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  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.

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