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Shopping
Guide to Shopping in Los Angeles
Chances are good that whatever you see on TV and in the movies, you
can buy it here in LA. Whether you want the latest fashions from
famous name designers in Beverly Hills, or an unusual art object
from an outdoor vendor on the festive Venice Boardwalk, shopping in
LA is all about being entertained and enjoying the "props, sets and
wardrobe" that accompany a life of leisure.
National holidays may affect the opening times of some stores and
attractions in the city, although the larger outlets are likely to
remain unaffected on all but the most major holidays - such as
Thanksgiving.
Where to Shop
Best Areas
Famous for selling the most expensive designer merchandise in the
world, Beverly Hills is more of a tourist attraction than a shopping
destination (especially on Sundays when the stores are closed). Not
to be confused with cowboys and bucking broncos, Rodeo ("ro-DAY-oh")
Drive is for those who can afford the heavenly bills that accompany
the extreme sport of shopping.
Get the latest creations from Armani, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Ralph
Lauren, Charles Jourdan, Louis Vuitton, Versace and Bulgari. See
jewellery worthy of Academy Award recognition at stores like Harry
Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Tiffany. Everything else is
nearby on Wilshire in upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus,
Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys. There are very few bargains here,
but plenty of gorgeous things and some priceless people-watching
opportunities.
Though equally amusing from the people-watching point of view, the
Venice Boardwalk is the complete antithesis of Rodeo Drive's
ostentatious glitz. There aren't many "big ticket" items for sale in
the open-air stalls and funky stores that thrive along this
beachfront walkway, and it's easy to bargain for sunglasses,
clothes, CDs, unusual art objects, massage therapy and fortune
telling sessions. Like its native son Jim Morrison and the Doors,
Venice has a strange charismatic appeal to people who enjoy things
that are outrageous, irreverent, artistic and slightly out of touch
with reality.
Not far from the Venice Boardwalk, Main Street has a good mix of
stores from Patagonia to the Armani Exchange. Besides trendy casual
attire, laid back beachwear, and used celebrity clothing at Star
Wares, you can find custom furniture, surfing equipment, books and
old magazines, art and antiques.
The MTV generation will enjoy the quirky section of Melrose Avenue
between Fairfax and La Brea with its one-of-a-kind stores that
specialise in providing everything that is currently hot, hip, cool,
trashy or shocking - what some might say is a perfect reflection of
Hollywood.
Discount Outlet Complexes
There are a number of discount shopping outlets located in the
suburbs of LA that offer very generous discounts on some of the top
brand labels in the world. It's often worth the hour or more drive
to earn yourself up to 65% off the price of the same (or at least
similar) gear that you can buy on Rodeo - and once you're back in
the city nobody need ever know where you bought your outfit after
all...
Ontario Mills claims to be the largest one-storey mall west
of the Mississippi River. Stores here include outlet divisions for
Bed Bath and Beyond, Burlington Coat Factory, JC Penney, Saks,
Virgin Megastore, Hugo Boss, Ann Taylor, Nine West, The Gap, and
Movado. At the intersection of IS10 and IS15.
Camarillo Premium Outlets boasts over 120 stores including
outlet divisions for Ann Taylor, Barneys, Brooks Brothers, Donna
Karan, The Gap, Kenneth Cole, Liz Claiborne, Nike, Polo Ralph
Lauren, Versace, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lenox, Mikasa and others.
Hwy101, Exit: Las Posas Rd.
Desert Hills Premium Outlets out in Cabazon is well worth the
hour and a half drive from the city. With over 130 stores boasting
such names as Armani, Gucci and Prada you won't want for stuff to
buy. IS10, Exit: Fields Rd.
Shopping Malls
Malls are an American phenomenon, and like elsewhere in the US, in
LA the most convenient shopping is found in mall complexes. Most
malls have, at very least, one or two major department stores, a
variety of smaller but well-known chain stores, restaurants, a food
court, and multiple movie screens. Importantly they also often offer
free parking.
Westside Pavilion (Pico at Westwood Boulevard) features Nordstrom's,
the store that is famous for providing excellent customer service
and quality merchandise, and a skyway connects the mall to a huge
and comfy three-story Barnes & Noble bookstore. Century City (Santa
Monica Boulevard near Avenue of the Stars) is one of the nicest
outdoor malls. It has Bloomingdale's and Macy's and its cinema is a
good place to see the latest films in comfort. The Beverly Center
(Beverly Boulevard at La Cienega) is a massive nine-floor structure
with more than the usual assortment of stores and restaurants, plus
it has several upscale designer boutiques, like Hugo Boss and Louis
Vuitton, that are usually considered too chic for malls.
Markets
The Rose Bowl Flea Market & Swap Meet is held on the second Sunday
of each month from 09h00 to 16h30 in the parking lot of the Rose
Bowl stadium in Pasadena. More than 2000 vendors show off their
wares to eager bargain hunters searching for collectables, antiques,
crafts, clothes and toys. Regular admission is USD7 for adults, or
USD15 to enter early between 07h00 and 08h00. The really serious
bargain hunters opt for the USD20 VIP ticket and arrive at 05h00 to
snatch up the best stuff before the crowd arrives. The smaller
Pasadena City College Flea Market (Tel: +1 (1)626-585-7906) is held
on the first Sunday of every month from 08h00 to 15h00 and attracts
about 500 vendors offering all kinds of merchandise at discounted
prices.
The Jewellery Mart (Hill Street downtown between 6th and 9th) area
is packed solid with nothing but jewellery stores. Second only to
New York in size and scope, LA's downtown jewellery market is open
Mon-Sat from 09h00-17h00. Store windows sparkle with an assortment
of diamonds, gems, gold, silver and watches, but what you see from
the street is only a fraction of the inventory at hundreds of stores
that exist inside the surrounding skyscrapers. Vast supply
encourages competitive discounts of up to 70% below retail.
Wholesale diamond brokers, gemologists, designers and store owners
are happy to assist with custom settings, re-sizing, free cleaning
and consultation on items.
The Antique Guild is located in the historic 1930s Art Deco Helms
Bakery Building on Venice Boulevard, and comprises 32,000 square
feet full of American and European antique furniture and various
other vintage collectables. "Visit the Antique Guild where history
repeats itself" from 10h00-18h00 Monday through Saturday, and from
noon to 18h00 on Sunday.
What to Buy
It has been said of LA that everything and everyone is up for sale -
so quite literally anything is up for grabs (although buying people
is still illegal). Designers from all over the world have stores
somewhere in the city with Melrose West, West Hollywood or Santa
Monica having the best enclaves of top-end fashion houses.
Visitors from other continents will probably be just as interested
in heading for the highstreet stores however. Although American
sportswear manufacturers such as Nike are global brands, prices in
the states are far lower than elsewhere. Europeans can save up to
50% on items such as training shoes and the latest T-shirts. Thanks
to its notoriously mild climate, Southern California is known for
inventing the newest trends in outdoor activities and sports
accessories, so items like skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles,
scooters, and boogie boards can be purchased throughout the year.
You can also obtain replica American sports shirts. In LA the
top-seller of this ilk is a vest from the city's NBA team, the
Lakers. Shirts bear the name of one of the team's stars, with the
biggest seller being the biggest player, Kobe Bryant.
If you want to buy any sporting goods and accessories, the best
selection is usually found at large chain stores that specialise in
this type of merchandise: Sport Chalet at 13455 Maxella Ave in
Marina Del Rey; Big Five Sporting Goods at 3121 Wilshire Blvd in
Santa Monica; or Sportmart at 1919 S Sepulveda Blvd in West Los
Angeles.
California is one of the world's most prolific wine producing
regions and a couple of bottles of locally produced stuff is always
a good idea. An excellent selection from all over the state can be
found at two outlets that focus more on great value and helpful
staff than on store ambience: LA Wine Company at 4935 McConnell Ave
in the Culver City area and the nearby Beverage Warehouse at 4935
McConnell Ave. LA is also the health capital of the USA and for a
natural foods shopping adventure, go to one of the Whole Foods
Markets located throughout LA which focuses on organic products,
environmental awareness, and food that is free from artificial
preservatives, colours, flavours and sweeteners.
Assorted chocolates from See's Candies (outlets throughout the city)
are exceptionally good and available everywhere - even at LAX
airport. A perfect last-minute gift to bring home.
Gifts more idiomatic to Los Angeles itself revolve around the twin
medias of movies and music. On Hollywood's Sunset Strip are the two
giants that lead the industry in providing Rock and Classical Music
CDs: Tower Records at 8801 Sunset Blvd with its separate classical
store across the street, and the Virgin Megastore at 8000 Sunset.
Being able to say you bought a certain disc from Tower Records on
Sunset is as much the attraction as the international range of music
on offer.
Videos and DVDs, again lower priced than in Europe, are available
from chains such as the Wherehouse, Blockbuster, 20/20 Video, and
Hollywood Video located throughout the city. If purchasing any media
ensure that your machine back home is compatible with American
regional formats.
Hollywood memorabilia is another good buy - and the perfect gift for
kids and movie fans. Tourist stores and the studios' own souvenir
stores sell no end of clapperboards, desk lamps that resemble
miniature movie lights and director's chairs to the tourist market.
If you are searching for genuine movie memorabilia such as movie
stars' autographs, celebrity photos, biographies, movie scripts or
posters, check out these speciality vendors in Hollywood: Book City
Collectables at 6631 Hollywood Blvd (Tel: +1 (1)323-466-0120);
Hollywood Book City at 6627 Hollywood Blvd (Tel: +1
(1)323-466-2525).
For a selection of unique and quirky novelty items, consider the LA
Coroner's Office "Skeletons in the Closet" gift shop located two
floors up from the county morgue at 1104 N Mission Road in downtown
LA. This strangely amusing place (open 08h00-16h30, Mon-Fri) sells
authentic "toe tag" key chains and various articles of clothing,
sport bags, hats, mouse pads and coffee mugs that feature the
official Coroner's seal or the chalk line body logo. You'll be
aiding a good cause as well. All proceeds support a programme for
youthful offenders involved in drug, alcohol and weapons-related
cases in which the court orders a tour of the morgue and the
witnessing of an actual autopsy. The programme has an excellent
success rate with offenders, very few of which return to a life of
crime after witnessing its rather grisly likely conclusion.
Opening Hours
Shopping malls with many stores under one roof are usually open from
10h00-21h00 every day of the week, including holidays. Other shops
often close on Sundays and holidays, and hours are generally 10h00
to 17h00-18h00.
Tax Refund
In Los Angeles a Sales Tax of 8.25% is added to most purchases and
is not listed on the ticket price in stores.
As individual states set their own sales taxes the federal
government has no system for refunding non-US visitors. In
California large and expensive purchases are tax exempt if they are
immediately shipped out of the state. You will have to ask at point
of purchase whether it is possible to gain exemption by arranging
direct shipping and, if so, whether this will represent any net
saving to you.
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