The store that The New York Times called “Hollywood’s hottest shopping spot” back in 2005 is just as popular as ever before, as it has been visited by nearly every Hollywood A-lister since first opening in 2000. If you plan on going to just one store while you’re in LA, this is the one. They have something for every budget and are located all throughout town, in prominent locations, including one that’s along The Walk of Fame. Back in July, they said that they plan to “more than double [their] fleet of stores to 30 locations” in the next two years. They now have locations all throughout the LA area (even at the LAX) and also at places like Portland and San Diego. It goes without saying that Kitson is a must-see for any LA visitor because they have things that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. The “I Am The Boss” mugs above are $12.95.

1. Cool Knockoffs

Not everyone can afford to buy Christian Louboutins and live it up like Paris Hilton on Rodeo Drive. Fortunately, Kitson has goofy items that lighten the mood and work as great knockoffs to the real thing. But don’t let that word fool you, as they are actually cool knockoffs! Find “Homies” shirts (sweatshirts are $98; it’s a take-off on Hermes), “Feline” swag ($58; a take-off on Celine), and shirts about the “Yves” being removed from the YSL brand that say “Aint Yves Without Saint Laurent.” High-end fashion lovers are sure to find a reminder of their favorite brand at 1/10th of the cost. Or YSL lovers may want the “YSL: You Seem Lost” pullover instead” ($78). They also have a hoodie that reads “dope” all over it, silly Mickey Mouse shirts ($38), “A Nice Jewish Guy” shirts ($38), and even leather jackets that are nearly $2,000. That’s probably the most expensive thing you’ll find here.

They also have a few things that are a little dirtier, including a “Los Fuc*ing Angeles” cashmere sweater ($295) and green athletic socks that say “weed” ($12). You sure won’t find those at your local Target!

Best selling woman items include a leopard print “mini emergency” toiletries bag for just $14.95 and Knee-High B*tch Socks that read (you guessed it) “B*tch” and they are just $12.

The famous Ryan Lichtenberg Homies shirts are pictured above. They also have this design in everything from hot pink shirts to beanies and scarfs.

2. Great Gifts

If you need a gift for some strange friend (of just that bud with a crazy sense of humor), then this is the place for you. From comical books to vintage-looking Record Coasters ($14.95), tourists are sure to find something that’s worthy of going to the trouble to lug back home (or you could just order off of their website). They have The World’s Smallest Walkie Talkies ($12.95) and phone cases for your daughter that read “#Selfie Addict” ($29.95) or another for that stuck up teenager that reads “Rich Bitch” ($29.95). They even have toilet paper that looks like money ($7.95) and a beer making kit (59.95). They also have crazy cards that are a little too risqué to be mentioned on this website!

3. It’s Funny.

Me and my friend started busting out laughing at all of their inappropriate books and how we’d love to get them for some of our friends and family if we didn’t think they’d find them offensive. From a New York Times Best Seller called “How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You” ($14.99), a children’s book called “Little Pen*s” ($7.99), books making fun of old age (I came pretty close to getting this for my aunt!), to a “Stoner Smoke & Sketch” ($16.95), you’re bound to see anything in here that’s worthy of squeezing into that little overpacked suitcase of yours.

4. It’s Affordable.

As I touched on earlier, unlike other celebrity favorites, Kitson is one of the few that is actually affordable. You won’t find $800 Louis Vuitton sunglasses in here. But sure, they do sell items that go up into the thousands, but they also have $10 books that even us commoners can afford. Anyone who loves the Sky Mall magazines on the planes, the Fancy iPhone app, the products on ABC’s Shark Tank, the As Seen On TV stores, or anywhere that offers unique products, will instantly fall in love with these stores and never want to leave. It even gets a little addicting. All in all, I’d say I spent at least 6 or 7 hours goofing off in here. 😉

Don’t you wish Facebook had a dislike button? Yeah, I think we all do. But this can sort of solve that problem. It’ll be fun in the office! These are just $14.95.

I fell in love with these blue leopard print sweatpants for $125 (kinda steep for some sweats, huh?). I normally wouldn’t wear sweatpants out in public but I’m afraid these fellas are the exception! Sick as can be.

5. It’s convenient.

Well if you live in SoCal, it is. Like I mentioned earlier, they are on a massive expansion plan, which I hope hits the East coast soon. If not, then I’m seriously thinking about opening a similar store over here myself. This ingenious concept could be the hottest place in Miami overnight. Come on Kitson, don’t you have enough stores in Cali already?!

Like son, like daddy, huh? Or perhaps you can’t afford to take your child around in the real thing, so why not get them one of their own. The black Mercedes G-Wagon is $745 (just don’t crash it, dude). For those parents who would actually consider buying it, I’ll go ahead and tell you that it holds two kids with a maximum load of 130 Ibs. It looks like I could even go for a solo ride in it myself.

6. Celebrity spotting

You never know, you may just happen to run into your favorite star. They’ve all been here at one time or another…so why not now?  The guest list includes Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Debra Messing, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Lil’ Wayne, and Ashley Tisdale. Just to name a few!

This snazzy black bag reads on one side “The Best Things In Life Are Free” and reads on the other side “The Second Best are Expensive Coco Chanel.”

7. The Hospitality

On my trip to California last week, I visited three Kitson locations, including the one next door to the Grauman’s Theater (at the Walk of Fame), one in Santa Monica, and their new location in San Diego. I felt like I received great service at the Santa Monica and Grauman’s locations (both of which I happened to run into, by the way. The San Diego location was the only one that I went out of my way to visit). One of the sales associates commented on how much she loved my jacket and they were kind enough not to follow me around the store and bother me every few seconds, yet they were always there for kind advice when needed. I absolutely loved both experiences.

Forget the Mr. Right cup, I want the cool puppy pillow!

8. The B*tchiness

But the San Diego location actually didn’t have that sense of hospitality that I had seen at these other stores and it’s probably because the store is so new and because the employees are just getting into the swing of things, but this sales associate named Sophie really pushed my buttons. I’m a pretty easy going guy but every now and then the smallest of things will really piss me off and Sophie is now on my sh*t list! I spent about an hour in the store looking around and taking pictures as needed and not once did they even say “hello” or ask if I needed anything. When I did ask her a question, she acted like she was going out of her way to help me, when all she was doing was sitting around anyway, as the store was empty (it just opened a few weeks ago so I’ll give them some slack for that).

After taking about 25 pictures, Sophie comes up to me and says “no pics” in a snarky and unprofessional attitude that lacked a drop of eye contact. I responded by saying that I was taking them for promotional purposes for the store and all she did was walk away from me with no further comment, as if she thought I was below her or something. Perhaps she thought that there was no way that some teenager could have already been further along in life than her. I honestly can’t stand people like her, who just walk right away from someone while they’re still talking, only to go sit behind the desk and look at her cell phone all day. I hate to be underestimated and I feel like she did just that. Needless to say, I won’t be returning to the San Diego location. Never again. In fact, as soon as they get their Yelp page up and ready for reviews I will be the first to leave her a comment she will regret…and so will all of my friends. There was just something about this conversation that really pissed me off. I tried calling later to kindly give her a piece of my mind and all she did was hang up on me. I’ve been a Yelp member for four years now and not left one single review and this will be my first because it simply pissed me off that bad.

This was the first time ever in the history of my site that I decided to write a full post on a single store, meaning that this place really did impress me that much and more. But the LA locations still rock! Stay away from the San Diego one and you’ll be good! But I’d guess that those girls days are numbered, so maybe by the time your trip comes along they’ll have a new batch of sweethearts.

This studded black leather-looking backpack was just $68 and looks a hell of a lot cooler than the ones they have back in Tennessee!

Since this incident, one of my latest hobbies has been reading negative Yelp reviews from the shops in Beverly Hills and I get a kick out of reading negative reviews from spoiled Beverly Hills housewives! These people gave an LA Hermes store 2.5 stars, just because of it’s lack of customer service! Yikes. But these reviews below were actually posted on Yelp for some of the Kitson stores. Here’s some of the funniest reviews I’ve seen:

So it looks like this happened to someone at another location. Glad I’m not the only one (even if it’s some Beverly Hills housewife who I can relate with)! Juts say it in a nice voice and I would have never thought twice about it. I’ve been told not to take pictures in stores dozens of times before and it didn’t phase me a bit…it was all in the way she said it.

This one is just as funny!

“Do I look poor to you” – how funny is that line?! She also decided to write her first Yelp review. And the part about the Birkin at the end made it all 10 times funnier!

Have you ever visited Kitson? If so, what were your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

super_post:

a:5:{s:3:"tab";a:3:{s:7:"general";s:1:"1";s:8:"advanced";s:1:"0";s:7:"upgrade";s:1:"0";}s:5:"views";i:1012;s:5:"likes";s:0:"";s:6:"emails";s:0:"";s:6:"custom";s:0:"";}

sbg_selected_sidebar:

a:5:{i:0;s:1:"0";i:1;s:1:"0";i:2;s:1:"0";i:3;s:1:"0";i:4;s:1:"0";}

sbg_selected_sidebar_replacement:

a:5:{i:0;s:1:"0";i:1;s:1:"0";i:2;s:1:"0";i:3;s:1:"0";i:4;s:1:"0";}

essb_cached_image:

http://www.uscitytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_6258-e1387434800581.jpg