Discovering the Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles
Located in Downtown Los Angeles, the Fashion District has long been the West Coast center of the apparel industry in the U.S, a mecca for buyers and retailers, shoppers and stylists. It’s one of La La Land’s most vibrant and colorful neighborhoods, where it’s not uncommon to encounter the season’s latest couture being wheeled down the street on a rack or bolts of fabric lined up along the sidewalk.
However, it’s no longer just a place for designers and clothes hounds. The area’s galleries and street art, elevated sips, and global cuisine served in stylish settings have transformed the Fashion District into L.A.’s destination à la mode.
The Fabulous Art
Downtown Art Walk sprang up around a decade ago as a monthly collaboration along Spring and Main Streets; today, it spans twelve blocks and includes more than two dozen galleries. One of the largest standing galleries is Hive Gallery, which focuses on pop surrealism. This gallery features five artists per month, hosts twenty-five working artists simultaneously, and has a store selling artist-created items. Ren Gallery is a contemporary space showcasing pop, street, and abstract art from emerging and established artists in various media including paintings, sculptures, assemblages, and photography. Additionally, BertaArt Studio Gallery presents pieces by Clara Berta, a contemporary painter who specializes in serene works to promote healing and wellness. Therefore, while you are strolling around, look for the ever-changing collection of murals that adorn the district.
Shopping the LA Flower District
After Japanese-American growers established L.A.’s first major flower market in 1912, a group of thirty European-American growers launched what became known as The Original Los Angeles Flower Market. More than a hundred years later, it’s still going strong, and during select hours, it’s open to the general public, inviting them to purchase stems and plants at cost. The market is part of the L.A. Flower District, a six-block floral marketplace with 200 vendors that is the U.S.’s largest wholesale flower district. Furthermore, you can even arrange a flower arranging class with Oldvine Florals, which includes a tour of the market.
Bargain Hunting on Santee Alley
The outdoor shopping experience at Santee Alley packs 150 retailers into a narrow alleyway that’s just two blocks long. Shop for accessories at Beauty Girl and JC Handbags, clothing for the younger set at Only for Kids, menswear at Mike’s Fashion, women’s apparel at Miss Lola and beauty products at Make Up Freak. Consequently, there’s something for everyone here!
Enjoying Eclectic Dining at City Market South
Founded in 1909 by a farmer’s co-op as a centralized location to distribute and sell its produce, City Market South now houses several restaurant concepts, a coffee bar, shops, and design studios within 75,000 square feet of brick and bow truss warehouses. Come hungry and snag one of the tables spilling out onto the patio at DAMA, a tropical deco-designed, Latin American fusion restaurant located in the former Pacific Banana Co. building.
If you crave Bolognese dishes, check out Rossoblu, starting with fritto misto with preserved lemon and olives and succulent marinated big eye tuna with heirloom beans and panzanella. You’ll find fizzy red Lambrusco and other wines hailing from Emilia-Romagna, as well as cocktails peppered with Italian components. Notably, their Ombra menu of low-proof drinks and snacks pays homage to Venice’s after-work cicchetti culture.
When you have a hankering for tacos, Sonoratown is just a short walk from City Market South, a casual eatery launched by Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguez, Jr. and Jennifer Feltham that honors their L.A. neighborhood and the Mexico border town where Diaz-Rodriguez, Jr. was raised. Tacos are made Sonora-style, reminiscent of San Luis Rio Colorado.
Couture-Inspired Cocktails
A propos to its fashionista neighborhood digs is Pattern Bar, a sleek lounge where drinks are named after beloved iconic designers including Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld. For instance, the Cartier is a Smash/Mule hybrid with Bourbon, blackberries, lime juice, mint, and ginger beer, while the gin-based Armani has citrus and elderflower, topped with bubbly and a dose of CBD oil.
Fashionable Hotels
No matter where you are in L.A., you can feel the influence of the city’s film industry. If you have a penchant for old Hollywood, consider a stay at the Ace Hotel. Located in the former United Artists Theatre dating back to 1927, the property offers a variety of accommodation choices and even has a rooftop pool. The gorgeously restored 1,600-seat theatre with a three-story lobby hosts musicians, television show screenings, parties, and other events. Onsite restaurant Best Girl is an homage to the first film screened at the theater – a silent romantic comedy starring Mary Pickford – overseen by James Beard award-winning chef Michael Cimarusti.
If you seek a more buzzing vibe, the London-based brand The Hoxton recently opened its doors in a 174-room hotel housed in a 1922 Beaux Arts building overlooking Broadway. Design elements in the rooms include retro phones, Mexican-inspired rug patterns, tiles, and local artwork. Downstairs, Sibling Rival is the lobby restaurant serving breakfast and all-day dishes like a togarashi fried chicken sandwich and loaded “disco tots.” Meanwhile, on the rooftop at Pilot, you’ll find wood-grilled branzino, Dungeness crab fusilli, and refreshing poolside spritzes. Hox Friends, a group of local designers, culinary folks, and artists curate guests’ experiences through recommendations, tips, and guides.
