My main purse is a pre-loved Marc Jacobs handbag I got at Santa Monica’s Wasteland. I paid a few hundred for that accessory — the high-end designer stuff’s in the locked glass cases against the walls, if you’re looking for something similar — but most fashion finds at Wasteland are a lot more affordable — and edgier too.

Wasteland‘s a well-known pre-loved fashion company for modern and vintage styles with 4 locations in California. According to Wasteland’s website, the Santa Monica store offers a “smooth blend of West Side ease and beach-meets-Highstreet style” — a fairly accurate description.

The well-curated collection ranges from hipster T-shirts to punk-inspired dresses to designer shoes, like the pink size 7 Marc Jacobs pair above, on sale for $30. Not all items at Wasteland are pre-loved, as you can tell by the row of pleather LBDs below, but most of the thrifty finds are.

I actually don’t shop here very often, simply because my sense of style’s — simpler. But if you’re into the Melrose look — Wasteland’s flagship store is indeed on Melrose Ave. — you could probably get lost in this store for hours, mixing and matching your next look together.

Wasteland. 1338 4th St., Santa Monica. 310.395.2620. Also in Los Angeles (7428 Melrose Ave., 323.653.3028), Burbank (325 N. San Fernando, 818.842.4900), and San Francisco.

Update, 1/30/10: Pre-loved fashion shopping in Santa Monica: A Walking guide — 7 stores, 2 miles!

Bottom left photo via wastelandclothing.com; other photos by Siel

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