LA Stories: A Dog, A Hat And A Pair Of TOMS Shoes

First I noticed the dogs. They are everywhere we go: the beach, the mall, the Apple store. Everyone in LA has a dog and take it everywhere. We have a dog, and if he was here with us now, we would take him everywhere too. He even has a Lakers bandana.

Then I noticed the Shorty Mack hats (so named in our family because that’s what my daughter looks like in hers, a Shorty Mack). I have one of those. It took me forever to find one in Atlanta that I like, but here in LA they are in every store and on every head.

And finally the TOMS shoes. Everyone in our beach neighborhood wears TOMS. At first I couldn’t decide if I liked them…they looked sort of Ked-ish and Keds are not my stylo. But then I saw these at Fred Segal and fell in love. It’s the bling, of course.

Alas, Fred Segal didn’t have my size. Turns out that those are the hottest TOMS around and impossibly hard to find. But now I was on a mission; I went online and wrote down every store in LA that carried TOMS. I scoured the boutiques on Main Street, Abbot Kinney and Montana Ave–nothing. Finally a kind shopkeeper pointed me to Lorin on 3rd Street Promenade: ”If anyone has those TOMS, Lorin does.”

They did and in my size too. Not only are TOMS cute, comfortable and affordable, they are also philanthropic. For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. I am a convert and a fan.

My LA look is complete. When are we moving?