You can find just about any clothing item or accessory in the Los Angeles Fashion District, many times cheaper than retail.
The Los Angeles Fashion District spans 100 blocks, with more than 1,000 stores carrying roughly 4,500 apparel and accessory lines, and is the premier shopping destination on the West Coast. Open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you’ll find apparel, accessories, textiles and even flowers in this massive, cutting-edge district. Check out our guide to the LA Fashion District, including tips for first-timers, a spotlight of each notable area and how to do the District on a budget.
Know Before You Go
Navigating the LA Fashion District may seem like a daunting task, but by keeping a few things in mind before you go, you’ll be well on your way to shopping like a pro.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothing and bring reusable bags or luggage strollers to haul away your purchases.
- Many stores are wholesale-only, which means they are not open to the public. Look for signs describing which type of store it is.
- Make sure to bring cash with you, as many stores don’t accept credit cards. If you forget, there are numerous ATMs throughout the District.
- The selection of merchandise changes daily, so if something catches your eye, pick it up because it might not be there tomorrow.
- Don’t be afraid to bargain – in fact, it’s encouraged!
The European Corridor
Known to bargain hunters as Rodeo Drive on a budget, the European Corridor is located on Pico Boulevard between Main and Santee Streets. Most of the merchandise you’ll find here is imported from France, Italy and other European fashion centers, which means you’re going to be spending a pretty penny on the evening gowns, dress shoes and suits you’ll find in the Corridor unless you know where to go. Stop in Fenucci Design (934 Santee St., Los Angeles, CA 90015) for elegant formal wear on the cheap.
Santee Alley
Essentially the antithesis of the European Corridor, Santee Alley is a continuously packed back alley of over 150 stores and vendors located between Maple and Santee Streets, from Olympic Boulevard to 12th Street, where adventurous bargain hunters generally go to find the most authentic knockoff designer goods, ripped DVDs and other bootleg items. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you love to bargain, Santee Alley is the place for you. Check out Pop USA (321 E. 12th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015) for authentic designer goods at rock bottom prices.
The Intersection
Named after the intersection at 9th and Los Angeles Streets, the Intersection is the name of the joint collective of wholesale showrooms and tradeshow producers in the Fashion District, with the bigger names being the California Market Center, Cooper Design Space, Gerry Building and The New Mart. These fashion industry leaders generally aren’t open to the public, but they hold sample sales on the last Friday of every month, when you might score a great piece for dirt cheap.
Menswear District
The Fashion District isn’t just about ladies clothes and accessories. Located on Los Angeles Street between 7th and 9th Streets, the Menswear District is where you can find fashion-forward suits, ties, shoes and other menswear accessories for great prices. The merchandise is often heavily discounted, and the best place to find designer Italian wool suits is at SuitFellas (756 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90014), which specializes in affordable menswear.
The Flower Market
If you wander along Center Street between 7th and 8th Streets, you’ll eventually come across the LA Flower Market, the largest flower market in the United States, where you’ll find nearly every variety of cut flower plus potted plants, dried and silk flowers and floral supplies. If you’re not in the wholesale trade, the Flower Market is open to the public Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon. There is a nominal entrance fee. Visit Kobata Growers (758 S. Maple Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90014) for the freshest and cheapest arrangements available to the public.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/aspectimages
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