:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45379226/racked_placeholder.4.0.jpg)
Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Los Angeles has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around LA that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3183694/2012_-8_cottage.0.jpg)
Image via Yelp
Jen Menchaca is the designer of Nation LTD, the brand that prides itself on creating the ultimate white V-neck tee. After earning a B.S. in advertising, she moved to NYC and landed a job as a cocktail waitress. A few years later she moved to LA, where she ended up working for David E. Kelly productions. Somehow, she transitioned into the world of design and now she's proud to have dressed ladies like Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift in her vintage-feeling tees. Here, she fills us in on one of her secret shopping spots.
"The first time I walked into Cottage Art in Artesia, I knew I was in trouble. I had heard that a few blocks in LA's Little India were a shopping heaven, but it wasn't until after I'd seen several shops packed full of saris (not really in the market for one, albeit beautiful), and almost getting kicked out of an eyebrow threading shop because I couldn't stop laughing whilst being threaded, that I stumbled into this gem. Cottage Art is so CHOCK FULL of goodies it's almost overwhelming. It actually pains me to let the secret out, but you'll find gorgeous furniture, tapestries, quilted handbags, jewelry, sundresses in beautiful fabrics, bedding and any type of doodad you can think of; all at a percentage of what you'd spend anywhere in those trendy Beverly Hills/Hollywood shops. When planning your day, be sure to leave time to enjoy the delicious Indian buffet right next door to keep your shopping stamina up!"
· Cottage Art [Yelp]
· Nation LTD [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked LA]