Shopping in the pockets
A wide variety of Pasadena shops feature some of the top names in fashion and retail
By Tracy Spicer 09/28/2006
Paris has the Champs-Elysées. Via Montenapoleone, Via S'Andrea, Via Spiga and Via Borgospesso make up Milan’s Quadrilatrero d’Oro (Golden Triangle). New York City has Fifth Avenue, Soho and Book Row. And Robertson Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive are the main places you’ll see people shopping in LA.
But don’t count the Crown City out of that stylish, trendy mix. With a variety of shops in pockets throughout the city, Pasadena features not only some of the biggest names in fashion and retail, but also some great one-of-a-kind hidden treasures.
The Playhouse District
The Playhouse District is the most creative-friendly area in the city. Amidst the Pacific Asia Museum, the California School of Culinary Arts and the historic Pasadena Playhouse lie two of Pasadena’s iconic independent shops.
Leonard Gordon first opened Canterbury Records’ doors way back in 1956, and it has been a favorite of San Gabriel Valley residents ever since; it was voted this year’s “Best Independent Music Store.” Sure, music acts come and go, and the place may have gathered a little must and dust, but Canterbury Records has always carried those rarely catalogued finds (including a theater organ section!) that will please even the pickiest of obscure music lovers. And the store still maintains its cool by carrying all the current hits at discounted prices.
Vroman’s Bookstore is another oldie-but-goodie independent shop to top the list as both Pasadena Weekly’s “Best Independent Bookstore” and “Best Stationery.” With 200 to 300 book signings each year, this bookstore has hosted the likes of authors Nick Hornby, Joan Didion, Anne Rice and Salman Rushdie, as well as local writers. Just when you thought it couldn’t get much better than its shelves upon shelves of books, periodicals and writing materials, Vroman’s began offering free WiFi service — one more reason why it’s so hard to leave.
South Lake Avenue
It's difficult to fathom South Lake Avenue as solely a residential neighborhood back in the early 20th century. But that all changed in 1947 when Bullock's (now Macy's) opened with an avant-garde exterior and interior designs that shaped the area into one of the San Gabriel Valley's chicest premier shopping destinations.
South Lake today has grown to house a bevy of high-end stores and quality restaurants with al fresco dining to soothe sore feet after a busy day of shopping.
For someone who likes her style classic but with a quirky twist, there’s Anthropologie, which has been fulfilling fashion-savvy needs since 2003. This upscale women’s store, influenced by a wide array of cultures, carries original clothing, accessories, jewelry and home décor.
Ten Thousand Villages is another South Lake store that offers quality products from diverse cultures. Located across the street from Borders Books and Music, Ten Thousand Villages strives to help talented artisans in developing countries earn fair wages by selling fairly traded handicrafts, from Himalayan calendars to mango tree stools from El Salvador.
The Shops on Lake Avenue isn’t your typical mall. This state-of-the-art development features not only well-recognized retail giants like Macy’s and Talbots, but also some of the finest architecture and design elements (winged escalators, park-like plazas and out-of-this-world public lamps) in Southern California.
One Colorado
Early 20th-century architecture, winding alleys and stellar shopping make up One Colorado, tucked between Colorado Boulevard, Union Street and Fair Oaks and DeLacey avenues. Internationally known retail stores like Victoria's Secret, Armani Exchange, J.Crew and Gap are intertwined with quaint boutiques and specialty stores, such as the trendy In Soho, which offers fashion-forward apparel for women, and the four-legged friendly Three Dog Bakery.
Spruce up your art collection by visiting the Metro-politan Museum of Art Store at One Colorado, which offers posters, panels and framed prints of the world's most recognizable paintings from artists like Raphael, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet.
Or go the more unconventional route by wearing your favorite art with a Betty Woodman "Ceramic" tote bag or a flowing scarf depicting Katsushika Hokusai's “The Great Wave at Kanagawa.” You may even find an opulent necklace or a gold cuff bracelet inspired by the late Bronze Age to add some sparkle to your wardrobe.
Old Pasadena
Along Pasadena’s most famous boulevard rest some popular hot spots for shopping, in buildings dating back to the 1880s. Hipsters visit Urban Outfitters and French Connection United Kingdom to get their hands on the latest trendy threads, while the more sophisticated shoppers peruse the clothing racks at Banana Republic and the bejeweled glass-top counters at Tiffany & Co.
And fashionistas of all ages are buzzing about the Southern California arrival of H&M. Nestled between Tiffany & Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M enables locals to get their high-end fashion fix at unbelievably low prices — a formula that has made this Swedish retail giant a success on the East Coast and throughout Europe.
So there’s no need to jet off to Europe, or to sit in traffic with a mission to spend cash at the Beverly Center — not when there’s all this shopping to be done throughout Pasadena.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT