Retail Slut
 | This article is missing information about company history. (March 2020) |
| Industry | Apparel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Helen O'Neill |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Products | punk, goth, and alternative fashion styles |
Retail Slut operated as a clothing boutique in Los Angeles, California, focusing on punk, goth, and underground style apparel. Established in 1983 by Helen O'Neill, the store was a prominent supporter of subcultures including the S&M, drag, and rave communities, and took part in the "Hands Around the World" initiative. Situated on Melrose Avenue, Retail Slut relocated four times along this famous street over its lifespan before closing permanently on March 31, 2005.
The shop made brief appearances in films such as Hollywood Vampyr, featuring Trevor Goddard, Nora Zimmett, Jeff Marchelletta, Mark Irvingsen, and Muse Watson, and in The Lollipop Generation by G.B. Jones, with owner Helen O'Neill portraying herself. O'Neill was also an original member of the Afro Sisters band led by performance artist Vaginal Davis. Television appearances Template:Please clarify. included spots on MTV and Playboy TV. Notably, hard rock guitarist Slash acquired his first iconic top hat from Retail Slut during the early days of Guns N' Roses.[1][2][3] Regular visitors included Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Axl Rose, and Nina Hagen.[4] Magnus Walker (Serious Clothing) unintentionally launched his career when employee Taime Downe from Faster PussyCat expressed interest in purchasing his pants.[5] The renowned artist Andy Warhol featured a photograph of the Dead Barbie Doll artwork that was displayed above the dressing room at Retail Slut’s initial location in his book America.[6] Additionally, Michael Jackson bought the bondage belt and bracelet seen on the cover of his BAD album.[7]
In 2021, Lethal Amounts Gallery hosted a pop-up event celebrating Retail Slut.[8]
References
- ↑ Plummer, Sean (March 10, 2010). "Scandalous Slash". MSN. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ↑ "14 Maddede Aklımıza Kazınan Notaların Sahibi, Efsane Gitarist Slash". Archived from the original on December 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Slash Answers Your Questions".
- ↑ Los Angeles Magazine, July 2014
- ↑ Walker, Magnus (July 3, 2014). "Go with your gut feeling". TEDxUCLA. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ↑ Warhol, Andy (1985). America. Harper and Row. p. 22.
- ↑ Martino, Alison. "Melrose Ave in the '80s".
- ↑ Lecaro, Lina (October 12, 2021). "Retail Slut Revisited: Melrose's Underground Fashion Haven Returns". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 29, 2023.