OUR HISTORY
BORN IN 1983. REBORN FOR THE DIGITAL UNDERGROUND.
THE LEGACY
In 1983, Printmaker Sarah Whorf and Helen O’Neill were shopping down Melrose. There was a "For Rent" sign for a small store. Helen thought, "Wouldn't it be great to have a store where all the Artists could put their stuff on consignment? A bastion of the underground for any artist true to their form?"
Retail Slut became exactly that — a mecca for punks, goths, hippies, ravers, and the fetish community. From The Afro Sisters and Christian Death to pop icons like Michael Jackson and Meryl Streep, the store dressed the revolutionaries of a generation.
The Melrose doors closed in 2003, but the spirit of rebellion never faded.
Today, Retail Slut is back. From record labels to showroom pop-ups in DTLA, we continue to support the madness. We are open to the full realm of artistic expression — from music and fashion to passions yet to be invented.
Rave ON!
- HELEN O’NEILL
ARCHIVE DOCUMENTATION // MELROSE FLAGSHIP
CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE
RETAIL SLUT FOUNDED AT 7517 MELROSE AVE
Helen O’Neill and Sarah Whorf open the doors to what would become a global punk landmark.
MELROSE PUNK EXPLOSION
Retail Slut becomes the epicenter of the Hollywood underground, dressing rock icons and subcultural misfits.
CLEOPATRA RECORDS ERA
The legendary record label takes the helm, further bridging the gap between music and fashion.
THE DOORS CLOSE
After two decades of defiance, the Melrose flagship closes its physical doors, but the legacy lives on.
RETAIL SLUT REBORN
Reborn in DTLA. Helen O’Neill returns with a new vision, uniting 40 years of history with modern underground culture.
SUPPORT THE ARCHIVE
HELP US PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF MELROSE PUNK. OUR DOCUMENTARY PROJECT "THE ORIGINAL INFLUENCER" IS NOW LIVE ON KICKSTARTER.