LA Fashion District
Location: Olympic St. and 11th St, Downtown Los Angeles
Entertainment Value: Comparing prices, haggling, and feeling the high of getting more for less
LA's best deals on dresses, shoes, garments, and anything textile will have to be the Downtown Fashion District. This is the tour de force of clothes shopping--before it goes out to your local Charlotte Rousse, Forever 21, or any of the other popular retail stores that jack up the price to rip you off, this is where buyers come to get their supplies. The more middle men you skip, the more you save. Don't get me wrong--this doesn't mean you won't be ripped off here. In fact, if you look like a rich tourist that doesn't know what the heck you're doing, then most likely they will charge you 10 or 20 dollars over what they would charge a negotiator.
Need a wedding dress? How about buying a beautiful brand new one between 200-400 dollars? Or if you need shoes, there are an endless array of sandals, four inch platforms, boots, etc. between 10-20 dollars (although most smart buyers would haggle $20 shoes down to at least $17). My particular mission that day was to buy two dresses for my one year annivesary photo session with my husband. I wanted to buy a formal evening gown and a casual summer dress for the day time.
I didn't even fully leave the parking structure when a store with low cut satin colored dresses on manikins captured my attention. It was an all occasions, all designs, patterns, textures, you name it type of dress store. And if you can't name it there, well then, go to another store! There were at least 5 other dress stores within a one block radius. We (my wing-girl Lisa and I) ended up finding a lovely halter top v cut summer dress; It is two tiered--the bottom layer a green nylon stretch that hugs your body with a brown net on top blending the green into a forrest green with a brown glow. Asking price was $75+ tax, and I bargained it down to $65 no tax.
We also saw some amazing shops that sold vintage clothing as well as costume clothing. One clear example was a store that sold only Victorian dresses, all handcrafted. It even came in junior sizes as well as baby sizes. It included accessories such as hair bands, pins, and shoes, the works.
The best deal I got was a tube top evening gown that looked like a bridal gown. It had the side drape fit and flair with intricate shiny beads sewn in. At David Bridal, it was $449. The one I got was pretty similar to the picture below and it only cost me $100 (no tax).
Fifteen minutes before the store closed, I had managed to bargain down a dress that was orginally quoted as $75 and bargained it down to $35. I still didn't take it because it just didn't have the wow factor for me. But, it goes to show that with the right haggling skills, you can really get a good deal.
On Bargaining (aka haggling): So you may not like the practice of haggling. You might complain that it is tedious, time consuming, or too confrontational. Well, like any other game that tests your wits, it is about understanding how to put on your poker face. Remember, when you really want an item, don't go gaga over it or make an enthusiastic display for it, or else they'll give you the retail price for it. Stay cool. Give it the once over and then move on to another item that you absolutely have no interest in. Look hesitant. You may even use your wingman or wingwoman to do a bit of a show in front of the seller. First you ask the storeowner for the price. Then you give a 30-60 second pause, as if brooding on the topic. You might want to even give the seller an intense quick stare, as if to say, "C'mon, you can do better than that". If you don't have the gonads or ovaries to stare a stranger point blank, then do it towards the merchandise, but with an apathetic stare. Poker face. Next, engage your friend in a pre-rehearsed dialogue, "What do you think?" you say. Wingman says, "Eh, it's alright. I mean it does look good on you, but I think I saw another place that's cheaper." That's when you look back at the seller and offer a price normally 5-10 dollars below your targeted price ( Note: you don't want to lowball the price too much or the seller might get offended). The seller will most likely give you some reasons why it's worth much more than your bid, but will give you a compliment, like "I like you. I give you good deal", then offer either your targeted price or will bend only slightly lower (around $3-$5 lower than the original asking price).
If you're one of those people that just likes to feel that you've won something, like a consolation prize from throw a ring in the coke bottle booth or an argument over which Joes Bros has the hotter ass, then you may stop here. Afterall, they deserve every dollar they earn for their daily hustle and bustle, especially if you can afford it. I mean, if you had planned on buying at the retail price from the mall for the same merchandise, you still would have gotten a better deal with the shop owner's initial asking price. Then, the way I look at it is, why not just give the money to the frontmen and the small business owners instead of the big corporations?
But, if you would like to really haggle and squeeze every penny that could maximize your savings, balancing between being thrifty and not pissing off the store owner, then you'll have to do some planning ahead.
There are a couple of tips that will help hone your bargaining prowess:
1. Arrive right before store closing: They'll want to just be done with their last sale
2. Really give them a run around for the money: If they invested enough time on you, then they're most likely going to give you a better deal if you hesitate or try to leave the store empty handed. They don't like wasting sales effort.
3. Bring a friend: A back and forth dialogue of uncertainty. Play good copy, bad cop so that this uncertainty can become your bargaining chip.
4. Bring cash! Cash brings leverage. Most store owners prefer cash so that they don't have to report it. They calculate that into
bargaining package.
Overall, I would recommend taking a weekend or weekday (before 6:00pm) to go shopping with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Just be sure equip yourself with a sharp eye and a sharp tongue.
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