Living in your 20s: Santee Alley

The final outfit! (Credit: Michelle Lanz)

My mission: to wander into the throes of designer cheapdom—Downtown’s Santee Alley—and emerge swaddled in a radical outfit.  Santee Alley, located in the Fashion District, hosts vendors hawking all things knockoff, from Dior sunglasses to Louis Vuitton bags. It’s practically overflowing with brightly colored poly-blend dresses and flashy faux gold jewelry (with the latest reggaeton jam blaring from every vendor space). Should have been easy, right?  

Well, like most missions, there was a catch: Mine happened to be a $30 spending cap, which would be a challenge even for L.A.’s resident cheap shop stop.

One might assume that, as an avid shopper and a native Angeleno, I'd have been to this infamous marketplace many times—such was not the case. With a deep breath and crossed fingers, I stepped into the madness and began my hunt for a cute outfit.

Spending under $30 for a decent look is like squeezing into size 2 jeans when you’re really a 6—awfully tight and nearly impossible. It was a struggle from the start, as glitter-glazed accessories tried to hook my wallet and chisel away at my allowance. But after perusing a handful of shops and almost giving in to $5 sunglasses and $10 vinyl flats, I regained composure and decided on a game plan.  

When constructing any outfit, finding a main piece—like a dress or a cool tee that could be paired with jean shorts—is the linchpin, crucial to the success of the ensemble. After spending nearly half an hour sorting through bright yellow spandex jeans and airbrushed XXXXXL T-shirts, I finally found the perfect plaid jumper for $12 at a shop called Pink Bo Bo (seriously). Visions of wearing it to the beach for a bonfire, the Hollywood Bowl for an outdoor concert, or W. 3rd Street for a stroll all flashed before my eyes.

Things started falling into place. Just around the corner, I found a small hat vendor called Flower Caps and picked up a woven straw fedora for $11. This left me with just enough cash for accessories. At one end of the alley, I found a store called ESDI with walls lined in necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I informed the saleswoman I had only a few dollars to spend, and she pointed out everything priced $1. After rummaging through a sea of bangles for 20 minutes, I found a great beaded necklace made of dark wood and a matching cuff bracelet—the items complemented my guerrilla ensemble perfectly.

I emerged from Santee Alley with a sweet dress, an awesome hat and a versatile necklace/bracelet combo—all for $25. I could have put those last few dollars toward some cheap sunglasses, since it's summer, but I opted for a refreshing chai latte instead. Mission accomplished.

Jaime Honkawa is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.