NO ORDINARY POST OFFICE

Edit edit edit. These three words come to mind whenever I visit one of my favorite retail meccas, The Brentwood Country Mart in LA. A destination for curated shopping and yummy food, the Mart takes the red barn exterior and turns it into an urban wonderland culling the best local independent brands from New York like Roberta Roller Rabbit and Turpan housewares, to homegrown heros like Sugarpaper and James Perse. Don't be fooled by the words country and mart though. This is as upscale casual as it gets, where every shop has amazing signage done in cool fonts on white hanging signs. Since 1949, you could visit for the barber shop, cobbler and post office. One gem at the Mart is the Trading Post. It reminds me of a little shop you might find in a small summer village in Maine that carries just the basics and sundry items. It originally served as a sub post office to residents of Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and West Los Angeles. It has evolved, so now you can mail letters and packages and buy stuff. Go out of your way to visit the Mart, it is a hidden gem worth discovering!

Two crisp white doors swing open welcoming purveyors of chic. Everything is neat and tidy with merchandising perfection.

Need a camp blanket, yeah, theyve got that too.

A wall of stark white square cubby's with a rolling ladder are perfect for displaying product vignettes. Each object gets highlighted for it's unique qualities and pared down design. From canvas bags and Field Notebooks to espadrilles if it is chic and simple, then it is here.

Seed packs and a jaunty Hable Construction Garden Hat in the Gardening section (!)

Saint James nautical striped shirts that have become a summer staple

Checked paper napkins in a roll from My Drap for easy picnicking.

Talk about a return to the classics-- choose from all white or white and navy Tretorns.

And let's not forget about the classic cult Tee Shirt from Petit Bateau.