Where Hat Designer Janessa Leone Shops When In DTLA

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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.

Image via Yelp

Janessa Leone is a San Diego-born milliner who recently launched a new, luxe hat line inspired by the concept of 'timelessness.' From fur-felt fedoras to adornments like lambskin and cruelty-free feathers, Leone's creations are definitely showstoppers. When in DTLA, Leone checks out California Millinery Supply on South Spring.

"At first glance, this place looks like Hoarders comes to Downtown LA, but with the right mindset there are some serious treasures to be found. There are literally stacks and stacks of vintage hat bodies, stands and trimmings that date back to the '40s. Although the name suggests a specialty shop, this place is not just a milliner's paradise. They carry vintage fabric, ribbon, buttons, findings, lace, trims, feathers...you name it, they have it. The twist is, I doubt they know they have it. It seems unfathomable to be able to have an inventory structure that keeps tabs on the decades of collecting that went into this gem of a shop.

If you go in with an open mind and rolled-up sleeves to dig through the never-ending boxes, you will for surely leave with some inspiration and definitely a great story. This isn't your average shop and I love that! It would be a lie to say I hadn't obliged a bribe or two from the sales reps for a few freebie milliner lessons. The suggestion would usually send me running, but at this store, it just adds to the charisma. Plus, I now have some invaluable millinery techniques that I definitely didn't learn studying English in college."

· California Millinery Supply [Official Site]
· Janessa Leone [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked LA]

California Millinery Supply

721 S Spring St, Los Angeles, 90014