Bow out and done! Phew! Showcasing at the New York Fashion Week is no task that can be achieved overnight, over a week or even over a month! It involves months’ (sometimes, even a year’s) planning, ideating, brainstorming, creating, giving the final touches and then cohesively working across continents with the best teams to put it all together. And then in the final bow out moment, it all comes to a sweet end. As much as we love every moment, the months-long process can be exhausting! Don’t get us wrong, there’s nothing we would trade this grind for and the response always makes it worth it. But after it’s all wrapped up, all we need is a big break where there’s no agenda, no shoots, no meetings on our schedule. And while we love NYC—our second home, we know a change of place is the kind of rejuvenation that we need! That’s when we decided to make an impromptu trip to Los Angeles (another favourite city of ours), to unwind and let our hair down!
Los Angeles is one of those cities that’s not only great to wind down but it also has exciting activities and places to visit and that makes it a perfect place for us to relax and rejuvenate. The city also has some of the most beautiful beaches such as Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach, and what better than to take a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk, or simply lounge about watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Apart from the beaches and the city fun, there are also a few quaint and tranquil escapes for those who want a quiet staycation of sorts! While we do like immersing ourselves in nature and enjoy a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, this time we wanted to explore our go-to favourites in the town.
With an aim to enjoying a laid-back experience, we decided to explore the buzzing culinary scene of LA that has a plethora of restaurants offering everything from gourmet cuisine to cool cafes! Since ours was a short sojourn of merely two days, we decided to make the most of it by venturing out for leisurely strolls, stopping by restaurants for a quick bite and indulging in a lavish retail therapy experience! On landing in LA, we checked into our hotel and devoured a hearty breakfast that fuelled us up for the rest of the day! We started our little break by heading to Pasadena. If you’re wondering what it is about Pasadena that attracted us much enough to make it our first stop, well, then you’re in for an antiques treat! Pasadena boasts some of the best antique stores and centres in the area, making it a must-visit destination for collectors and enthusiasts like us. They have everything from vintage furniture to rare collectibles. Pasadena’s antique shops are like a treasure trove of unique and cool items waiting to be discovered. Some of the stores like the Pasadena Antique Mall are renowned for their eclectic mix of antiques, ranging from mid-century modern pieces to Victorian-era treasures. Both of us have always had an eye for exquisite antique pieces that we collect from any and every city that we go to, and this time was no different! We were searching for a statement piece to add character to our home and some pieces that could also be a one-of-a-kind gift for our loved ones. Just as we expected, we found some great items that caught our eye and bagged them even before we could blink. So, the next time you’re in LA and in the mood for some antique hunting, Pasadena is the place to be! After spending the latter half of our morning and even the noon picking antiques, we decided to catch up on some late lunch quickly at a restaurant near our hotel before we headed back for some downtime!
That evening, we decided to make our mandatory visit to The Grove to indulge in a luxe experience at this premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Located in the heart of LA, The Grove is known for its charming outdoor setting, complete with cobblestone pathways, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a central park area. The shopping options at The Grove are diverse and upscale, featuring a mix of some of our most favourite brands, luxury boutiques, and specialty shops. We took a stroll through the open-air mall, browsed the latest in the stores and needless to say, bought all that we’d had in our minds. What we also like about The Grove is that in addition to its shopping offerings, it is home to a variety of great dining options. We may not be food connoisseurs per se but we do enjoy a great meal and a well-done, luxe place. After all that shopping we were quite in the mood for a leisurely meal and we found something to suit our taste at The Grove. We dined at a restaurant where we could also enjoy a live music performance that was happening right outside. That’s one of the best things about The Grove. One can choose from the very many entertainment options that include live music performances, movie screenings, and special events. The Grove has a beautiful outdoor fountain that serves as a popular gathering spot for the visitors. And with another quick stroll post meal, we called it a day.
The next morning, we decided to sleep in and wake up for a hearty brunch meal that our hotel had arranged for us. A lazy morning and a scrumptious meal are more than enough for us to say it was truly a good morning! We dressed and then headed to another shopping destination for some more retail therapy. We drove down to Melrose Avenue to take a look at its trendy boutiques, vintage shops, and some avant garde fashion scene. Stretching from West Hollywood to Fairfax Avenue, Melrose is a hotspot for fashion enthusiasts to discover everything latest and new! It is no wonder that every shopper here looks like one-of-a-kind trendsetter. The street is lined with a mix of high-end designer stores, independent boutiques, and more, offering something for every style. Melrose is also home to some of LA’s most iconic street art and murals—another something that was on our shopping list! We bought some art and then ticked off everything that we needed to buy from our list. Beyond fashion, Melrose is dotted with cafes, restaurants, and bars, making it a perfect place for a day of shopping and dining. We grabbed a quick lunch at one of the restaurants and drove back to our hotel to drop our (very heavy) shopping bags!
Towards the evening, we decided to go to our favourite restaurant that’s on Rodeo Drive. Now this is a destination that needs no introduction because it is synonymous with luxury, opulence, and high-end fashion. The palm tree-lined street is home to some of the world’s most renowned fashion houses, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada. But this time, we weren’t here for our fix of shopping. Rodeo Drive also boasts exquisite fine dining restaurants, art galleries, and luxury hotels, making it a perfect pick for those seeking a taste of the glamorous Beverly Hills lifestyle. As we mentioned before, we were here today to dine at our regular fine-dine spot for our finale meal in LA. For those of you who don’t know, both of us love a great Italian meal. So we ordered some pizzas and a plate of truffle pasta amongst other delicacies. We soaked in the fervour of Rodeo Drive while the chefs in the kitchen rustled up our meal. As soon as the pasta arrived, the fragrance of truffle filled our noses and stirred our appetite even before the first bite. We dived into our plates straightaway and soon after the first bite, I requested the owner to summon the chef for we had a complaint. When the chef arrived to understand our concern, we complained of how unfair it is to make the best pasta in the world and keep it only in LA! The chef heaved a sigh of relief and smiled as we complimented him for feeding us our best pasta till date! The owner, too, ensured we had a great meal and great experience as always.
We returned back to our hotel and packed all our shopping till our bags bulged at the seams! But we weren’t complaining. This was our “us time” before we headed back to the grind and planned our next show, and maybe, another wind-down vacation to LA after that!