Shop Cheap LA: Best kept secret spots from a quality obsessed stylist

In these difficult times of closet deprivation and style defamation, I am taking it upon myself to find the best kept secrets of the LA fashion scene, and keep your cute little booties in cute little leather booties, and other current trends. Here are some of the best places to find quality pieces for a fraction of the cost.


1. Sample sales at the downtown showrooms. For those of you who don't know, you can find up-and-coming and established designer pieces at the showrooms in Cooper Building, New Mart, and the California Market Center. Each one usually has its own day for sample sales, but Cooper Building has positively the best designers and usually has their sales on the last Friday of the month. Just remember to leave the plastic at home, the sales are cash only!

2. LF super sales- never mind that I pretty much love everything at LF- I can understand how you may not want to spend $150 on a half of a shirt when you are living off Top Ramen. However, at the end of the season, this trendy boutique has amazing sales when practically everything in the store is marked down, sometimes to as low as $20!!! Since the store doesn't advertise for their sales ahead of time, the trick is to stalk the store right around the end of the season, so you can nab the best stuff as soon as it goes on sale!


3. Fairfax and Rosebowl flea markets- perfect for finding the broken in 90s leather boots that you have been eyeing at Urban Outfitters, but don't want to pay the $100 price tag. You can also find cool jewelry pieces (both one=of=a=kind vintage, and new jewelry) and vintage fur coats that you could style with new wardrobe pieces to have the glamorous, Rachel Zoe heroin chic look.

4. Wasteland and Jet Rag- these two vintage boutiques are frequented by the artsy chic in LA. The buyers at Wasteland are very picky about what is brought in to the stores, so you can count on finding interesting pieces that aren't dirty and disgusting like a lot of other vintage shops. I especially love Jet Rag's dollar sales on Sundays, however you really have to put on your patience cap to go through the piles of clothing spread across the parking lot in order to find something that you can work with.


5. thecobrashop.com- Cobra snake is a Hollywood photographer who is often hired to photograph celebrities and interesting characters at high profile parties. This boho chic artist also has an online store that sells NYLON mag style clothing for men and women, sometimes you can find really unique pieces for super cheap!

Music and Fashion

For as flashy Hollywood as it is, the new Lady Gaga video "Bad Romance" has amazing creative direction as well as innovative fashion. It has been some time since we have seen a music video with so many elaborate wardrobe changes and set designs. Right now, Lady Gaga seems like the ipod generation's version of Madonna to me. Work it Gaga.

Your Kicks

Converse has revolutionized the concept of customer satisfaction in their products. On their website (www.converse.com) you can create your own design for your next pair of chucks. Not only is the design template fun and easy to use, it is chalk full of options for the type of shoe, color, print, and material you want to use. I call this creation "The Peacock".

Get the Look: Gwen Stefani on the New No Doubt Tour

Let's be honest, we all want that body after two kids- I can't help you with that part. But Gwen's new take on punk rock chic is absolutely fab and easily imitated! Pair the "I'm just a girl' look with the midriff white tank top ("be afraid" tank from topshop.com), and black bra showing underneath is simple enough, then add in a cream white tuxedo jacket like this John Lewis Planet version and Helmut Lang's white pant with black detailing (both from Shopbop.com) and you are in business. Though black detailing and harem-cut of the pants are most likely custom made, you can still capture the feel with these alternatives. The black riding boot is key for this look, try the Ann Demeulemeester buckle boots which may be more useful for street wear (found at luisaviaroma.com). Don't forget your red lipstick and hard girl image- they are key to getting that hard yet sexy attitude with the outfit that we all love about our leading lady!!

Pool Party Attire

The perfect outfit for a pool party at night- cut outs included-these sexy little numbers were all the rage at Miami Fashion Week, and though my immediate reaction when thinking about a one-piece is "grandma", I am fully embracing the idea of "practically two-piece" cut out one-pieces. Invest in one of these, ladies, it will serve you well for any yacht parties you may be able to finagle yourself into and especially for summer 2010 fashion statements!

Packing for Paris Fashion Week

For the lucky few who have scored seats to Paris Fashion Week shows, or may be just taking a trip for the heck of it- a word to the wise, keep it simple ladies- Parisians can usually spot us coming a mile away with our hot pink bourrets, bright yellow band shirts, and tie dye skinny jeans. You want to make a statement, you don't want to make a spectacle of yourself. If you want to look great but you are on a budget having spent all of your money on the ticket- splurge instead on a simple pair of Christian Louboutins in either black, white, or gray, and pair it with something in black and white striped for that classic French look- you will still look edgey, but you will blend a little more with the locals!

What I am loving right now

80s and 90s styles mixed in with new detailing- studs are BACK! and no I am not talking about men- tie die is making a cameo, and thin white tank tops and t-shirts are an easy pair with denim! Really, think Molly Ringwald with Samantha Ronson's modern taste.