As seen on TV
When shows and films would wrap in the 1980s, what the cast and crew didn’t claim for themselves in a small auction of wardrobe and props was often thrown away (the environment be darned!). In 1981, Janet Dion saw an opportunity to turn trash into treasure and co-founded a resale shop where production castoffs could potentially find new life and make money too.
It’s a Wrap is not a willy-nilly thrift store with dusty instructional dance videos stacked up next to dirty stuffed animals missing eyeballs. It sells the actual clothing and props from completed productions, often from the nearby studios. We’re talking Manolo Blahniks, silk Italian suits, Kate Spade dresses, curated vintage garments from period pieces (like an impeccable twin sweater set from the Astronaut Wives Club), medical scrubs – okay, so it’s not all glamorous. On the walls, iconic film outfits are framed behind glass, such as John Travolta’s Staying Alive suit. Clothes hang neatly on racks throughout the store, frequently sorted by television or movie title.
Info
Address 3315 W Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91505, +1 818.567.7366 and 1164 South Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035, www.itsawraphollywood.com, movieclothes@aol.com | Getting there Metered street parking | Hours Mon–Fri 11am–7pm, Sat 11am–6pm, Sun noon–6pm| Tip Monte Carlo Deli Pinocchio Restaurant (3103 W Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91505), just two short blocks east, offers old-school Italian fare (picture roped cheeses hanging from the ceiling).
Most of the merchandise is sold on consignment, so you can see what production the leopard-print leotard that’s captured your fancy came from by how it is tagged. It’s a Wrap constantly acquires new inventory, which is housed in a consolidated warehouse, then distributed between two stores, one in Burbank and the other in West Los Angeles.
Don’t expect Salvation Army-type bargains. The shop specializes in premium, often name-brand items with very little wear. It’s cheaper than buying new, but nothing like the prices you might find across the street from the Burbank location at the American Way Thrift Store. Then again, most secondhand apparel boutiques are not curated by some of the best stylists in Hollywood. You never know what you might unearth at It’s a Wrap. And that’s the appeal. The thrill of the find is the best part of thrifting.
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