Shopping: Telltale Hearts in Silver Lake
The merchandise mix at Telltale Hearts, a cozy new fashion boutique in Silver Lake, could pass for the inside of any fashion-forward, farmers-market-going pretty young thing’s closet in this L.A. neighborhood.
The jewel box of a store has a lock on the area’s penchant for eclectic dressing, mixing vintage pieces — mainly no-name dresses from the ‘70s and ‘80s and big, gold-toned ‘80s jewelry — with new tops and tees from edgy-but-pragmatic contemporary brands including Kain, Funktional and Seneca Rising.
Co-owner and vintage buyer Melissa Patchett lives mere blocks from the store and has worked for years in the West Coast fashion industry, as a buyer for big-name stores and a stylist. Co-owner Brandy Linstrum, a self-professed “contemporary girl,” said the two friends, “wanted a place where we could blend the two types of clothes we really love.”
The tiny shop on traffic-heavy Hyperion Avenue — which Patchett initially leased as a warehouse space for the e-commerce arm of Telltale Hearts (launched before any thought of a boutique came into play) — “isn’t really in a good retail spot,” Patchett said. “But all the stuff at my house started to be too much. Then we thought, ‘Why not have it be a store too?’”
The boutique’s very-affordable core prices have already made it a popular neighborhood spot, with repeat buyers beginning to materialize, Patchett said. Almost all the clothes — both new and vintage — and retro jewelry are priced under $100.
If you’re hunting for something more rarified, Telltale Hearts is the only boutique that carries dead-stock designer sunglasses from Kings of Past, an L.A.-based vintage eyewear company. But the privilege of walking away with a pair of oversized Yves Saint Laurent or Christian Dior sunnies from a bygone era will cost you $200 to $488.
1837 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 522-6725. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
https://www.telltaleheartbeat.com
OPENING
Letters from L.A.: This new fashion and accessories haven in Mount Washington stocks under-the-radar brands including Nikki Montoya jewelry, Ellen Truijen leather handbags and cult-favorite Australian brand Strummer.
5022 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 340-1546. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
https://www.shoplettersfromla.blogspot.com
World Denim Bar: American Rag Cie at Fashion Island has opened its Orange County World Denim Bar, an in-store shop featuring a serious selection of denim from more than 85 brands including RRL, J Brand, Earnest Sewn, AG, Genetic, Nudie, Acne and Rag & Bone. Together, they encompass more than 1,000 styles.
Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive., Newport Beach. (949) 760-1510. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
SALES
Stuart Weitzman Fall 2011 trunk show Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Check out a preview of Stuart Weitzman’s fall 2011 shoe and boot collection and place advance orders for styles you like. The brand is a go-to for hard-to-fit feet — offering more than 50 sizes, ranging from size 4 to 12 in four widths.
Tuesday at Stuart Weitzman Glendale, the Americana at Brand, 889 Americana Way, Glendale. (818) 502-9797. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday and Friday at Stuart Weitzman Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (714) 432-8100. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
https://www.stuartweitzman.com
Artisan LA Jewelry sidewalk sale Saturday and Sunday: Shop indie L.A. jewelry designers including Julio Benez, Melissa McClure and Cake at this two-day sale event.
Artisan LA Jewelry, 4649 Russell Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 644-5699. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
