explore the real fashion district: santee alley
Dissecting three long blocks between Santee Street and Maple Avenue south of Olympic Boulevard, Santee Alley (an actual alley) is one of the most popular shopping locales of Downtown.
Tiny shops crammed with $5 sunglasses, cheap electronics, perfumes and suits reminiscent of an early-1990s Luther Vandross create a backdrop where a mix of bargain-hunters from all over the city gather to browse the permanent sales. The busy alley, on par with great bazaars from cities all over the world, forms the spine of the Fashion District — a vibrant, walkable area which sprawls out much farther than the comfort zones of Santee Village, Tiara Cafe, and the California Market Center.
Savvy Downtowners already consider “The Alley” the only place to buy their socks and SD cards, but many less-adventurous new residents may find the experience too gritty or intimidating, if they are even aware it exists.
Don’t let those tacky suits or imposter iPods scare you, Santee Alley is a friendly place. And if you speak Spanish, try your hand at haggling.
Santee Alley: Open Every Day Until 6:00pm
Adjacent Fashion District Scenery
20 comments
Question for you guys: what’s the best place to buy a men’s suit on Los Angeles street? There are so many stores, but where can you get a stylish, non-pimp looking, suit?
I’ve been wondering the same thing, Always a Party. It seems like women have it so easy when it comes to shopping. We need a men’s guide to the Fashion District!
For those looking for some real insight to shopping in the Fashion District, consider a shopping tour with Urban Shopping Adventures. This is a downtown based business which has been around for years. They really know the district. I’d also say the owner, who is a neighbor, is a real sweetie.
http://www.urbanshoppingadventures.com
Great recommendation David. Thanks for that!
the alleys are the spot for most urban shoppers in LA. i have noticed a difference in the last couple of years.
the shoppers are no longer just black and brown.
i see a whole bunch of yount white teens and silver lake looking people there.
the more hype it gets the more people show up. i just hope they dont start raising prices.
but it is def a gem in downtown.
Too late uni! My wife who has shopped the Fashion District her whole life has noticed the quality and variety of merchandise has improved and, yes, prices are rising.
To Always a Party, I buy all of my suits at Academy Award Suits on Los Angeles St between 8th and 9th, west side of the street. Vince and Reese, two of the sales guys, are great and they have a large selection of
contemporaty suits from all designers at great prices. If you need shoes too ask them to send you to Elana at C&R next door. Great European styles and good prices. Happy shopping!
There are some great places inside the cal “____” building on 9th just west of los angeles st. Go the last friday of the month and grab silk ties, designer suits, and italian made t-shirts. It is inside the showrooms on the 4th floor I think.
italian made DRESS shirts, not t-shirts
I’ve always gone to Roger Stuart for my everyday work suits. They have some nicer stuff, too, in the “back room”.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Academy Award Suits has some great vintage stuff in their basement, if you’re looking for such styles. Just ask them to take you down there.
Tokyo has many of these alleys/cheap shopping streets. Makes it seem like more of a “city”. Good place for cheap stuff. Why does evceryone need something from the promenade or century city mall. Try to take someone new to this place to see the REAL Los Angeles. Some people are finally leaving behind their 80′s mall/car loving mentatlity.
You’ll see a lot of the same merchandise in the fashion district as you do in stores on Melrose. Only difference is if you buy it downtown, it might cost you $15. If you buy it on Melrose, try $75.
Thanks for the suggestions about suit stores. I was walking by Academy Award Suits on Oscar Sunday this year and it brought a big smile to my face. Good to know that have decent suits as well. I’m a curious about the vintage stuff in the basement too.
Roger Stuart has been the place most recommended.
Suits? What is this… suits thing you are all talking about?
As a native Angeleno who grew up shopping in the GARMENT District, buying designer jeans for less in the late 70′s & early 80′s, traversing the alley & industrial shops–not much has changed. Fashion District? Have you seen what they sell? Fashion? Really?
I went for the first time a few weeks ago, found that the storefronts that are on Los Angeles / Pico/ whatever streets that aren’t actually the alley itself…are quite pricey and on par with Melrose Ave price-wise…inside the alley is where all the good priced stuff is, and there are a TON of suit places in the alley as well. It does seem that every store is carrying the same stuff…stick the alley itself to find the bargains (day to day – not sale stuff) and skip the streets.
I heard about this alley place in CA but could not find it online untill now i thnk. If this is the place i need help finding a guy that sells ties, pleated ties to be more specific please i need to know where to find these ties.
I like Nno Ferutti’s, at 761 South Los Angeles. They are a tad more pricey than many of the shops, but have a wide selection of suits and tuxedos, and are less aggressive than Academy. Which is also swell, but I like Nino’s better.