LA’s Fashion District: This Ain’t Rodeo Drive

The frenzied streets of LA’s Fashion District seem worlds away from Beverly Hills’ manicured poshness three miles to the west. Reminiscent of a cross-border shopping trip to Mexico, LA’s fashion district is a mecca for in-the-know Angelenos looking for bargains.



Pretty it ain’t…in fact, if you have an aversion to crowds, Mexican-style mercados, or loud noises, be forewarned - this is not the place for you. The draw for me is seeing an actual sidewalk in LA overflowing with people, not to mention knock-offs galore.



Sidewalk vendors cook up hot dogs wrapped in bacon (aka heart attack in a bun) under questionable hygienic circumstances. But it’s easy to overlook when you catch a whiff of the delicious greasiness. Bells from popsicle carts jingle, hawkers shout ‘5 doh-lers, cinco dolares’, and blasting ranchera and techno music energizes and deafens at the same time. All in all, it seems like a real downtown - more of the third world-variety, but a downtown filled with people nevertheless.



Santee Alley – a heavily-congested alley that would make claustrophobes run for cover - is ground zero of the Fashion District. Located between Maple and Santee streets on the stretch between Olympic and Pico Blvds, Santee Alley is notorious for all sorts of bootleg items. You’ll find ‘designer’ handbags, pirated DVDs, let-it-all-hang-out dresses, noisy toys, and assorted ghetto bling. If you’re looking for fabric, bead, rug, and flower stores, they are concentrated north of the alley around 8th and 9th.

Tips:
• Bargaining's almost a requirement, or the chotchkie-pushers will think you’re a pushover
• Most places don’t have dressing rooms
• Bring cash because these shops don’t accept American Express (or Mastercard or Visa for that matter)
• Parking is plentiful. Just bring a couple bucks – lots run about $3 to $6 for the day, depending on when you go