Websites like J. Crew, ASOS, Nastygal and Free People can be great, especially if you’re trying to look like everyone else in the world (they can be great though!!). So, let’s say you’ve exhausted the entire ASOS website. Let’s say you just realized you own 17 J. Crew cardigans and could use some flavor in your sartorial choices — some pepperoccino or maybe dash of cayenne pepper. Or let’s just say it’s a friday night, you’re home, and you want to drown your worries away in a gratuitous online purchase — because that’s okay too! Where do you go next? Allow me:
1. La Moda UK.
They specialize in shoes — particularly simple yet clunky shoes and sandals, with a bit of iridescence thrown into the mix. Their style of footwear resembles that of Marques Almeida, except with affordable price points.
2. Pet Shop Girls.
Pet Shop Girls is the website and e-store for the Melbourne, Australia shop that goes by the same name. I found them through Pageant, another Melbourne-based label that you can pretty much only buy off the Internet on Pet Shop Girls. The designers they carry are limited, but their quality of clothes are not.
3. dotComme.
They specialize in Japanese labels like Comme des Garçons, Issey Myake and Junya Watanabe. I’m pretty sure the pieces are all vintage — or at least second hand. And while they’re not exactly affordable, they are fun to look at.
4. Scout.
Scout is a vintage store in Los Angeles that sells pieces that are on the more avant-garde side. Back in the day the clothes were much cheaper, but when were they not, am I right? Scout seems to have some pretty devoted followers, so know that their best stuff will be snatched up fast.
5. C. Madeleine’s.
The link above will direct you to the web shop of the Miami store C. Madeleine’s. I can’t speak for the actual store, but I can say with full confidence that their web store is laden with really awesome vintage designer pieces. Price-point-wise, they’re up there with dotComme.
6. Mr. Larkin.
Based in Denmark, Mr. Larkin has an in-house line, plus a handful of some of the finest brands sold at their store and online. The highlights: Jacquemus, Swash and their sales.
7. Browns.
It’s a London-based store and web store that you should know about, if you don’t already. When sale season creeps up on us, it’s always good to have Christopher Kane’s stockists memorized.
8. Need Supply.
Need Supply is a Richmond, VA based store and web store. They have an in-house line and an array of solid designers to choose from. Just a good one to have on your roster.
9. Totokaelo.
A concept store based in Seattle, Washington, Totokaelo has a generally clean aesthetic — think Acne, Anne Demeulemeester and Jil Sander.
10. Wood Wood.
They’re a label that makes the same type of simple yet clunky shoes sold on La Moda UK, except with better production. They also have a much wider election of clothes and shoes compared to La Moda.
11. Assembly.
Based in New York, on the lower east side, Assembly has gradually developed a pretty thorough web shop over the couple years they’ve been around. They have their own in-house line as well as awesome, often little-known designers. And they don’t take themselves too seriously either.
12. Centre for Style.
Another Melbourne-based web shop, the actual Centre for Style location doubles as an exhibition space and a store. They stock “emerging and experimental fashion practice,” as they call it. They also have a “sourced pile” category on their website with relatively affordable vintage finds.
13. En Avance.
Another Miami-based store, En Avance is known for selling more obscure brands. They have a great eye though, so it’s the perfect place to go if you want to find out about cool new designers.
14. Matches.
Matches is London-based and just another department store with impressive designers that you should be familiar with.