Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood are the city’s vintage and secondhand stores, where designer archives, street-born trends, and everyday discoveries shape the way L.A. gets dressed.
Los Angeles has long been the terrain of reinvention: Hollywood costume closets, thrifted band tees from the Sunset Strip, bargain racks in the Valley. But now, the city’s secondhand fashion economy is staking new ground in the mainstream, from The RealReal’s Melrose outpost to H&M’s concept store in Beverly Hills, featuring a dedicated “Pre-Loved” area in partnership with L.A. vintage specialist Wasteland.
Inside the Beverly Hills store, H&M describes its decision thus: “Los Angeles felt very much like a natural second city to launch Pre Loved in the U.S.,” said Sofia Mahlen, head of circular business models at H&M. She says it mirrors how people shop today. “You buy something new, and you buy something vintage. If you can do that at the same time, then even better.”
Yet for those who gravitate to the thrill of discovery rather than the certitude of corporate curation, the city still offers a wealth of independently edited thrift shops where vintage wears its layers openly. Below are three ways to approach L.A.’s secondhand universe — designer resellers, collector’s gems, and everyday thrift, plus our top destinations to shop.
Designer resale meets street-savvy
The H&M tie-up with Wasteland speaks to the elevation of second-hand fashion in Los Angeles. H&M’s “Pre Loved” shop-in-shop features designer finds, leather staples, and H&M archive gems, with Wasteland setting the inventory and pricing. The store is positioned as hyper-local and culturally anchored in L.A., bringing second-hand into the same retail real estate as new fashion.
The collector’s tour
If high-end vintage is your lane, Los Angeles has places where provenance, rarity, and story matter. Shops such as The Way We Wore, founded by Doris Raymond, have long operated at the intersection of Hollywood and couturier heritage, where a Halston gown might sit alongside a Gucci under-$100 deal. For shoppers seeking something singular, these stores offer a fragment of fashion history.
Everyday vintage and thrift
Beyond high-end finds, the secondhand culture of Los Angeles remains democratized. From flea markets like the weekly Melrose Trading Post at Fairfax High to curated thrift stores in East L.A. and the Valley, the city’s vintage terrain is expansive. Whether you’re after band tees, faded leather jackets or scoreboard-price bargains, there is a place for the casual digger from Goodwill and Council shops to more curated spots like Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads Trading.
L.A.’s best vintage and secondhand shops
Trek across Los Angeles and you’ll be bombarded by luxury vintage and everyday secondhand shops. Each one listed here fills a different role in Los Angeles’ secondhand ecosystem, delivering a portrait of the city’s resale culture that balances luxury, heritage, trend, geography, and everyday accessibility.
Recess LA
111 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
A standout destination for designer resale, Recess LA curates contemporary and vintage pieces from labels such as Chanel, Dries Van Noten, and Issey Miyake. The shop is frequently cited for its impeccable editing and color-coded racks that make luxury resale feel like browsing a private archive.
Wasteland
7428 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
A Melrose Avenue institution known for its mix of designer vintage, edgy contemporary pieces, and denim that feels pulled straight from a music video set. Wasteland has shaped L.A.’s secondhand identity for decades, and its influence continues to be felt across the city’s resale culture.
Arcade Vintage
777 S Alameda St, Suite 174, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Located in ROW DTLA, Arcade is revered for fashion-insider curation, offering rarities from Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, and archival Japanese designers. It’s a must-visit for shoppers who want the thrill of a runway hunt without leaving the city.
The Way We Wore
8057 Beverly Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Founded by Doris Raymond — whose eye has been trusted by Hollywood costume designers for decades — the boutique functions like a fashion history library. Its upper floor houses couture and museum-grade pieces that often appear in films and exhibitions.
American Rag Cie
150 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Part multi-brand store, part vintage trove, American Rag offers denim, tees, dresses, and global finds curated with California ease. Its secondhand selection has earned it a place in countless L.A. style guides.
The Paper Bag Princess
8050 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
A couture-leaning vintage boutique known for Gaultier bustiers, Dior jackets, and pieces that feel like they were sent directly from a stylist’s pull. It is a regular in roundups of the city’s best vintage stores.
Timeless Vixen
1100 S Beverly Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Beloved by collectors for its range of iconic silhouettes—from Bob Mackie gowns to Courrèges and Pierre Cardin—Timeless Vixen maintains one of the city’s most polished and era-spanning haute-vintage selections.
The Bearded Beagle
4646 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
With locations in Highland Park and Los Feliz, The Bearded Beagle offers a playful but sharply edited mix of ’60s dresses, ’70s jackets, and ’90s streetwear. Local fashion writers frequently point to it as one of the most consistent shops for everyday vintage.
Iguana Vintage Clothing
6320 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
A massive, multi-level vintage destination carrying everything from ’20s beaded dresses to ’80s leather jackets and ’90s concert tees. It’s a must-visit for volume, variety, and nostalgia.
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