Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

What fun! A full day of bargain shopping in the OC. NBC’s Your LA TV asked me to take them to some of the best bargain Hot Spots in the OC.

So I did. We covered 4 of the best bargain shops in Orange County in four hours. I always have fun watching producers get hooked on bargain shopping.

First stop, Designer Closet in Costa Mesa. This designer clothing outlet carries both department store overstock and manufacturer overruns. Highlights included Trunk Ltd Tees for $29 and Citizens for Humanity white cords for $69. Spotted a nice grouping of Ella Moss shirts at $29-$49, Splendid and a few pieces of Juicy Couture. I also coveted the J and Company jeans at $89. Since I missed going to their warehouse sale, this is about as close as I was gonna get to getting a pair. They had a turquoise Mulberry satchel I kept eyeing but decided that if I found out what a good deal it was I’d probably buy it.

Kim, our segment producer, grabbed a super cute blue gingham top. Okay one down one to go….

Next stop, Just Like The Model in Fountain Valley. Here you’ll get the same designer home furnishings used in Model Home developments at 30%-70% less. Sofas, chests, dining, chairs, armoires, art work and an unbelievable selection of home décor. This is one gem of a warehouse. It was freezing and I literally shivered. But once you realize the pricing here, you’ll flip… which I did, over a stunning brown corduroy chaise. The set decorators from Desperate House Wives frequent this place often.

Our camera guy, Martin started getting into the bargain groove here… that is after he got over the overwhelming selection. Here he is lost somewhere amongst the fabulous buy.

Kim points out another great piece of furniture.

On to The Fragrance Shop in Huntington Beach. Packed with designer fragrances, jewelry and accessories at 10%-50% below retail, you might never leave this neat shop. Here everyone got into the spirit and after shooting the segment went hog wild snatching up deals. I got hubby some classic Lagerfeld, Martin got some Gautier unisex fragrance and Kim’s bag was so full I was afraid to ask what she bought.

By this time hunger has taken over my senses, so on the way to our last spot Bogo in Westminster, I shoved a PB and J down and guzzled a bottle of water.

But here’s where my day went from great to awful. Just as I was getting out of the car to enter Bogo, I felt my back give way with a “Snap- Crackle- Pop” that I hadn’t heard in 7 years. An old dance injury had risen it’s ugly head and decided to re-visit me. Oh Joy!

I set about finishing the shoot. Bogo is after all one of my favorites and a Frugal Bugle winner. But, with my back in a frozen sensation of pain, I felt like all I could do was babble at the camera.

Some great deals on men’s Chip and Pepper jeans at $89 and they even had some Penguin skirts in at 60% off the original retail. Most impressive was the revamped house-wares and home decor. This is one stop bargain hunting at its best! I did enjoy watching both Kim and Martin shop… Martin particularly had a good time. The man knows clothes.

The trip back was difficult at best. Sitting with a back injury is not fun. I guess a call has to go out to my chiropractor asap.

All in all it was a good day, Got two more hooked on bargain shopping.

Saturday morning started with a drive to the West Valley to check up on Hook on Handbags at the Woodland Hills Swap Meet. New Owner Xochitl (pronounced Sochi) Rodriguez is a total kick and full of ideas and energy. She has been bringing in a slew of coveted handbags by Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Lucky Brand, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole and more at 50%-60% off. I had to flee in order not to buy any thing.

Then it was off to Hotel Surplus new digs next to The Van Nuys Airport. So much better than the old warehouse in downtown. I snapped some pics, ooh and aahed over some framed prints, one huge antique secretary with secret drawers, a oval dining table and an odd row of apartment stoves. That’s the fun of the place, ya never know what’s gonna show up.

Then I hit the closing blowout sale at Ruthie. Everything is 40%-60% off. The boutique is awesome, beautifully designed and packed with labels that are just killer… Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Velvet, Linq, C & C. etc.

I started to have a panic attack when I went in…there was no signage saying they were having a sale. Holy shit, did they change their minds? I felt sick to my stomach. I thought I’d totally goofed and was gonna have to apologize to everyone for publicizing the sale.

I must have look rather stricken cause, both sales girls came over to re-assure me. Yes, the entire store is on sale. No they hadn’t gotten signage yet. But it would be there any minute. I pined over the Kooba bags. Geeze, they are really beautifully crafted. I really want one. But I had to behave myself. I left after I checked out the goods. A really good sale with really cool duds.

I decided to go visit another favorite, Lucky You. I really love this small resale shop. Every time I go in there are always some great buys. A great pair of wedge pumps were in mint condition and only $24. Lots of tees and tops for $8-$15. I found a Johnny Was peasant blouse for $12 and showed it to a fellow shopper who snatched it up. I succumbed to a really neat burnt out velvet top with beading for only $12. I asked the girl behind the counter where the owner Dina was. She informed me that she was the new owner and Dina was opening up an art studio. Whoa! What?… I introduced myself to the new owner, Gina and we chatted about her plans for the store. At the end, I was done. That was enough bargain foraging for one day.