How to Find Designer Sample Sales in Los Angeles

Shop for high fashion at low prices in Los Angeles.

Nothing makes a dedicated shopper happier than finding fabulous designer originals at sale prices. In Los Angeles, savvy shoppers head to the California Market Center. Featuring more than 1,000 to-the-trade showrooms on 13 floors, it's the center of the West Coast fashion industry, where buyers purchase designer lines for department stores and boutiques across the country. Usually the building is open only to wholesale buyers, but on certain days, the public is invited in to shop for samples and overruns at up to 80 percent off retail prices. It isn't only the best place in town to find unbelievable bargains on the latest fashions, it's like taking a backstage tour of the Los Angeles fashion industry.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Comfortable walking shoes. This place is enormous.

1. Check the California Market Center website (californiamarketcenter.com) for the dates and times of upcoming sample sales. Generally, the market is open to non-wholesale shoppers on the last Friday of every month, as of 2011. More frequent sales occur during November and December.

2. Prepare to walk a lot and visit many of the hundreds of showrooms. Shop for high-fashion clothing in all categories -- from sportswear to couture -- and for men, women and children. Look for treasures for the home, too, including luxury gifts and housewares. Keep in mind that not every showroom is open to the public, and most clothing will be available in sample sizes only.

3. Bring your own shopping bags, especially if you plan to spend hours walking and shopping. Bring cash because most showrooms prefer that to other forms of payment.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to do a lot of walking.

• Call in advance to make sure a sample sale is happening on a particular Friday.

• Don't expect retail-quality customer service, because merchants focus on working with their wholesale clients. Do expect to pay high prices because even discounted designer clothing can be expensive.

References

• California Market Center: Sample Sales