Polkadots & Moonbeams
The biggest closets — vintage and trendy dress-up — a girl could ask for.
Vintage versus the newest fashion trend: the two stores of Polkadots & Moonbeams offer a two-for-one deal. One store showcases retro, vintage throwback items, presented in a flowery wallpaper package. Think Victorian-era and flapper dresses, corsets and a hat collection worthy of the Mad Hatter. The other is all about new fashion, with flirty sundresses, catchphrase-filled T-shirts and lingerie.
Milk
The one-stop, everything-you-want shop.
One of the most popular boutique stores on West Third Street, Milk boasts a celebrity endorsement list as long as its inventory. Clientele aside, it’s the designer lines that steal the show. Beneath shelves lined with vintage milk bottles, racks showcase looks from Dian von Furstenberg, Derek Lam, Missoni, Stretsis, Giulia Piersanti and Sue Stemp. For men, Milk offers Huna, Loomstate, shirts by Trovata and organic denim. And if you’re looking for that perfect gift item, you’ll find beauty products, jewelry, books and plenty of little trinkets that add to Milk’s flirty atmosphere.
Scout LA
International flavor, an indie-artistic feel and styling services to boot.
Scout LA has a largely international flavor true to the global feel of West Third Street. Stocked with men’s and women’s independent clothing lines, this store offers an indie-artistic approach to fashion, showcasing denim in particular. Hot new designs by Jeremy Scott, Henrik Vibskov, Grey Ant and the Society for Rational Dress appear next to vintage pieces from such favorites as Vivienne Westwood and Gucci. But Scout LA isn’t just about the retail; it also offers personal styling, studio services, space rental for events and vintage sourcing for film and TV props.
Flight 001
Adding more mystique to the travel world.
There’s something unfailingly cool about travel stuff. And there’s always been a certain style that goes along with traveling to the ends of the earth. Designed to look like the fuselage of a Boeing 747 jet, Flight 001 amplifies the mystique of a long trip to…somewhere. Aside from the usual luggage and baggage tags, you’ll find beauty kits, sleeping masks, neck rests, a wide selection of travel books and miniature games — all spruced up with a bit of LA fashion.
Hillary Rush
Manhattan glam and West Coast wonder.
A New York native, Hillary Rush brings Manhattan style to the City of Angels. With her diverse price points and sizes, Rush seems able to please anyone who flits through her doors. Her fashion pedigree (both parents hail from the industry) endows her with the ability to accurately predict what people want. Bold silk dresses by Twinkle, Alexander Wang cashmere shirts and Maria Bonita Extra’s party dresses dictate the whimsical yet wearable style here. To complete the store, Rush offers Delux Beauty products by Jillian Dempsey (wife of actor Patrick Dempsey) and Easy Spirit shoes, topping it all off with the sparkle of Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry.
Douglas Fir
Sophisticated British style for the sophisticated LA male.
No, it’s not just a rumor…men do shop. And when they shop, they should hope for service as well respected as that of Douglas Fir. The staff cares little if you're a celebrity or the average Joe — a comforting thought for those in need of the store’s fashion expertise. Sporting clean lines and high-quality fabric, Douglas Fir leans toward simple and elegant designs by Martin Margiela, Paul Smith and Comme des Garcons, all examples of the store’s sophisticated British taste.
EM & Co.
Think global, act local.
EM & Co.’s Romanian-born, French-speaking owner, Eveline Morel, flaunts the attitude of a true fashionista, scouring the globe for hard-to-find designers and individual looks. Paris and Milan? Too mainstream. Morel looks for lines from the far-flung fashion corners of the world, resulting in a store that has become a cult favorite. Plus, its white-walled gallery space doubles as a venue for monthly art openings, trunk shows, book signings and live concerts. When LA Fashion Week rolls around, local designers display emerging collections in the store, keeping with Morel’s motto: “Think global, act local.”
