Oh Los Angeles, your palm trees, bathing suits and immaculately landscaped Hollywood mansions aren’t for everyone, you know. Beyond your Barbie girl stereotypes you’ll find those of us who have a finer appreciation for the darker things in life (and death). And those who would rather take a calming walk in a shadowy graveyard than a sunset stroll on the bright, shimmery beach.
This morbid guide to LA is for my dark souls out there who shudder at the word “basic” and tend to liven up their homes with a bunch of dead stuff. Check out some of these creep-tastic locations in Los Angeles that are perfect for spicing up your horror decor.
Necromance
Hollywood
First stop on our morbid decor tour is Necromance, a one-stop shop for all your taxidermy needs. If it’s horns, bones, feathers or fur you’re after, you can save yourself a trip to the desert by hopping down to Hollywood and checking out Necromance's amazing collection right on Melrose. Better yet, if you have a deep fear of being eaten by a wild street coyote during your search for the perfect antelope head, you can shop Necromance from the comfort of your own coffin. Their entire collection is available online and can be delivered right to your tomb home!
Image courtesy of @necromancehollywood
Image courtesy of @necromancehollywood
Image by Instagram user @necromancehollywood
Museum of Death (Gift Shop)
Hollywood
Stop by the Museum of Death on Hollywood Boulevard and check out their creepy poster collection featuring some serial killer-inspired artwork. Take the trip to the museum itself, rather than browsing online. (The online shop doesn’t feature the real oddities they offer.) Enjoy while you’re there, just heed my warning: You will be reading a lot, and the imagery is not for the faint of heart. All other displays on this list will seem tame by comparison.
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Halloween Town
Burbank
If your style is dark, but not that dark, you’ll enjoy a trip to the Halloween-themed store that is open year-round. Anytime but October is the perfect time to check it out. Come Halloween season, the lines for this place are around the block, quite literally. Just make sure you go to the right store because there are three, all within walking distance from each other, but only one is dedicated to haunting home decor.
Image by Instagram user @halloweentownstore
Image courtesy of @halloweentownstore
Image courtesy of @halloweentownstore
Dark Delicacies
Burbank
Known as the ‘home of horror’, Dark Delicacies has been a long-time staple for scary literature. Featured by the SyFy Channel, LA Times, New York Times, Fangoria and many more, this bookshop regularly hosts events from book signings to live music. When searching for a conversation starting coffee table book or handbag, Dark Delicacies has you covered. If you like creepy-cute this place is the most kid-friendly, with an entire section dedicated to clothes and stuff for kids. And if you’re lucky, you might just bump into a famous horror author or two!
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Bearded Lady Vintage & Oddities
Burbank
Burbank seems to be an ever-growing haven for odd and macabre businesses. Although Bearded Lady Vintage & Oddities may be one of the newest, it’s quickly become one of the most beloved. From the outside, Bearded Lady might look small, but trust me, you’ll want to take your time in this one, it’s wall-to-wall interesting. Plus, they have an adorable cat who you may catch darting around wax skulls and potion bottles. If simply shopping here doesn’t satiate your desire for morbid arts, Bearded Lady also offers their very own taxidermy class, where you can learn how to take apart and put back together a baby chick with your own two hands.
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Image courtesy of Alethea Cho
Gold Bug
Pasadena
Gold Bug is what you’d get if you put a 19th-century mad scientist in charge of creating a high-end jewelry shop. One-part museum, one-part art gallery, Gold Bug is a great spot to get amazing gifts for that morbidly-inclined special someone. (Though the shop would prefer to stay away from the morbid label, the average Joe might be a little put off by some of the slightly raw, albeit nature-inspired offerings.) Although you’ll want to take pictures of their wonderfully freaky collection, they do have a strict 'no camera' policy as most of what they offer are original, one-of-a-kind works of art.
Image by Instagram user @goldbugpasadena
Image courtesy of @goldbugpasadena
Image courtesy of @goldbugpasadena
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Alethea Cho, AKA Lady Lovesblood, is a connoisseur of all things creepy. When she's not bouncing between LA and Seoul she spends her free time writing and exploring nightmares. You can follow her haunts on Instagram @ladylovesblood or @horrorexplorers.
Featured image of Bearded Lady Vintage by Alethea Cho
