South Bay Vintage: From DIY to Designer

by Sanne Stienstra - Citysearch Contributor - 49 Reviews - 3 Lists

Updated: July 16, 2008

With so much ground to cover, L.A.'s vintage shopping can be overwhelming. Substitute the sprawl of known Melrose and La Brea go-tos for another treasure trove of throwback threads: The South Bay. These beach cities have the fresh and unpicked over potential for one-of-a-kind style you won?t find in Hollywood ... or anywhere else.

On this page:Eight Days a Week, Bargain Bests, Cool Consignment.

Eight Days a Week

  1. 1 Lopalopa
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    1409 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (map)

    Who could resist a shelf dedicated to Mr. T? Check out this shop for old-school screen print tees, jackets, leather belts and a whole lot of other so-old-they're-new-again threads.

  2. 2 Real Vintage
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    451 Manhattan Beach Blvd Ste B106, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (map)

    Long before the days of Rock & Republic and Paige Premium, there was Levis. And this place stocks just about every cut, fit, wash and style from the brand that started it all.

  3. 3 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Aardvark
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    2621 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (map)

    Specializing in party clothes and costumes, ?70s apparel and outrageous accessories, this recent Hermosa Beach transplant brings the funk like it was 1979.

  4. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended Granny Takes A Trip
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    1411 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (map)

    Recently, everything in this downtown Hermosa vintage pile-up was marked down to $10--and it still is, including the bright OP shorts ('member those?), silk scarves, cool shades, cowboy boots and rows and rows of dresses.

Bargain Bests

  1. 5 Salvation Army
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    4001 Inglewood Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (map)

    Really get your creative juices flowing at this national chain that stocks donated goods ripe for the sewing and trimming.

  2. 6 4 Star Rating: Recommended Goodwill
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    2318 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (map)

    Bargain hunters can sort through crammed racks of kids shirts, men?s clothing, pants and dresses to compile the ultimate eclectic (and inexpensive) wardrobe.

  3. 7 Children's Hospital Thrift Shp
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    1418 Aviation Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (map)

  4. 8 4 Star Rating: Recommended Roadium Open Air Market
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    2500 Redondo Beach Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504 (map)

    Navigating through this impressive outdoor market might be much like getting around busy L.A. but the affordable vintage vendors that are sprinkled throughout make it worth the voyage.

  5. 9 House Of Yahweh Apparel Shoppe
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    2316 Artesia Blvd Ste A, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (map)

    The elderly volunteers who sit behind the register here only enhance the cuteness of the flowing skirts, old wedding dresses, leather sandals and other ostensibly unappealing yet totally transformable secondhand apparel.

Cool Consignment

  1. 10 Sweetwater Collections
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    3525 Pacific Coast Hwy Ste Q, Torrance, CA 90505 (map)

  2. 11 Return Engagement
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    312 Ave I, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (map)

  3. 12 Always Fabulous
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    1707 Via El Prado Ste 102, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (map)

  4. 13 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Second Time Around
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    3776 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505 (map)

    Where one woman's trash is always another woman's treasure.