Found: The Boutique Mindset.
Local artists and small boutiques abound on every corner, including the internet — the hunt is part of the joy of discovery.
I’m not a big fan of ‘the mall’—at least not anymore. When I was a teen, the mall was happening, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Our hang was Topanga Plaza, mainly at Contempo Casuals, Judy’s, Wallichs Music City, and, of course, the food court and the Ice Capades skating rink on Friday nights. I even worked in the mall—in a humiliating former bird atrium, the mall converted into a tiny iron-on tee-shirt shop, of which I’ve blocked out the name. But things have changed, and I’m no longer a mallrat. Instead, I favor shopping small, unique boutiques and online makers locally and from around the globe. With all the the negatives about the internet these days, I think one of the great positives is being able to source beautiful handmade objects d’ art made by talented artists from literally everywhere.
A Few of My Go-To Small Online Shops.
I just love it when, with no goal in mind, you stumble upon something that tugs at your heartstrings. That, my friends, is the beauty of meandering your neighborhood and shopping locally made goods. But when you need a little extra flavor, perhaps from across the pond, there are so many wonderful bespoke, vintage, and handmade goods we all have access to online—I thought I’d round up a few goods from some of my favorite go-to shops for you.