Today was one of those days that looked set to be rushed, busy and possibly stressful and instead it turned out to be really wonderful.

I kicked things off in #firstworldproblems hell. Aka The DMV. After 8 years of living Los Angeles I’ve decided I should probably learn how to drive, so first things first, I had to pass my written test to get my driving permit. And pass I did, almost with flying colours (I had no idea you could use a cell phone with no hands free in an emergency and I missed the part about animals and pick up trucks in my handbook..lol)

Also on today’s to do list was a visit to the notary (filing a DBA), a visit UPS (sending off our Japan Fashion Week contracts!) and a few other errands all contract and postal related, the epitome of boring. Except, thanks to a sick notary we (myself and Gabby) found ourselves on a detour and headed to Montrose.

Montrose is (depending on who you ask) a small town on the outskirts on Glendale or a small suburb/neighborhood of Glendale and despite it’s 10 minutes distance from my house, I’d never been.

After we visited the notary it occurred to me that Montrose was home to a vintage store of legend (legend: Meline of Industrie Footwear had an amazing purse, it was from this store) so I quickly googled “vintage store – Montrose” and ta da: Pattyes Closet popped up.

So we trotted five minutes down the road and found ourselves in a little piece of California heaven. Honolulu Avenue in Montrose is home to an excessively charming array of stores, cafe’s and bars (and the most authentically Americana bowling alley I’ve EVER seen – see here on insta). I’m planning on returning and doing a full story on the area after I’ve sampled it in more than just a visual sense, however I more than sampled Pattye’s and I cannot wait to go back (get a glimpse of my vintage haul on insta – including a phenomenal Bill Blass dress – I was soooo reluctant to share this)

After Montrose we realized there was no way we could make it downtown to print/sign/scan contracts so we dropped by Gabby’s Mom’s place in Altadena to get the job done at the foot of the mountains. I’ve spent a lot of time in Pasadena but almost none in Altadena. It’s really quite special – the houses and the neighborhoods are fab.

Pants: ASOS, Polkadot Shirt: Primark, Shoes: Miista.

Once all our paperwork was done we dropped by the Roma Italian Deli in Altadena for dinner ingredients (and proper Nutella) and whilst driving back along the 210 Gabby and waxed lyrical about Los Angeles.

The city that can make paperwork interesting.

Kelsi x