Shopping in the U.S.
By Brooke Comer
Jet-setters from around the world come to Beverly Hills to
shop along Rodeo Drive. At Giorgio's, the rich and famous
are offered glasses of mineral water or champagne while they
browse through the racks. Boulmiche, on Santa Monica Boulevard,
sells contemporary high-fashion designer wear at equally high
prices.
Across the freeway in Santa Monica, prices dip just a little.
Trendy Montana Avenue is lined with boutiques, and Adrienne's
is one of the best. Its beautiful beaded Egyptian scarves
are spectacular, and you won't find them anywhere else.
The closest you'll get to snow in sunny California at Christmas
time will be the white-sprayed trees in the windows along
Rodeo Drive.
Among the many chain stores of West Hollywood, you'll find
a little magic at Polka Dots and Moonbeams. Actually two stores
just a few doors apart (at 8381 and 8367 West 3rd), one sells
contemporary clothing and accessories, the other great vintage
finds.
If you're looking for vintage Americana, stop at Aardvark's
Odd Ark, at 7579 Melrose. It's got antique and contemporary
Hawaiian shirts, cowboy boots (even lizard skin!), tuxedo
jackets, silk scarves and neckties. The authentic 1950s Hawaiian
shirts go for as much as $200, but non-purists can pick up
a modern one for $8.
Not far away at 7308 Melrose, Retail Slut offers shopping
fetishists a full range of vinyl dresses, dominatrix outfits,
and fishnet stockings.
 If
you're in the market for that must-have item -- a voodoo doll
-- Come to Mama is the place. Located at 4019 Sunset, it also
sells vinyl and polyester fashions and funky get-ups from
the 60s and 70s.
At Animal House (66 Windward Avenue) in Venice Beach, you'll
find pretty used frocks for less than $20 and ultra-cool hip-hugger
flairs for $10; lounge on huge pillows and soak up the vibe
in the groove area upstairs afterwards.
Jet Rag (825 North La Brea) is one of the most interesting
places to shop, and costume designers come here to find clothes
for Hollywood stars. The store is famous for redesigning designer
wear -- Adidas track suit bottoms cut up and turned into long
skirts, and such. Don't miss the parking lot sale every Sunday,
where everything costs $1.
 Silverlake
and nearby Echo Park are rapidly becoming groovy shopping
areas in their own right. Ozzie Dot's (4637 Hollywood Boulevard)
sells eclectic items like Star Wars torches, hair glitter,
feather boas, sombreros and leopard boots.
And shoe lovers will appreciate the Industrial Shoe Warehouse
at 5176 Santa Monica Boulevard, which has cheap Doc Martins
and name-brand trainers.
In LA's less chic shopping areas, like the pretty ocean-side
suburb of Manhattan Beach, you'll find some amazing boutiques
with fashionable clothing for prices that won't make you faint.
Beau and Eros at 1144 Highland Avenue, is a small boutique
owned by talented designer Carole Taicher, who sells her own
line of ultra-cool clothes along with fun designs from Betsey
Johnson.
For Flights and Airfares to the U.S - click
here for the Travel Homepage.
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