The famed town of Beverly Hills is arguably synonymous with Los Angeles. From opulent mansions to the glamour associated with Hollywood, Beverly Hills embodies the essence of LA's fanciful lifestyle. There is a lot to enjoy here, enough to justify a day visit, if not more. You may start by exploring the heart of Beverly Hills; the fabulous Rodeo Drive and the adjacent streets, all lined with some of the best world-class boutiques from coast to coast. Visit a few art galleries, such as the Gagosian and William Karges, located in the same area. Grab a bite to eat at one of the more casual cafes and bakeries, or splurge at the legendary Spago. Dozens of top-notch spas are at your fingertips. A mid-afternoon stroll through the lush Beverly Hills Park provides a nice change of pace and a natural respite in between your urban explorations. West Melrose and Robertson shopping districts await insatiable shoppers looking to explore further.
The Fashion District sprawls over 90 blocks of downtown Los Angeles, and is just the place to be if you are looking for bargains or wholesale material. This section of the city is absolutely crammed with stores selling designer clothing, shoes, accessories, textiles and even flowers at unbeatable rates. Other bric-a-brac on display includes toys, lingerie, CDs, prom gowns and kids wear. Over 1,000 such retailers show off their wares at a flea market, which always dons a festive appearance. Weekends are particularly busy, with great discounts of up to 30 percent. Hours of operation and credit cards may vary by store.
It isn't exaggerating to say that Rodeo Drive contains some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Remember Julia Roberts' shopping spree in Pretty Woman? Rodeo Drive is where she went. The place boasts of a great mixture of clothing, restaurants, unique shops and celebrity spotting. Be warned, however, some of the stores are so exclusive, shopping is by appointment only.
Natives in-the-know refer to this outdoor bazaar as The Alley and here is where you will find a quarter mile of goods of every description and wall-to-wall people in search of the perfect bargain. Here in Santee Alley you will find casual and chic day wear and evening wear. There are all kinds of jewelry concessions as well as menswear, children's clothing, lingerie and toys. If you like the idea of searching through piles and piles of merchandise for the best bargains, among throngs of other people who are doing the same thing, you won't want to miss cruising The Alley.
With harder-to-find upscale boutiques as well as the usual mall fare, the Beverly Center is one of the more popular shopping destinations in the city of Los Angeles. The structure itself is certainly unique for a mall, with two floors of shops and a third of food court and cinemas atop five-levels of parking, filling an entire city block. Among the more unique stores found here are Belgravia Collection, Betsey Johnson, Cabochon Fine Jewelry, Alexio, Club Monaco, Politix, Vertex, The Icing and Shauna Stein.
Montana Avenue Shopping District is, without a doubt, one of Santa Monica's best-kept secrets. When most people talk about Santa Monica shopping, they immediately think of the loud and raucous Pier or the bustling Third Street Promenade. This stretch (believe it or not) offers an upscale shopping alternative with a distinct neighborhood feel. The array of small boutiques selling clothing is punctuated by charming antique stores, cozy cafes, herbal goods outlets, salons, spas, eateries, florists and a few familiar franchises.
Harper is a fashion store in Downtown Los Angeles that specializes in women's fashion. Collections include a wide range of designer outfits that can be used for both formal and casual purposes. In addition to clothes, they also sell leather bags, jewelry and fashion accessories that add style to your overall personality.
The Shinola store is located in the ever buzzing Downtown LA Arts District. Spread across an area of 5000 square feet (465 square meters), the store has a magnificent layout and decor, showcasing some amazing lifestyle products. Here, one can shop for high-quality watches, leather goods, jewelry, bicycles, paper journals and many more products by various popular brands from around the world. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable of the products. It is a great place to buy a gift for a loved one or simply treat yourself with something fashionable.
Located in art district of downtown Los Angeles, Poketo offers well designed apparel, housewares, decor and stationery which will color your life. With a mission in "art for your everyday", they're products are fun,simple, and functional such as Bongo, a wirelessly speaker that looks like a wooden old style radio. Poketo is a good place to shop for women in particular because it provides a variety of costumes and accessories designed especially for this shop. Not only products, the shop itself also is well decor and all items are well categorized, which creates a comfortable shopping environment for you.
If you are looking for something different, then head to Sixhundred. Opened in 2009, this unisex boutique showcases indie designers from across Los Angeles.These include streetwear, vintage find, bow ties and accessories. Check out their regular deals that can be a steal if you are searching for unique apparel and accessories that otherwise is hard to find.
Alchemy Works is a lifestyle boutique store, set in a beautifully decorated space that has the comfortable ambiance of a chic living-room rather than a store. People are encouraged to pick up a coffee, sink into the couch with a magazine, browse through the store and strike up a conversation with the friendly and helpful staff at this shop. Every item in this store is a well thought out addition. The spacious interior once held a 1959 Fiat Abarth Spyder and now is home to a vintage sailboat. With a large variety of products available at Alchemy, including surfboards, clothes, jewelry, hats, wallets, key-chains, wallets, sunglasses, paintings, easels, crockery, mirror frames, shoes and even potted plants, customers are sure to find something to purchase.