Los Angeles, California is known as one of the major fashion capitals of the world. The city is prepared with fashion marts, a fashion district, and an abundance of designer shops. However, at times the city is overrated because it is filled with gimmicks and cheap tourist traps. The fashion in Los Angeles lives up to all standards and stereotypes that have been given to the city. Locals need to be able to wear proper attire for the gym, work, and red carpet events and they must look glamorous for the simplest of occasions. Los Angeles fashion focuses on glamour above all. California has a culture all its own, but each part of the state possesses a different vibe. Tourists have the opportunity to experience the hype of the city while soaking in the magnificence that explodes through the city.
Hollywood has a spotlight on it at all times. The media rants about Hollywood celebrities and scandals on a daily basis. When outsiders hear about all the hype the first things that comes to mind is how amazing it would be to have a star on the Hollywood walkway. The idea of Hollywood sounds fabulous but up close and personal it is highly overrated. The streets are filled with tourists and on every street corner someone attempts to coax the tourists into a cheap souvenir shop. Lining the sidewalk are people dressed up as movie characters as if it were Disney World. The wax museum is the best way to see celebrities at their best and Madama Tussauds employees stand around chanting towards visitors about discounted tickets. There is always the option to do some shopping along the strip and grab a bite to eat at the neaby hooters or chick-fil-a. In the distance is the infamous Hollywood sign, which is always great to snap a picture of. Hollywood is great to experience because there are few places like it, but it does not carry the same glamour without the red carpet.
Every fashion capital must have a fashion mart in order to be complete. The fashion mart in Los Angeles is right by the fashion district and stands several stories tall. Each floor is filled with showrooms for buyers to go visit and make purchases for the upcoming season. During the off seasons showrooms will be kind enough to offer sample sales to those visiting the mart. Those making purchases are able to buy samples straight from the collection rack for less than one third of the final retail price of the garment; it is possible to find tops for as low as five dollars. During the off season many of the designers do not rent out rooms, so it can be more difficult to view collections and find deals. It is always interesting to view the clothing after the season to compare the collections to what was seen during that year. On the bottom floor of the fashion mart there is a bookstore with every fashion book or magazine available. There are instructional books for drawing, designing, and sewing as well as magazines detailing fashion week for that year. The fashion mart is the best way to understand the clothing for a given city, and the fashion trends of the year
The fashion district of any fashion capital is probably imagined to be full of high priced designers, factories, and expensive stores; this is not the case in Los Angeles. The fashion district is located in a very urban area of the city where name brands and infamous designers are non -existent. Along the streets of the district there are some vintage shops with avant garde fashions available for the taking. All the stores featuring men’s work suits have signs in the window offering extreme discounts. Specialty shops and custom made shops are sporadically placed within the district. For example, a fashion supply store where the owner worked with “Project Runway” and helped produce the show “Fashion Star”. The store started as company that sharpened scissors in the 1930’s. Today the store manufacture’s their scissors and their own dress forms for designers. The company not only focuses on making money from their clients, they are also interested in bringing young people into the fashion industry because it will continue to expand the industry. Young designers are the new up and coming trend into the fashion industry and it is important that they succeed. In California most would expect the fashion industry to display any type of glamour because of the fashion trends throughout the state, but it is actually centered in a demographic area with higher levels of deviance. The district is unique, which is also a good way to describe Los Angeles because it is full of people in different social brackets of society; it is important that the fashion district caters to all brackets of society.
The coast is usually associated with being laid back, but in California laid back does not mean that anyone can forget about their appearances. If anything appearance is more important by the coast than anywhere else in the state. Santa Monica is the perfect combination of the beach and the city. The streets are lined with palm trees, there are luxury shopping centers and the pier is easy going fun. Residents of California drive around Santa Monica in Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Cadillac’s, showing off their beautiful clothes and luxuries to those who walk by. The pier is relaxing and at night the rides and food stands light up and from the distance the view is breathtaking. Along the pier entertainers set up their acts at night that include dancing, singing, and magic acts. Tourists gather around and cheer on the entertainers along the pier while they snack on hot dogs and fried dough. Despite the fact that visitors are at the beach while visiting the pier they still manage to be fashion forward in heels, skinny jeans, and flowing tops. Men are sporting khaki pants, loafers and polo shirts for a classic style. Along shopping center sidewalks cover bands line up to entertain passerbies with classic tunes. Beautiful couples and families nonchalantly walk around through the luxury shops. Local beachgoers of Santa Monica show off their glamour in a relaxed environment.
El Rodeo drive is the most popular street to visit while in Beverly Hills, California. When people think of the city they immediately think of El Rodeo because the luxury shops which line the street and the expensive cars that cruise down it. It is surprisingly a relaxing environment to walk through. During the holidays lights are strung throughout the city and fake snow falls every hour leaving a magical feeling over the people in the area. Barney’s New York is among several of the stores on this street. They have recently started working with Lady GaGa and some of her merchandise is featured in the front of the store. All of the most expensive designer boutiques and haute couture shops are featured along the street for only the most lucrative customers. Chanel, David Yurman, Dior, and Dolce and Gabbana are among the many noted designers visited for their fine fashions. There are about three blocks of luxury shopping on El Rodeo Drive, but the street stretches much further in both directions. This street only adds to the glamorous environment that spreads throughout California. This is the street locals come to when they need an outfit for a red carpet event. When tourists walk the street they too can feel the sense of privilege that is exposed.
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