Los Angeles Shopping Guide: In-Store, Online, and Luxury Supermarkets—All in One Place

Taxes: Different states have different sales tax regulations and charges. New York City and California have some of the highest, while other states can have no sales tax.

Shipping: Online stores often offer free shipping when a certain amount of money is spent. This, of course, is just one of many other promotions. Other than this, shipping prices can vary based on how fast you want the items. For example, Saks Fifth Avenue starts shipping fees at $7.99. Once someone registers for a membership, Amazon even offers two to three day shipping for free, which is faster than five to seven day shipping (which is free to everyone) but this free benefit only lasts one month. You will have to remember to cancel it if you do not want to pay for shipping faster than that.

Returns: Returns are easy in the United States as long as the item still has tags and is in good condition based on the given return policy. Many websites offer free shipping for returned items.

Discounts: Discounts are strange and unpredictable. Aside from the famous sales on Black Friday or Christmas, many smaller promotional sales can happen at the end of the season or even around a holiday. Because of this, crowds can get extremely big when a sale is going on, which can make the experience much worse.

On labor day, I went to Ontario Mills and the crowd looked like it was 3-5x bigger than normal. Many stores even had lines at the entrances and waiting to try on clothes, or pay at the register took forever. If you happen to be there during a sales period, you can shop a lot if you want. But it is much better to go on a week day if you want a more relaxed shopping experience.

Be sure to look out for new seasonal launches occurring around March and September. Sometimes, products that are not available in China can appear in the US first. For instance, the new color collections from TF, YSL, Dior, Nars, and other brands were released in Europe and the US before coming to China. Below are different categories to make your shopping convenient: Luxury shopping: Rodeo Drive boutiques, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus… Discount shopping: Major outlet centers Budget stores: TJ Maxx, Target Supermarkets: Costco, Ralphs Online shopping: Amazon US, Shopbop, Revolve… This list is just a collection of stores and services that you can use for your own enjoyment. The Grove Address: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Parking: Paid parking The Grove is an open-air shopping center in Los Angeles that was frequented by celebrities and influencers. The center hosts Barneys New York and Nordstrom along with other brand shops like Coach, Zara, Topshop, and Michael Kors. If you want a break from shopping, you can head to the Farmer's Market nearby to enjoy some food and peace. The market also features an upscale grocery store, but the prices can be a bit high. Whole Foods Market creates even more reasons to continue eating. \n\nThe Barneys New York department store may not have been large in size, but it offered a great variety of brands and had an emphasis on the more expensive items. \n\nThe Grove Shopping Center \n- Designed to look like the old Los Angeles style with open courtyards, streams, and a vintage street car. It is one of the busiest shopping centers in all of Los Angeles. \n- Contains stores and restaurants including Barneys New York, Johnny Was, Michael Kors and Theodore as well as a number of other fashion and accessory stores. \n- Also contains a number of lower priced brands like Zara and Topshop. \n- They also provide more than enough dining options so that even the more picky shoppers can find something to eat. \n\nSouth Coast Plaza \nOfficial Website: \n \nAddress: 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 \nParking: Free parking \nLocated close to Irvine, South Coast Plaza has Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Nordstrom as anchors and offers an easy browsing experience thanks to its interconnecting design. There's a great variety of stores, including upscale and mid-range fashion, as well as plenty of options for cosmetics, footwear, and accessories. Don't forget to check Dealmoon for promotions before making a purchase!

When you see something you’re attached to, it might be a sign you need to shop without considering how much you’d have to spend. Even from the display window, a Godiva shop at South Coast Plaza is difficult to resist. South Coast Plaza

A global shopping destination with 250+ fashion and designer shops, and with more than 30 eateries.

Among its luxury shops are Cartier, Chanel, Dior, D&G, and Hermes, and American brands like Coach, J. Crew, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch.

There are many dining options including the famous Din Tai Fung, and French restaurant Marche Moderne. Asian restaurant AnQi is also there.

Customers can get discounts at stores and restaurants using their passports at the service desk.

Rodeo Drive Here is the official website: Address: 268 Via Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Parking: Paid parking, about US$5 for one hour. There is also metered street parking. For most visitors, Rodeo Drive is a must see. It is often the route of sightseeing buses and luxury cars. It is the place where serious spending is done by wealthy shoppers. We had no problem communicating with the staff at many luxury boutiques as they had Chinese-speaking employees, and we were able to converse easily as we accompanied friends to different boutiques. Rodeo Drive

Referred to as the “celebrity wardrobe,” Rodeo Drive is the most luxurious shopping street in Los Angeles and very popular with celebrities.

It features the newest collections from top global brands like Giorgio Armani, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Most high-end brands have their own villa-like buildings, each with their own unique design, enhancing the beauty of the street.

The high-end shops are complemented by fine dining, bars, and galleries, making it great for dining and socializing in addition to shopping.

Hollywood & Highland Center Official Website: Address: 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028-6145 Parking: There is paid parking and metered street parking in the area. It is located near the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Dolby Theatre, and while there are only a few shops, the location provides plenty of value. You can dine at an outdoor restaurant, enjoy people watching, and get a view of the Hollywood sign from the nearby walkways. It’s worth a visit even if you don’t plan to shop. From one end of the mall’s terrace you can enjoy a view of downtown Los Angeles. I was there in November and there were a lot of Christmas decorations, and I was much slimmer then. Desert Hills Premium Outlets Official Website: Address: 48400 Seminole Drive #300, Cabazon, CA Parking: free parking This is a large premium outlet center and has a good range of different brands, which contributes to its popularity. Most luxury outlet stores sell past season items so you need to have patience to find a good buy. You can't go wrong with Sandro, Maje, and Stuart Weitzman. Coach, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch are also good options as people often leave with five or six bags from these stores. I remember seeing Coach bags being bought by a group of Chinese women who said it was cheap enough for them to use as gifts to take back home. There are good sales to be found if you aren't picky about fashion trends. All the stores had Chinese staff and accepted UnionPay. They were also giving out promotions for $25 off for same-day purchases over $500. Ontario Mills Outlets Website: Address: 1 Mills Cir, Ontario, CA Parking: Free Since it was nearest to where I was staying, I went to it the most. I appreciated that the outlet was entirely indoors since it kept browsing more comfortable, but the weekends do get crowded. Ontario Mills mostly consists of American brands, especially athletic footwear, Coach, and Michael Kors. There is also a much larger than average Victoria's Secret. Flexibility with styles is a must, especially at outlet stores. With a little luck and good timing, it is possible to find a well-priced attractive piece. Otherwise, you may want to go to regular malls where the prices will be lower and the discounts are more limited. Discount Stores: TJ Maxx and Target websites: Parking: Free TJ Maxx feels like a compact treasure-hunt department store, carrying clothing, bags, shoes, home goods, skincare, and food. While not particularly large, you can find items from brand names like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, and more at discount prices. Calvin Klein products being incredibly cheap in the United States is a true statement, and the majority of their items are priced under ten dollars. With a little patience, many inexpensive branded items can be found.

Targets have a similar shopping experience, but larger ranges for the cosmetics and grocery sections similar to CVS. For extended stays in the US, these chain stores will offer practical items and some nice surprises. Ross and Nordstrom Rack are other similar options.

Supermarkets: Costco and Ralphs

Parking: Free parking

Costco is a large US chain supermarket that follows an IKEA-like layout where you pick and collect your items. You must have a membership card to shop, and everything is sold at a bargain price in bulk. This is why many people drive there to stock up on home and food supplies.

Ralphs is a smaller supermarket chain but with a wider selection than Costco. Here you can find vegetables, fruit, meat, snacks, health products, and daily necessities. If you are on a road trip and want to make it more enjoyable, pick up some snacks (Häagen-Dazs ice cream is especially tempting: two large tubs for US$7).

Online shopping: Amazon US, Shopbop, Revolve...

Dealmoon lists promotions one by one. If this method seems tedious, you can just visit the specific websites directly.

No need for an introduction; it has an incredibly extensive variety of products

, Mainly American brands

***: Designers brands at a discount

Official websites for major malls: They have promotions, so check them frequently. A spend-and-save offer may be easily overlooked during your shopping spree, so check deal lists for your preferred brands before you go.

Beauty: La Mer, Lancôme, Estée Lauder...

High-end cosmetics are usually less expensive in the US than in China. Some brands are not sold in China and would require proxy buying or shipping, so buying them while in the US saves you the hassle of shipping costs. Import duties also play a role in the price difference. To determine if the US or Europe offers a better deal, you need to analyze it thoroughly.

Brands such as Chantecaille, Natura Bissé, Omorovicza, RéVive, Erno Laszlo, and Valmont, which are not easy to buy in China, are available here. Prices for skincare and makeup products are highly subjective, but if you are looking at prices from a more objective standpoint, it would be reasonable to purchase La Mer from the US.

However, for Clinique and Kiehl's, my comparison showed Beijing's Sunrise Duty Free Airport store to be cheaper. This can also apply to some lipsticks: if you don't really care about specific shades or styles, Sunrise Duty Free may provide more value.

Where to buy: Trustworthy options are the large department stores like Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Nordstrom. Stores like Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus sell more high-end and fashion-focused luxury department stores, and some beauty brands (like Aesop and Zelens) may be sold at these stores. If you have time, you can also order from brand websites or Sephora and have the items delivered to your hotel. This will also give you the chance to save money because you may be able to take advantage of a discount with the option of a wider available product selection.