Step into L.A. Boudoir

© Katherine McPherson / MFb

If you’re a vintage lover (and really, who isn’t?), L.A. Boudoir is a treasure-trove just waiting to be discovered. Tucked away upstairs from the popular UVA69 restaurant in the tragically hip MIMO district, this vintage shop carries everything from burlesque lingerie to party dresses and everything in between.

© Katherine McPherson / MFbCurated and run by owner Lauren Arkin, L.A. Boudoir caters to a mix of clientele. From stylists and photographers looking for rental pieces for photo shoots, to partygoers looking for costumes, to vintage lovers scouring the racks for deals, Arkin has something for everyone. She’s even got a small selection of men and children’s clothing. While the main focus is lingerie, Arkin has an eye for the unique, and if you spend some time looking, you’ll score some seriously amazing finds at even more amazing prices (we scored an incredible black silk jumpsuit for $10).

Arkin is a Miami native whose love of fashion started at an early age. She attended the acclaimed Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) where she studied costume design and immersed herself in the history of fashion. She started collecting vintage pieces at the age of 12, and always dreamed of opening her own store. Perhaps it was in her DNA – her mother, a former Rockette – also had dreams of owning a vintage shop. After DASH, Arkin perfected her craft at the Art Institute and soon after, L.A. Boudoir was born.

Arkin’s love of vintage runs deep. “I have always been drawn to vintage fashion. The fabrics, the quality, everything is so much better than what is out there right now” she says. “The pieces are hand-sewn, hand-beaded, and you can just tell the effort that went into creating it.” The store is a mix of Arkin’s own personal collection, and items for sale. She rents out pieces from her collection to stylists and photographers, but can’t bear the thought of actually selling any of it.

© Katherine McPherson / MFbhe difference between L.A. Boudoir and most other vintage shops is the focus is not on specific designers. Arkin chooses pieces based on the design, not the designer. And she’s dedicated to making her merchandise affordable. The most expensive piece in the store is a $500 Chanel dress – a steal for what it would normally retail for. “I go to lots of estate sales and yard sales to look for pieces,” says Arkin. “I’m really drawn to lace and beading, anything that looks really unique.” She also designs her own collection with a focus on lingerie, and consults for the Cupcake Burlesque troop in spicing up their uniforms.

Wandering through L.A. Boudoir is like traveling back in time. There are pieces from the early 1900s including a pair of pasties from the teens, and fans from the Paris Opera House, that are around 100 years old. There are also three unreleased prints from Milton Greene’s famous Black Sitting series with Marilyn Monroe. With all these treasures surrounding you, you feel like you’ve stumbled upon something really special. Each piece in the story has it’s own story, and has been hand-selected with love. It’s a much more exciting experience than you get in the generic boutiques with the same old designers and the same old styles. Leave yourself enough time to sort through the racks, and be sure to ask Arkin what the story behind the pieces are. Check our their Facebook page for info on sales and other happenings, and learn more about Arkin at LaurenArkinMiami.com.