Shopping Day in Pacific Palisades
Today I decided to take a little trip out to Pacific Palisades, which is a town in Los Angeles County nestled between Santa Monica and Malibu. My hotel in West Hollywood (1 Hotel – totally recommend it!) is on Sunset Blvd. and I was able to take the most beautiful 30-minute drive on Sunset all the way to Pacific Palisades. This road meanders through the mansions of Beverly Hills, Bel Aire, and more. Honestly, it’s probably one of the nicest and stress-free drives I’ve taken in LA.
But let’s get back to the point – shopping! The downtown area’s prime attraction is Palisades Village, which is a little Disneyland-esque shopping area with about 40 shops and dining options. I was pleased to discover they have a spacious two-level underground parking structure.
The downtown area’s prime attraction is Palisades Village, which is a little Disneyland-esque shopping area with about 40 shops and dining options.
I started off exploring this village by popping into St. Frank. This is an interiors store that I’ve grown to love in San Francisco, as they sustainably source their products from around the world. You can find out exactly where each item is from and feel good knowing that these artisans are being supported in many ways.
I also stopped by the A.L.C. store, as the colors and the interior design are so pretty – don’t you agree?
I couldn’t help but stop in the cottage-like building which is home to Veronica Beard. I LOVE that this brand now offers plus-size options. Unfortunately, they don’t offer them in the store, which was disappointing. Nevertheless, I could check out the styles, prints, and fabrics. Then, when I look online, I’ll have a much better idea of what I’m looking at.
Right across the street is Porta Via, where a friend suggested I grab lunch. The bar was so chic, decorated in pink, marble, and brass. Based on the owner’s recommendation, I have to say the huevos rancheros were scrumptious!
After lunch I decided to visit Zimmermann. I always admire their feminine and colorful prints. Although I typically reserve them for clients, as they don’t offer extended sizes. Imagine my delight when I scored a fabulous dress on clearance that fit perfectly! This really goes to show that you need to give brands a chance and try garments on, as you’ll never know what you may find. Oh, and I had no idea they make children’s clothes. Boy, are they cute!
This really goes to show that you need to give brands a chance and try garments on, as you’ll never know what you may find.
Bag in hand, I headed to The Little Market. This is their only brick and mortar location, though they have a thriving website. This is an actual NON-PROFIT store, which amazed me. They support struggling communities and female artisans, and they help preserve many of the specialty trades in these regions. Not only is the tableware beautiful, but the array of candles made it tough for me to decide. I finally selected the “Driftwood” scent — I can’t wait to light it when I’m home. Oh, and a cool aside is that you can get these candles personalized for yourself, as a gift, or for a special occasion.
As I left the village, I turned left on Sunset and visited Elizabeth Lamont, where I was able to meet Elizabeth herself! This is a full–service home store – I was amazed. They make their own furniture, so you can order pieces in a variety of colors and finishes. They’ve got bedding, bath, tabletop, art and even a wedding registry. They also offer full interior design services. The store is inviting, chic, and I wanted to move in. I’m looking forward to visiting their sister store, Room at the Beach in Malibu. Guess it’s a good thing I’m headed to Malibu tomorrow!
I then headed across the street to West Antioch Street to check out Elyse Walker. I’ve been to her outpost in Newport a few times, but this was my first visit to her flagship store. It’s SO big! Apparently, it started out at a quarter of the size, and as the business grew, they just kept expanding to the neighboring real estate. Brands range from names you know such as Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, and Givenchy. Though they also offer names you may not be as familiar with including Toteme, Brock Collection, and John Elliott. They have a whole room just for shoes!! I also loved their display of sumptuous cashmere from The Elder Statesman.
Exiting the building and turning left, I made my last stop – the jewelry store Jaimie Geller. This store was founded by a husband-wife team, and they have a terrific line-up of designers – Retrouvai, Storrow Jewelry, Jemma Wynne, and more. They had a fab selection of vintage jewelry with a particularly good selection of chunky gold bracelets. I tried on an amazing chrysoprase necklace with an opal and diamond drop from Jacquie Aiche. (photo above) Just delicious!
I’m glad I made the effort to come out to Pacific Palisades today. It is definitely its own little enclave amidst the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. If you visit, please let me know what you thought of it! If you’d like access to My Little Black Book of shops in Los Angeles, click here to become a member. Happy shopping!