Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

I went seriously shopping this last weekend. My goal is to upgrade my wardrobe. So I didn’t allow myself to purchase any tee shirt, any jeans or hoodies. I hoped for some classically hip tops, skirts and pants to help me get out of my jeans and tee obsession. I had a budget of $100, not much, but enough to get started.

Taking cash in hand I went first to the Shopaholic Sample Sale. I love this sale. It’s not so big that you are overwhelmed, but big enough to keep you busy for an hour. I go once every other sale to peruse their new designer collections. This time I found an incredible Twinkle blouse for $60 instead of $135. So stylish and versatile … I could wear it out for an evening or to a business meeting.  I also picked up a Jenny Han silk skirt for $20 instead of $88 to go with the blouse…it was a really pretty girlie skirt.

From there I went to recheck a local women’s resale store also in Pasadena. I almost missed it. “Style on Green” as it is called now, used to “Ragtime on Green”. I had been in several times years before but had never been overwhelmed with the store. This time was different as I found two incredible buys. One was a pair of Alvin Valley high wasted trousers for $21 and the other was a suede, studded jacket from Guess Marciano for $15.75. I felt like I was robbing them blind. The original retail on the Alvin Valley pants was easily $240 or more and the jacket would have ran $189. The Alvin Valley pants are simple the best made, coolest pants I have bought in well over 2 years. BTW… both had original tags on them so they had never been worn! I totally scored!

I went over budget by $20. But heck, with deals like these, I couldn’t help myself. 
Next week I am taking my daughter to the LF warehouse Sale and letting her go hog wild.  It was birthday present I promised her and it is cheaper than Forever Twenty One and she’s getting the coolest clothes on the planet… for less. Maybe now as her mom, I will score some level of cool.

I regularly visit bargain sources I have on the site. Often it’s to check up on their business, sometimes because I like visiting with the owners and occasionally ‘cause it’s so much fun to be there.

At Larry St John, down in the South Bay it’s all three reasons. The sense of fun at this hot spot for furniture deals is overwhelming. Come on, sharks hanging from the ceiling, a pirate room, tigers adorning walkways, hidden alligators, antique cars?  They even have piped in jungle sound effects complete with a real macaw at the front desk.

I like going to to wander and get design ideas.

This place is so huge and densely packed with all sorts sofas, chairs, chaises, table, bookcases, accent pieces and more you can help but get caught up in the discovery of furniture shopping while you’re have a seriously great time.  

But Larry St John is more than just an entertaining afternoon. If you love contemporary boutique styled furniture you’ll save 30%-60% here on higher quality, made locally, design copies. When I say higher quality, I am not kidding. Some upscale boutique furniture stores have lowered quality to lower prices. If you’ve not been into one lately….go. Styles are great…the quality is poor.

At Larry St. John, the styles are great and the quality is good at lower prices. He doesn’t do major advertising and keeps a lower overhead, so of course he can sell for less.

I spent a good two hours visiting, looking trough room settings and chewing the fat with Joey the manager. It’s really nice visiting a business that cares so much about delivering the best goods they can at a low price. If you need to spruce up a bit for the holidays, you can do it here for less. But I’d get on it. Most items have to be ordered. Yes, you can customize here, but it takes 3-8 weeks for delivery.
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Larry St. John and Company, 18101 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, CA 90745
310.630.5828
Hours: 10-6 daily
Cash, Check, CC/ financing

www.larrystjohn.com

Most savvy bargain hunting fashionistas have well honed shopping “know how”. We have the ability to recognize great quality at a great price and then pounce on it. We know the difference between value and cheap.

We are using our skills to save money and get by with less in a weak economy.  We are clipping coupons, eating out less often, car pooling and simply put…. We are turning into recessionitsas.

In these woeful economic times, if you’re a fashionista you’re not outta luck. Even with limited financial resources you can look like a million for a whole lot less. First stop for recessionista chic deals… Culver City, CA

Two amazing off price fashion boutiques will keep you looking hot for 50%-80% less than you’d normally pay. 

At Last Chance Boutique you’ll find current, cutting edge, chic women’s apparel at 40%-85% below retail. A bonanza of top designer labels from L.A. and New York are here at often less than sample sale pricing.

In this boutique setting you’ll find designs from Ella Moss, Tracy Reese, Marc Jacobs, BCBG Maxazria, , Splendid, Seven jeans, True Religion, Emma Hope, Dolce & Gabbana, Blue Cult, Miu Miu, Free People, Christina Cord, Three Dot, Theory, Etro, Stella McCartney and others hot designers. Cute trendy tops, blouses, shoes, skirts, pants suits, coats, jacket, handbags and Wendy Glez lingerie line the racks causing some audible gasps.

Last Chance Boutique, 8712 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.2333 Open M-F 10-6, Saturday 10-5, Closed Sunday.
CC/ Cash
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Next stop, Zepherine boutique.

In this chic warehouse you’ll find a huge selection of cutting edge designs by Walter, Tibi, Rami Kashou, Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Tam, Wyeth, Twinkle, Voom, Twelfth Street, Ulla Johnson, Shari Bodell, Tocca, Nicholas K, Paper Denim and Cloth, Mimi Turner, Rachell Pally, Mara Hoffman, Louis Verdag, Lily McNeal, Kenzo, Kelly Nishimoto, Desanka, Grey Ant, French Connection, Beth Rowley, Beautiful People and many more. They also have a terrific selection of shoes, handbags and accessories at the same drastically discounted pricing.

Zepherine, 9500B Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.0687 Open Thursday- Sunday, 11 am-6pm
Cash/ CC only
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Now even with these stores jaw-dropping prices, recessionitas may only be able to buy a few things.  Be choosey, look for wardrobe builders that fill a need and that will add style for many seasons. 

It may be time for to tighten our belts and buy fewer things.  But you still need to buy right by buying only “Quality product at a bargain price.”