The Anti-Mall Crawl

Call them anti-mall rats.

They won’t mind--not these fashion-forward young things who live for alternative looks found at the Lab, the “anti-mall” in Costa Mesa.

Whether they’re loitering in the former factory or hanging out near its funky waterfall made of used drums, these Alternative Nation hipsters get their druthers like no others. Hey, when you gotta shop, you gotta shop.

In lime-and-yellow combos, retro plaids and old-school daisies, they do the anti-mall crawl into a dozen stores including Urban Outfitters, NaNa and Tower Alternative.

And that means looking like lookers with no detail overlooked: Jolly Rancher-colored sunglasses or shades as dark as night, a heavy chain around one’s neck, fire-engine red lunch boxes, Winnie-the-Pooh shoulder bags.

Polyester, pleather, leather--whatever. Goatees, Elvis-ized sideburns and Caesar cuts.

Guys dye like a man with a preference for California blond, a couple of inches of dark roots optional, of course. Ditto for young women who accessorize their short ‘dos with little-girl barrettes or skinny headbands for that Gwen Stefani look, no doubt.

For this cool crowd, the looks are the perfect antidote for that anti-mall rat pack attack.