Vivienne Chan / 22 May 2025 / Categories: City, What to do

Abbot Kinney Boulevard and lux lingerie shopping you find there

Intimissimi Cosabella Bluebella and Beyond

I love Venice, the library, the boardwalk, it’s a vibe, a scene and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been for ages whenever you return whether it’s to visit one of the many dispensaries or to visit the famous canals or see where classic movies like White Men Can’t Jump, Spiderman Far From Home or going back further the musical Grease were shot, it’s a place like no other on the planet even for Angelinos like me.

After 27 years a favourite of mine Chaya Venice, on Main an old style hotspot been there forever sadly closed fortunately the less formal M cafe on La Brea is still going part of the Japanese family’s legacy.

It’s a place that doesn’t stand still and the shopping on Abbot Kinney Boulevard has now overtaken the the big malls of the 90’s and noughties. I love the Beverly Center it’s close to where I live, convenient and there’s a big movie theatre there too but it doesn’t beat the on foot experience of meandering down the street bobbing in and out of the now super cool shops and branded boutiques you can find there like Free People and the Italian lingerie outlet Intimissimi.

The great thing about the neighbourhood it is always changing, ethics and sustainability are the competing currency, if you haven’t got a story about all you are doing right you probably won’t survive.

There are loads of independents. Bromelia is a favourite for swimwear and all the modern units attract smaller innovative brands like Evelyn and Bobby who began their journey in 2018 with a pop up on Abbot and Kinney

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It was in a small, tiny infact, boutique on Abbott Kinney where I first discovered the Italian Brand Cosabella, founded in Miami in 1983 by husband and wife team Valeria and Ugo Campello in Miami, USA they discovered a way to compete selling Italian made luxury garments made more affordably and better than the cheap Chinese competitors. I’ve been a fan ever since. Also not to be confused with Cosabella, Bluebella founded in London, UK later in 2005 making similar luxury designs with a more affordable price point. As someone who grew up loving gorgeous intimates made in Europe finding these two brands in a hobo boutique in Venice Beach was a massive game changer at the time. The quality and design detail I loved, for a much lower price. You can now find a range of the Bluebella lingerie brand at Target.

The original shop is now long gone but angelinos can shop the Cosabella range at Bellezza Exquisite Lingerie in Pacific Palisades. Since its inception Cosabella has remained family run and operated. A truly American success story.

These days whenever I’ve finished shopping no trip would be complete without picking up my favourite healing remedies courtesy of Saje and a healthy juice from the Pressed Juicery.

Some of the shops are super expensive for sure, you are going to find the big name brands like Vince, Lululemon, Rag and Bone, Zadig and Voltaire, American Vintage but it’s the little lesser known up and comers that make this area of Southern California so exciting for me.

It’s a neighbourhood feel that maintains the relaxed vibe of all the beach cities minus the sometimes pretentiousness of West LA.

It’s further to go and parking in Venice especially at the weekend can be tricky but for me if you are thinking of heading to Melrose, Abbot Kinney perhaps less well known outside Los Angeles county is way better and much more fun.