Los Angeles - Best place for shopping

Hi,

I have 4 days in LA coming up. Will be visiting Rodeo Drive, Hollywod Highland Center as well as Beverly Center anyway. I will probably buy Timberland shoes as well as polo shirts from Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers. Should I do this shopping right in the places mentioned above, or should I take one day and visit the camarillo Outlets?

Whats the difference in price?

Thanks

Camarillo Outlets will be a little cheaper but it will essentially be a whole day trip so it's up to you if you want to burn 1 of your 4 days visiting a big parking lot in the sticks.

Hollywood Highland Center is ok for visitors but not where locals would shop.

You may also want to visit Westfiled Century City: http://www.westfield.com/centurycity/stores/

And Santa Monica Place: http://www.santamonicaplace.com/Map/#storeDirectory

Thank you very much for the info. Could you specify what a bit cheaper means? Is it worth the hassle or not?

Personally, I don't think it is worth the hassle, unless you are on your way to Santa Barbara. For the kind of brands you are interested (Ralph Lauren Polo etc), the savings maybe 10% off department store prices but there are a lot of out of season clothes and funky colors. And if you are a standard size guy like me, you may find that the most popular colors/styles are sold out in your size. Big/tall guys will find outlets well stocked for their size.

Outlets are a good deal for slightly lower tier names like Nike, J Crew, or Banana Republic. Those stores have outlet store specific inventory that are priced significantly below similar but different items sold in regular mall stores. Household goods (kitchen stuff, luggage, bedding items) is another category that make it worthwhile to drive out there. Camarillo has a Restoration Hardware outlet http://www.yelp.com/biz/restoration-hardware-furniture-outlet-camarillo

I would combine the outlet with PCH/Malibu, Santa Barbara and surrounding area making a nice day trip. Outlets are cheaper on average but the range of discounts can be quite wide.
You can also hit the outlets in Cabazon and visit Palm Springs area but summer is very hot there.

I hope your 4 days is not going to be in mid-July, when traffic may be very very bad with the closure of a big section of the 405.

Traffic is also generally bad in Santa Monica in the summer with the throngs of beach-goers.

It seems that it is getting more complicated than I thought.


Personally, I don't think it is worth the hassle, unless you are on your way to Santa Barbara.[/url]

I would combine the outlet with PCH/Malibu, Santa Barbara and surrounding area making a nice day trip. Outlets are cheaper on average but the range of discounts can be quite wide.
You can also hit the outlets in Cabazon and visit Palm Springs area but summer is very hot there.

I was thinking about doing it that way, since Santa Barbara was recommended to me. I will probably do the tour in the beginning since then I can buy the rest of the clothes in the former mentioned places.

I hope your 4 days is not going to be in mid-July, when traffic may be very very bad with the closure of a big section of the 405.

Traffic is also generally bad in Santa Monica in the summer with the throngs of beach-goers.

It will be in September, so some time to go.


Thank you all for the usefull information.

I went out to Camarillo and was happy I did.... the weekdays are best because nobody is there and you have the place to yourself.

I went out to Camarillo and was happy I did.... the weekdays are best because nobody is there and you have the place to yourself.

I thought about a thursday morning, should work.

Doing the Mulholland drive on the way ro camarillo and the pacific highway on return.

I thought about a thursday morning, should work.

Doing the Mulholland drive on the way ro camarillo and the pacific highway on return.

PCH on the way back is nice, but expect some traffic in the mid to late afternoon.

I thought about a thursday morning, should work.

Doing the Mulholland drive on the way ro camarillo and the pacific highway on return.

Good plan ^

Another possibility is the downtown L.A. Fashion District: http://www.fashiondistrict.org/

Here's the site for Camarillo: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=20

There is a Citadel outlets mall just east of downtown L.A., but I'm not famliar withit.

You may or may not end up saving money son the specific brands you want, especially if you're picky on exactly what you get. Stores in Beveerly Hills, for example, may have more of a mark-up than a regular mall, but I'm sure you find many of these brands, especially those like Timberland, in many malls, which may have sales. But if you have the time and go at the right time to escape rush hour traffic, the drive to Camarillo should not be an unpleasant one. I didn't see exactly where you're driving from, so don't know how long of a drive it will be. Unless you're leaving from the eastern part of the county, Camarillo is probably 30 mins. closer than the outlet mall in Cabazon, towards Palm Springs (there's a casino next door in case you want to pay for your purchases by winning). From many parts of L.A., the PCH option you mention (not sure about Mulholland Hwy.) could be a scenic one.

I'm not big on outlet malls myself, having found just as good if not better deals by selecting the right sales racks at Macy's. But if you want particular brands (often still made at the same overseas sweatshops as the no-name stuff), and the outlet mall you are going to has the brands you want, they can be good. I'm sure you know that "outlets" these days are often not what they used to mean (i.e., direct sales outlets for the factories), but are discount stores specializing in particular brands (though usually having others, as well).

didn't see exactly where you're driving from, so don't know how long of a drive it will be.

We are starting off at the UCLA around 12pm. But we have plenty of time and a convertible, so we will enjoy the way.

I'm not big on outlet malls myself, having found just as good if not better deals by selecting the right sales racks at Macy's. But if you want particular brands (often still made at the same overseas sweatshops as the no-name stuff), and the outlet mall you are going to has the brands you want, they can be good. I'm sure you know that "outlets" these days are often not what they used to mean (i.e., direct sales outlets for the factories), but are discount stores specializing in particular brands (though usually having others, as well)

Same for me, I am very picky. But I will buy all the things I do not get in LA, so its at least a try.

Thx

Hi,

I have 4 days in LA coming up. Will be visiting Rodeo Drive, Hollywod Highland Center as well as Beverly Center anyway. I will probably buy Timberland shoes as well as polo shirts from Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers. Should I do this shopping right in the places mentioned above, or should I take one day and visit the camarillo Outlets?

Whats the difference in price?

Thanks

Hi there. Regarding the three locations mentioned:

Rodeo Dr. and BH could be interesting to drive through, stroll past, etc. for site seeing I imagine.

Hollywood & Highland likewise could be interesting to see Grauman's, but its stores I find lacking. This mall is not anchored by the usual large department store but instead has several small boutique type stores. I personally find the environment "too much" for real shopping. Too many sideshow freaks out on the sidewalk, too much of that Hollywood homeless-teen, skanky vibe, too many tourists (no offense!) - but bottomline not very conducive to shopping IMO.

I live near the Beverly Center and I find it depressing. It's an indoor mall (which in itself makes me depressed), but it does have a Macys and Bloomingdales and lots of other stores. But when you're inside - you could be anywhere.

As opposed to malls where you can have more of a SoCal experience (whatever that is!) two of which are mentioned and linked above: Century City and Santa Monica Place - both of which will be closer to Westwood if that's where you're staying. I like the Century City mall ambience since its outdoor setting and design is very 1960's cool. Like the Beverly Center is has a Bloomingdales and Macys, but atleast there going from store to store you're in a very pleasant atmosphere vs Beverly Centers' gloomy interior.

I haven't been to the Santa Monica mall since it's been overhauled but I understand that it has some alfresco dining options on the top floor which affords ocean views. You can't beat that. But also it's adjacent to Third Street Promenade which is a very lively outdoor, pedestrian friendly shopping area - and one in which you'll get that SoCal thing.

Further east there's another very pretty outdoor "mall", The Grove. That one's anchored by a Nordstroms department store, and there are fountains, and sometimes entertainment - and it's also next door to Farmer's Market, which is fun.
http://www.thegrovela.com/
http://www.farmersmarketla.com/

So if you want a mall I'd pick Century City, Santa Monica Place or The Grove over Beverly Center or Hollywood & Highland. That's my 2 cents.

But in terms of shopping somewhere to get the best prices another option to the outlets that require a far drive, and to downtown's Fashion district mentioned and linked above (which could prove great for your requirements), is to shop at some of the chain "discount" stores. I put that in quotes since I'm really not sure how to classify these store: Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Norstrom Rack, Loehmanns, Wearhouse for Men, Ross.

Just south of the Beverly Center is the main Loehmanns store and a couple of years ago they separated their men's department in a different building east of the Beverly Center - in what's called the Beverly Connection. I shop at the woman's store and it's not a pleasant experience by any means - it's not at all customer friendly and requires ALOT of effort! (The merchandise racks are placed close together making it difficult to work your way through, there's no one there to help you find anything, they have only a few private fitting rooms - in lieu of also having large communal fitting rooms. The black hole of Calcutta it's not, but it is the antithesis of a shopping experience, of say, Barney's in BH). BUT you can get AMAZING deals. Their regular pricing is basically equivalent to the department store's sale pricing, but the bonanza is when they have their 50% off sales, with coupons that take even more off. There's no reason why you couldn't go online and sign up for the free "Loehmann's Insider Card Red" and start receiving their emails - so you'd get the coupons and notifications of the sales. You could be quite lucky with your timing and score some great deals.
Loehmann's: https://www.loehmanns.com/index.aspx
Loehmann's Insider Card: https://www.loehmanns.com/Login.aspx
Loehmann's Men's Store: http://blog.loehmanns.com/new-loehmanns-mens-store

And in this "Beverly Connection" there's also a Nordstroms Rack and some of the other "discount" stores which could have great deals. The downside is that the parking structure at the Beverly Connection was designed by a sadist. But the upside is you wouldn't have to drive further than West Hollywood.
http://thebeverlyconnection.com/

^ Agree with above

That's why I suggested Westfiled Century City and Santa Monica Place

Beverly Center has two main client base... elderly people living nearby and overseas tourists that assumes it is the "shopping mall for Beverly Hills". It's a very depressing place that doesn't live up to its "Beverly" namesake.

Correction to my post above:

I shopped this weekend at Loehmanns - first time in many months - and the men's department is now back in their main building. Seems that men aren't into bargains to the extent women are...

For any of you who have shopped there in the past, the men's section is now right back where it used to be at the furthest south section of the store. And it's a pretty small dept, so I wouldn't think this an advisable suggestion for men to make a special trip here.

But for women it is somewhat of a bargain mecca.

I hate malls and don't like Hollywood and Highland, The Americana, The Grove or the Beverly Center (better than the others but a mall).

I prefer shopping Rodeo even though it seems pretentious and there are a huge number of tourist walking around. Believe it or not the sales people there are 100% nicer and more helpful than at the other places.