Holiday Sparkle at Madera Fashion

Earlier this year we introduced you to Madera Fashion, a family-owned retail and wholesale boutique in Santee Alley. The Madera family produces a popular line of embellished denim, but their boutiques also carry an incredibly well curated selection of women's clothing and accessories. Namely holiday fashions, as metallics and sequins line the walls of this super cute boutique. (Scroll though the photos to see what's currently in stock.) We think we'll be buying our holiday and New Year's Eve party outfits here.

For those of you interested in buying wholesale or who are looking to start your own business, Madera is looking for people interested in selling through catalog. For more information please contact Madera owner, Cecilia Madera at 213-271-5647.

For purchase or product inquiries please contact the store directly at 213-745-4515 or visit them at 1041 in the Santee Alley.

Santee Santa Sweepstakes

As a big thank you to all our shoppers, The Santee Alley will be giving one lucky winner $200 worth of gift cards this holiday season. The Santee Santa Sweepstakes is open to all residents of Southern California, 18 years of age and older. There is no purchase necessary. The winner will be selected at random. You can enter the sweepstakes here.

The Santee Santa Sweepstakes ends December 19, 2012. Please note Santee Alley employees, and employee's family members are not eligible to participate.

New Styles at Santee Alley - December 2012

This week the alley has new styles in jeans, dresses and tops. We're seeing jeans in deep burgundy and red hues, the color of the season. We're also loving the feminine girly dresses. Check some of our favorites below!

House of Bags

They call themselves House of Bags, but at first glance one might think it's the alley of bags. It literally looks like it could be an alley within the alley, but this little nook inside Santee has one of the best handbag selections we've seen lately. Classic, trendy, studded, fringe, you name it, House of bags has it. We were especially impressed by the faux leather bags, which seemed sturdy, well made and within the competitive Santee Alley prices. House of Bags also carries a small selection of backpacks, luggage, and evening bags.

Visit them at 1125-8 Maple Ave. inside the Santee Alley. The offer wholesale and retail. For purchase or product inquiries please contact the store directly at 213-747-8718.

 

FAQ: Thanksgiving & Black Friday

The Santee Alley has traditionally remained open for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. We expect the alley to remain open during the holiday and holiday weekend again this year. General business hours are also expected to remain the same, with businesses opening at approximately 10 a.m. and closing at around 5 p.m. If you are hoping to shop at a specific store or interested in special Black Friday deals, please contact the stores directly. The area around Santee Alley: Maple Avenue, Santee Street, the North Alley, and the Maple Alley, should be open as well. Please keep in mind, all our stores are independent businesses and we do not set hours of operation for our businesses.

If you have any questions please contact LA Fashion District Public Information Coordinator, Ariana Gomez at 213-488-1153 ext. 718 or ariana@fashiondistrict.org.

New Fall Styles!

Fall fashion is in full effect at Santee Alley! Ladies, we're happy to report there are a lots of new options for you. We've also noticed some trends from last season still going strong, stud and rhinestone embellishments and chiffon-like fabrics to be exact. Styles are getting a little dressier too, as we approach the holiday season. What are you planning to wear over the holidays? Need help finding something? Let us know!

In the meantime, check out some of the new styles available at Vickie's Fashion:

These styles are available for wholesale and retail. For product or purchase inquiries please contact the Vickie's Fashion directly at 213-745-4336 or visit them at 1136 Santee St. Unit B.

Shopping for men's urban apparel at Hip Hop Sports

Brand name bargain hunting is a favorite of Santee Alley shoppers. Recently we've seen a growing number of urban street-style vendors pop up in the Fashion District. It's no secret the Fashion District, has some of the best deals on women's fashions, but boys rejoice! We've got shopping options for you too. For the young demographic looking to shop brand name t shirts, snapbacks, and outerwear we suggest stopping by Hip Hop Sports.

Hip Hop Sports, has been at the forefront of young men's urban fashion trends for over 15 years. The family owned business carries brands and styles similar to those found at mall favorites like Zumiez, PacSun, and Tilly's. At Hip Hop Sports, you'll find brands like OBEY, Diamond, Primitive, and DGK, at discount prices. Unlike other discount retailers who offer better pricing on previous season items, Hip Hop Sports carries only current season styles. They have new inventory on a weekly basis!

Hip Hop Sports is open 7 days a week, and will be open on Black Friday, November 23, 2012. They sell both retail and wholesale. Visit them at 1125-3 Maple Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90015. Purchase or product inquiries? Contact the store owner,  Hassan Reda, at 323-289-4243.

Discount Fall Fashions at Glitter Fashion

It's finally starting to feel like Fall here in sunny Southern California, which means it's time to replenish our Fall closets. Our fall must-haves this season consist of colorful blazers, long-sleeve chiffon tops (preferably with Peter Pan collars) and skinnies. Lucky for us, we found them all in one place and under $35 at Glitter Fashion.

Located at 142 in the Santee Alley, Glitter Fashion is filled with rows and rows of cute dress tops and jeggings and tights in every color.Tops range from $12.99 to $19.99, while jeggings and jeans range from $15 to $35. They even have coats starting at $15.99!

We love that that everything in the store is so well organized and they have by far one the largest selections of shirts for women in the alley. Many of their clothes can be found at stores like Forever 21, same quality and style for a fraction of the price.

Where to shop for Colombian shape wear in the LA Fashion District

Boasting one of the largest selections of Colombian body shapers and shape wear, Fashion Shop is a premier destination for wholesale and retail shape wear, lingerie, hosiery and intimate apparel in the Fashion District. Fashion shop carries post-surgery, postpartum, and weight loss shapers in sizes up to 5X plus size and Colombian hosiery, including support stockings for varicose veins. What you'll find at Fashion Shop:

• Intimate apparel by Coobie, Ilys, and Femina
• Lingerie, corsets and sexy costumes
• Hosiery, stockings, nylons, etc.
• Massage candles, lotion, and glow spritzer

Fashion Shop's expert staff can help you select the ideal shaper for your body type and needs. They carry six to seven different brands, with prices starting as low as $10 for a basic body shaper.

Fashion Shop carries Body Brand Organics' candles, massage oils, edible lotion and glow spritzer.

Halloween and role play costumes are in stock year round!

If you're looking a little extra shaping, try on a pair of Colombian butt shaping jeans, made specifically to help lift and shape the buttocks!

Visit Fashion Shop at 401 E. 11th St. Unit 110-111. Please contact them directly at 213-745-2082 for purchase and product inquiries. For exclusive deals and discounts follow Fashion Shop on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Naughty & Nice

Sugar and spice, and everything... naughty. Spice Intimates, in the Santee Alley, has Leg Avenue and Be Wicked costumes on sale now through Halloween. Costumes range from classic Halloween staples like cop and Wonder Woman, to new favorites: the sexy monster and cupcake girl. They also have plenty of stockings, hats and costume accessories for those of you looking to DIY your Halloween costume this year. Like them on Facebook to receive an extra in-store discount!

Spice Intimates is located at 1143 inside the Santee Alley. Questions? Give them a call at 213-741-9933.

Homecoming 2012 Dress Shopping Guide

Image via House of Wu

Looking for a Homecoming dress? Choose your style below and plan your Santee Alley shopping trip!

Party Dresses: 
Where to go: Mertella & Co. and AP Design
What you'll find: At Mertella & Co. you'll find vintage inspired designs in chiffon, silk, and lace fabrics as well as sequined party dresses. AP Design is the place for body-con party dresses. It's also a great place for sequined dresses and animal prints. Price range: $

Plus-Size Party Dresses
Where to go: AP Design and Sweeties Plus
What you'll find: The best selection in plus-size party dresses. Sequins, prints, short, long, high-low, you name it, they have it. Price range: $

Cocktail & Special Occasion Dresses:
Where to go: Black Cat
What you'll find: A wide selection of cocktail dresses in all price ranges, including designs popular brands Paparazzi by Mori Lee, Jovani, Faviana, and Mac Duggal. Price range: $$

Designer Dresses:
Where to go: Noell
What you'll find: The latest styles from some of the most coveted special occasion and pageant gown designers. These dresses are steeply discounted (often sold at wholesale price) but still carry a heavier price tag. Price range: $$$

Top 5 Tips for Shopping in Santee Alley

First-timers have no fear, the Santee Alley is here... to give you the inside scoop on how to shop the alley like a pro! Our veteran shoppers know there a few tips and tricks to follow to make the most out of your shopping experience. The Santee Alley is unlike any other outdoor shopping experience on the West Coast. If you've never been to the alley before, it's important to note it is actually an alley! The main entrance is on Olympic Boulevard between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, and we suggest you start your shopping here and make your way down. So put on your walking shoes and follow our lead for the ultimate Santee Alley shopping experience!

1. Check out the LA Fashion District website. The LA Fashion District website offers "Shopping Hints" for the entire district that cover all the basics, like wear comfortable shoes, bring cash, and don't be afraid to bargain. They also have a helpful listing of the most commonly used industry terms. For example, "overrun" refers to extra merchandise that's been left after retailers have filled their orders, and they are often sold at discounted prices. If you've never visited Santee Alley, we highly recommend you download a map.

2. Park in a lot. One of the most important reasons to bring cash is to pay for parking. There are meters throughout the district, but we suggest parking in all day lot. The most affordable lots are usually cash-only. There are multiple lots located around the alley. Look for the parking lot employees waving flags. They stand outside the parking entrance to wave cars in. Please note, all parking lots are privately owned. Locate parking lots near the alley here.

3. Everything is final sale. Most stores in the alley will not accept returns or exchanges. This means all items are final sale, as is. Make sure to inspect your items before you purchase them to ensure you have the correct size, they are not damaged, etc.  

4. Try it on!  Once upon a time, dressing rooms were basically non-existent. Now days, many stores in the alley offer fitting rooms for their customers. If fitting rooms are available, always try it on to avoid running into problems with tip number three. Insider tip: Special occasion/prom dresses are not all cut the same. You may be a different size in different dresses. ALWAYS try the dress you are going to purchase on, before you pay. Even if it's the same dress in the same size you tried on at a different store, try it on again!

5. Take advantage of wholesale pricing. "Wholesale" refers to the business of selling large quantities of goods, typically to be sold in retail stores. Wholesale buyers must have business licenses, and they are offered better pricing because they are buying in bulk. However, you don't need a business license to get a good deal. Many businesses in the alley will offer wholesale pricing to their regular shoppers so long as they meet the item minimum (the minimum varies by store). They will also allow you to mix-and-match sizes and styles. Insider tip: Take some friends shopping with you and combine your purchases to meet the item minimums. Many of the stores will allow it!

Where to Buy Handbags Direct From the Manufacturer

BIC Plus is a handbag manufacturer, importer, distributor, wholesaler, and as of recently retail vendor. After years of distributing to handbag stores in the Fashion District, BIC Plus finally opened to the public four months ago, offering retail customers the same pricing as large-quantity buyers. Prices for handbags start as low as $8 and go as high as $25 for better quality purses and materials. Wholesale prices are even more affordable. The average price for a higher quality purse is $18. Wholesale pricing is also offered to shoppers who purchase 12 or more pieces. Friends can combine their purchases and mix and match to reach the minimum.

Why is BIC Plus able to offer such low pricing? Not only do they import and distribute large quantities, they also manufacture many of their own styles. When you purchase from BIC, you are purchasing directly from the source, cutting out the middle-man costs. At any given time, you will find approximately 20 styles that are exclusive to BIC. You won't find them anywhere else in the district.

You can view their inventory or order online at www.FantasticPlus.com. Visit their Facebook page at www.Faceboom.com/FantasticPlus to stay up to date on the newest styles and specials.

Visit BIC Plus at 1030 Maple Ave. Los Angeles, CA.
213-741-1963
Open M-F 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sweeties Plus: Fashionable Plus-Size Clothing for Women

Sweeties Plus is the kind of store we love the alley for. Not only do they carry super cute (and affordable!) clothes, they are paving the way for a better retail environment that revolves around you, the customer. Sweeties, which has other stores in the Fashion District under a different name, noticed they were increasingly getting more and more requests for plus-size styles from their customers. It became obvious to the Sweeties team that there was a void in the retail market for truly fashionable and affordable plus-size clothing retailers. They decided their customers deserved to have a place where to they didn't need to ask for "special sizes" or conform to limited options, a place where their plus-size customers could shop the same cute styles that were being offered in the rest of the district, and thus Sweeties Plus opened shop.

The plus-size retail and wholesale vendor offers customers a more personal approach to shopping in the alley, complete with dressing rooms, personal assistance, and styling advice. Their goal is to create a boutique-like atmosphere without the boutique prices, so shoppers can enjoy the shopping experience AND the good deals.

How do they keep their prices competitive with so many added perks? They offer wholesale prices to retail customers by maintaining flexible policies. Normally, wholesale buyers receive better pricing because they are buying in bulk and after a certain number of items the vendor is able to make a profit even after lowering the price. Sweeties employs the same idea, but has tailored it to its retail audience. You can mix any style and size, so long as the purchase consists of 12 items, you will be able receive the discounted price. The best part is they allow groups to combine their purchases. For example, if a group of friends wants to buy all their items together to reach the 12-item minimum and receive the discount, they can! If you are a wholesale buyer looking to buy multiple items in the same size and/or styles, expect even bigger discounts.

Rest assured, there are plenty of options to satisfy everyone's personal style. Just check out some of our favorite looks below...

Sweeties Plus brings in new styles 2-3 times a week. They recently began stocking fall items like jackets and outerwear. Expect more in the weeks to come!

The fitting room area. We love that there are enough fitting rooms to avoid waiting in line!

Sweeties Plus
325 E. 12th St. (Inside the alley)
Los Angeles, CA
213-744-9414