Los Angeles: Divine Design Sale Review

Pictured: The Barbie Tote Bag at Divine Design, the Holiday Shopping Festival in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles is Barbie’s hometown 🙂

Last night, with high hopes, I braved the Los Angeles rush hour traffic and ventured out to the annual Divine Design sale. I was all ready to park the car and jump right into the savings. Alas, it was not to be. Instead, bargain shopper that I am, I ended up parking my car about 9 blocks from the sale and hoofing it over to the sale. Then, I waited outside in the cold for about 45 minutes to get in. The reason for the wait? In the midst of the economic downturn, Los Angeles was lining up for the savings. The building where the sale was being held was so full, it had reached maximum capacity. That means it was a fire risk. So hopeful shoppers were reduced to waiting in line for others to exit, so that they could enter.
Many have written in to ask me if the wait was worth it, and what I did I find inside. The answer is yes, and no. As a sale, there maybe better prices on certain items elsewhere. Look at everything with a savvy eye and do your own comparison shopping. Some of the designer goods are great deals, and some can be found for better prices elsewhere. Again, remember prices drop each day of the sale. Check my earlier post to learn tips for shopping the sale, and waiting for the final reductions on the last day. Here’s a little peak for yourself of the deals inside and the designers. And if you love Barbie, good news, there is every kind of Barbie inside the sale on display.

Pictured: The Rachael Zoe Barbie doll is featured at Divine Design. If you’re bananas check out the online auction for the doll, current bidding is over $500.00 US!

Pictured: Rachel Zoe, Brad and his bow tie turned up to help a good cause. The Barbie doll really does looks like Rachel. (photo courtesy of Life.com by Tiffany Rose/WireImage)

Many great designer clothing items are featured including BCBG, Vera Wang, Porridge, Tulle, Milly, Nanette Lepore, Trina Turk, James Perse and Moschino, just to name a few. Word up the Trina Turk, I learned from some savvy shoppers from the Vons team that Trina can be found for much less out at her outlet in Alhambra. Here’s the scoop on Trina’s outlet from BargainsLA. Here’s a look at some of the other treasure inside Divine by Design.

Pictured: A holiday red Nanette Lepore coat for 50% off retail, just less than $200.00

Pictured: Vera Wang evening gowns, more than Simply Vera at Kohl’s but less than Vera at Neiman’s 🙂

Pictured: A selection of the woman’s wear designers, Vena Cava, Milly, Jenni Kayne, and What Goes Around Comes Around.

Pictured: My favorite bargain at the sale, Givenchy costume earrings. I bought a few pairs. They were about $15.00 each.

Pictured: Fellow Recessionistas, the lovely ladies of Vons, Jennifer and Gina. Vons was a sponsor of Divine Design. They knew about the Trina Turk outlet hidden in Alhambra. These are the kind of shoppers you want to discuss bargains with!

Bottom line, Divine Design is worth a look if for nothing else other than the wide selection of items and the knowledge that your shopping benefits Project Angel Food. The store features cosmetics, housewares, furniture, books and menswear. There is even coffee and tea from Coffee Bean & Tealeaf, sold at far less than retail. If you have the time to search through all the items with an eye for price and value, and maybe even wait in the cold, your efforts just might be rewarded. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes, as you may not readily find parking close to the store.

P.S. If you live outside the Los Angeles, or even California, you’ll see items from the sale turning up on eBay soon. The eBayers were there stocking up for the holidays.