Los Angeles Shopping Tips by SFHulaGIrl

Art & Deco: Pimp Your Cell!

Art & Deco is an outside vendor (i.e. booth) that adds that extra bling to your phone. They have many designs, but it all depends on the type of phone you have. You choose the color of the crystals (and the design), and they'll finish it up in 30 minutes.

What to buy: Aside from the crystal designs for your cell, they also sell antenna rings. (My cell now sports "Mardi Gras" colors of purple & green with a green & yellow antenna ring!)

What to pay: Front crystal design ($60), back crystal design ($40), crystal flowers only ($5 apiece), & antenna rings ($6.99).

Address: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA

Directions: Century City

Theme: Other

L.A. Tattoo: When You're Ready for Tats & Piercing

Your typical Hollywood Blvd. shop that caters to those wanting piercings & tattoos. A couple of my friends and I went there with a mission in mind -- two planned to have tattoos and the other wanted a piercing. What happened was that ALL of us got tattoos! Ask for Kidder; he can whip up a design for you, modify it, and do a quick & excellent job on the actual tattooing. But be warned, he's a big flirt!

What to buy: Piercings, tattoos, clothing, jewelry, accessories.

What to pay: Tattoo prices are reasonable, and also slightly negotiable (particularly if there are 2 or more).

Address: 6547 Hollywood Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90028

Directions: Hollywood; Hollywood Blvd. (near Cherokee)

Phone: (323) 463-3919

Theme: Other

Image: Improve Your Image Melrose Avenue Shopping Review

Filled with the trendiest clothing and accessories at affordable prices. The salesgirls are extremely helpful. Tell them you want an outfit similar to one of theirs, or tell them you want a military look (or whatever) and they will take care of everything! They will put entire outfits together, complete with accessories, for you to try. Little pressure to buy. Exchanges within 7 days. No refunds; store credit only.

Address: 7472 Melrose Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: West Hollywood

Phone: (323) 653-1911

Theme: Women's Clothes

So Good Jewelry: Melrose Mecca of Jewelry & Hair Accessories Melrose Avenue Shopping Review

Chock full of faux jewelry and hair accessories, prices are a little more than you'd find downtown at the Jewelry Mart, yet less expensive than at retail places.

What to buy: Chandelier earrings, sequined barrettes, headbands, mini purses, etc.

What to pay: Most everything seemed to be under $30.00.

Address: 7565 Melrose Avenue; W. Hollywood, CA

Directions: On Melrose Avenue, between Curson St. & Gardner St.)

Other Contact: sogoodjewelryla@yahoo.com

Phone: (323) 852-4748

Theme: Jewelry

Alan "K" Melrose: High Steppin' Melrose Avenue Shopping Review

Funky & unique aptly describe this collection of hand-made shoes. What initially caught my eye were the fabulous heel details. These shoes are built to last; they're constructed well and Alan himself told me that the wood is specially treated with a secret ingredient) so that they don't break. Believe me, these are shoes to paint the town in!!

What to pay: His shoes begin in the $200 range.

Address: 7380 Melrose Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: West Hollywood

Phone: (323) 658-9092

Theme: Shoes

Chaque Jour: Purse Heaven Melrose Avenue Shopping Review

Imported bags and accessories in bright colors and prints; all reasonably priced.

What to pay: Most of the purses I perused were under $100.

Address: 7318 Melrose Avenue, #C; Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: West Hollywood

Phone: (323) 936-0413

Theme: Other

Baha Coca: This Is Not Your Mother's.... Melrose Avenue Shopping Review

If you're looking for something exotic (i.e. East Indian), this is the place! Not only do they carry women's clothing, but home furnishings (curtains, cushions, draping materials, etc.), jewelry, and incense.

What to buy: They often have 2-for-1 sales (2 curtain panels or 2 cushions for the price of one). The women's clothing, particularly the wrap-around skirts and pants, are gorgeous. Oh, and pick up some bindi!

What to pay: Curtain panels are in the $30-$50 range; skirts and pants are generally $20-$30.

Address: 7556 Melrose Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: Melrose Avenue; West Hollywood

Phone: (323) 966-0096

Theme: Women's Clothes

Jewelry Mart: Jewels & Gold Galore! Jewelry District Review

If you go to the intersection of 7th & Hill Streets in downtown Los Angeles, you'll be surrounded by jewelry stores/vendors on every side. I normally go to the St. Vincent Jewelry Center and do the vast majority of my shopping in there, but I've been lured to several of the other jewelry centers as well.

Some of the vendors I frequent are Orchid Jewelry (650 S. Hill, Booth F12) for silver jewelry, the Silver Center (640 S. Hill, Booth H23) for hair accessories, & Pailim Limma (650 S. Hill, Booth D16) for loose stones. Belle Epoque (625 S. Hill, #105) has exquisite (and pricey) antique-y jewelry.

PARKING TIP: Go to 9th & Olive Streets on Saturdays, and many parking lots offer all-day parking for $1.50-$2.00. Parking in the 7th & Hill area costs more like $1.50 every 30 minutes!!

What to buy: Silver, gold, loose stones (diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, citrines, peridots, aquamarines, etc.) are all incredible bargains. You can pick your own stones, pick your own settings, then have it set to your specifications within the course of that afternoon! Be sure to bargain over prices; you'll always get a better deal if paying in cash!

What to pay: Many silver earrings (with stones) are priced from $4-$10 a pair; silver chains are $5-$12 depending on design and length. Gold varies from 14K to 24K, but prices are generally at least 50% or more below retail. Battery watches are generally replaced for $5.00.

Address: 7th & Hill Streets; Los Angeles, CA

Directions: Downtown Los Angeles

Theme: Jewelry