Unconventional shops give Melrose character
By Daily Bruin Staff
June 24, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 DANIEL WONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff There are a wide
variety of clothing stores located on Melrose Avenue, ranging from
the pricey Fred Segal to the reasonably priced attire of Retail
Slut.
By Michelle Sandoval
Daily Bruin Contributor
Cinderella would be shocked to see the window display at Bagh
Lady on Melrose Avenue, which features unexpected fairy godmothers
in thongs and red feather boas.
Melrose Avenue, located in Hollywood between Highland Avenue and
La Cienega Boulevard, offers customers an eclectic variety of
clothing. With stores ranging from pricey Fred Segal to low-cost
thrift shops, this shopping venue is famous for having something
for everyone.
“It’s just one of the places you have to go to when
you come to California,” said Jacqueline Merritt, a Colorado
native and employee of the Melrose store Wasteland. “We
don’t have places like this where I come from.”
Dozens of eye-catching boutiques line the sidewalks, making the
stroll down Melrose more interesting than the average street or
shopping mall. The lighted signs, odd store names and eccentric
window displays also add to the endless entertainment.
Shops with extravagant storefronts, such as Red Balls’
display of silver spheres protruding from its walls and
Wasteland’s tangled yet artistic mass of metal wires, lure
shoppers in.
The enticement, however, does not stop there. Once inside,
shoppers find themselves surrounded with bizarre scenery that
resembles a carnival funhouse instead of a clothing store. This
scenery includes the aluminum walls and columns that form the base
for Red Balls’ main room, and Wasteland’s vintage
apparel that has shoppers thinking they have walked into a Molly
Ringwald movie.
Adding to Wasteland’s distinctive atmosphere, is its loads
of clothing from the ’80s and its racks with an abundance of
sequins, feathers and furs.
Customers with no intention of spending money still have a blast
looking at the outfit setups on the walls and talking to the
animated employees.
This is what keeps Melrose’s reputation as a popular
shopping area for years, attracting both locals and tourists.
Red Balls and Wasteland, along with the majority of the
street’s other stores, like Retail Slut, known for its gothic
apparel, and Atomic Garage, a favorite among skaters and surfers,
are all reasonably priced and cater to the younger generation.
“The clothing on Melrose is funky and contemporary,”
Merritt said. “The average customer ranges from 13 to 25, but
we have something to offer everybody.”
 D. WONG/ Daily Bruin Senior Staff Shopper
Masahiko Nakagawa examines some of the vintage
apparel avalible at Wasteland. Nevertheless, those looking for more
urbane and sophisticated clothing with designer labels will have no
problem finding it.
Boutiques such as Betsey Johnson offer unique clothing at higher
prices. With dresses ranging from $150 to $200, this boutique not
only offers high quality, but guarantees individuality through
their clothes.
The first Betsey Johnson shop opened on Melrose in 1986, and
according to the manager, business has always been good. Its
location, along with its well-known name attracts people to the
small shop.
Melrose’s famous name and wild atmosphere entice shoppers
continue to frequent the famous avenue.
“You don’t find everyday stuff here,” said
Nicole Lawn, 20, a regular Melrose shopper. “Everything is so
different and strange, but in a good way.”
“It’s not very likely you will run into someone
wearing the same shirt as you when you get it on Melrose, but if
you shop at the Gap, or any other major clothing store, you look
like everybody else. Shopping here gives you a chance to be
yourself, to be original,” Lawn added.
Apart from clothing, Melrose also offers eccentric book, record
and gift shops.
Stores such as Wacko, The Soap Plant and The Wound & Wound
Toy Company, all provide peculiar and delightfully entertaining
gifts for every occasion.
Although shopping is what Melrose thrives on, the street’s
people-watching experience adds to its growing reputation as a hot
spot.
The individuals on Melrose differ just as much as the clothes,
and one can encounter people with mohawks and fishnet stockings
just as easily as trendy business men in suits and ties. The
diversity that Melrose offers adds to its exciting atmosphere,
leaving visitors without a moment of boredom.
Since the majority of college students are young and, most
importantly, penniless, Melrose offers trendy, sensibly priced
attire for those who cannot afford the posh shops on Rodeo
Drive.
So, the next time Melrose shoppers come across someone wearing
$200 jeans from Dolce & Gabbana, they can pride themselves in
knowing that people can look just as good in a pair of $15
Levi’s thrift store jeans found on Melrose.
