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There’s
much more to the Fashion District than
Louis Vuitton knockoffs and poofy quinceañera
gowns. After a good day on Santee Alley or at a
Cooper Building
sample sale, you could wind up with some sexy
Trina Turk wrap dresses, antique
beads, and high-end designer jeans—all for up to 70 percent less than you’d pay
in stores. OK, so a few of your designer purchases be of—ahem—dubious origin.
But at these prices, who’s asking?
DO: Come
prepared. Bring cash, as many outlets do not accept credit cards.
DON’T: Don’t
forget to bargain, especially in the Alley. Store owners are more likely to
lower the prices if you buy more than one item.
California Market Center Sample Sales.
Made up of three 13-story buildings housing more than 1,000 showrooms, the CMC
holds regular sample sales the last Friday of the month from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.,
where they offload samples that are no longer in season. That’s nice, but
here’s the skinny—most clothes usually come in sample sizes, which are 4 and 6.
A good reason to hold off on the cookies, right? Try parking in the nearby
outdoor lots during the week—they’re much cheaper than the parking structure
attached to the center. 110 E. 9th
St., 213-630-3600 (last Friday of every month).
FIDM Scholarship Store. The Fashion Institute of Design
and Merchandising Scholarship Store may lie just outside the Fashion District,
but it’s well worth a look if you’re in the hood. The store, run by fashion students
at FIDM, carries voguish men’s, women’s and kids’ threads, and while you never
know quite what you’ll find, it will always be cheap. Everything is donated by
fashion retailers like Guess and Passport, and all proceeds go to the FIDM
scholarship fund. Anything that isn’t sold goes to charity.
919 S. Grand Ave.,
213-624-1200.
Morrie’s. If you’re weary of the knockoff
mania on Santee Alley, try this family-owned store, which boasts a great
selection of real designer lines (honest!). Think Cynthia Vincent, Marc Jacobs,
Juicy Couture, Three Dots, BCBG and all sorts of premium denim. Most items are
overruns and samples. Prices are already bargains, and the store has blowout
sales in July and December. 934 S.
Maple Ave., 213-623-3083.
Santee Alley. An open-air market known for
its bazaar atmosphere, Santee Alley is ground zero for designer knockoffs.
People know it as a spot for purses, but there’s plenty of denim and womenswear
too. There are over 300 vendors concentrated in the Alley. Check out
Kukuly’s,
a great little accessories store with adorable jewelry, handbags and clutches;
and System, a cute, Forever 21-style outlet. The Alley is open for business 365
days a year, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Santee
St. at E. Olympic Blvd.
Shooze. If you’re a girl and you have feet,
then you’ll be in twinkle-toe heaven at Shooze. It is one of the only stores in
the
Cooper Building that is open to the public, and
it’s oh so cheap!
California
Market Center A, Lobby 15,
110 E. 9th
St., 213-489-3577.
Women’s Boutiques on Los Angeles Street between Olympic and 9th. The closest you’ll get to
Robertson Blvd. in
Downtown L.A.
Maje and Le Petit Paris are chic contemporary womenswear outlets
on this stretch, giving Lisa Klein and Kitson a run for their money. Le Petit
Paris:
934 S. Los Angeles St., Ste. H,
213-623-5690
. Maje: 916 S. Los Angeles St.,
213-817-7777.
