is staggering. The standouts that I recommend are Guild, Velvet, and Cuyana.
Feeling hungry? Get some Blue Star donuts. They’re one of my fav transplants from the PNW, and the donuts are crazy good. If you want to sit down to a meal try Gjelina, and if you need MORE caffeine still? Flowerboy Project. It’s a combination flower shop and coffee shop with all sorts of trinkets. Lavender lattes, rose lattes, you get the idea.
After all that shopping, it’s best to find a moment of downtime. I know I told you to avoid the Santa Monica pier, but if you find yourself nearby, walk along the ocean on the grass-lined path. Stephanie and I did after our long day, and it was a great photo opportunity that is easy to forget about when you live here. We changed into some heels for dinner in the area, and had a great time playing the part of a tourist. Stephanie wore the SOREL ankle cuff heels, and I opted for the SOREL Gladiator Wedges. They’re an edgier look than I typically go for, but I love the way the look turned out. LA is a bold city, so you gotta have a bold shoe to go with it.
zara jeans / yellow backpack / SOREL gladiator wedge / zara banana wrap top
So that’s that! Our final city for #DestinationSOREL, and I gotta admit, it’s bittersweet. I loved working with my SOREL family, and being able to share so many adventures with you guys. This has been one of the best projects I have ever been lucky enough to be a part of and I hope you enjoyed it.
Maybe we should do a Winter Boot tour next? Alaska? Colorado?? Who’s with me!
This post is sponsored by SOREL. All opinions expressed are my own. Photography by Claire Oring.
