“Jet Rag’s Dollar Sale
Every Sunday, the vintage clothing store Jet Rag holds a sale in their parking lot, offering a myriad of $1 funky clothes from the 1950s to the 1980s. You can expect to find colorful dresses, printed shirts from the 70’s, plaid pants (usually in larger sizes) and almost anything that’s available in a pricey thrift store. For 50 cents you can find colorful scarves in various styles and colors. I interviewed Dollar Sale frequenter, LACES freshman Candice, who warns, “You should be willing to get on your knees and dig through huge mounds of clothing in order to find what you’re looking for. Also there’s no place to try clothes on.” Candice said that since everything is only a dollar, if you buy it and it doesn’t fit, cut it up and make something else.
Located roughly two blocks north of the main drag of Melrose, Jet Rag doesn’t have the same large crowds and hectic pace as the rest of Melrose. Jet Rag has a small parking lot. It’s especially hard to find parking in the evenings.
Jet Rag is located at 834 N. La Brea, Los Angeles; phone 213/465-0128. You can visit Jet Rag’s regular store any day during the week. However, the dollar sale is only on Sundays from 10 to 5.
Jodie Newbery, Los Angeles CES
At Vermont & Hollywood
When you’re through looking at the expensive stuff at Sinister Clothing, the gothic/skater shop on Vermont just north of Hollywood, or Ultralux, a vintage thrift store across the street, go one block south to the funky little mall on the west side of Vermont. There you’ll find Dayon’s French Style Clothing, Lucky Fashion and What’s New where you can get a whole outfit for $25. It’s on Vermont between Hollywood and Sunset.
Cindy Mojica, Burroughs Middle School
The Betsey Johnson Outlet at the Citadel in the city of Commerce offers hip and funky fashions by designer Betsey Johnson, sometimes at 5 percent of their original prices. The front room usually holds the newer arrivals from her boutiques around the Southland and are usually higher end, more recent fashions ($100+). However, in the back room, $10 sale bins contain last year’s collection. Be ready to dig. There’s also Betsey’s signature handbags, shoes, coats, perfume and make-up line. If your school dance is coming up soon I would definitely check this store out, gorgeous dresses can be found for around $30. She specializes in slinky, form-fitting fashions made of knits, velvets, spandex and lycra. If you wear sizes 10+ this may not be the store for you. The store is well-stocked in petite and small sizes. On the downside there are only three dressing rooms and they are usually occupied. There are no mirrors in the dressing rooms so be prepared to strut your stuff in front of the store’s mirrored wall, modeling for other customers.
And if you don’t find anything you like, check out the other outlets; the Citadel is like a big mall for clothes at good prices.
Betsey Johnson Outlet in the Citadel is at 5675 E. Telegraph Rd., (213) 726-9272. Directions: Take the 10 to the 5 south, exit at Washington, turn left at first exit. Take the 2nd left at Telegraph, go straight past casino. The Citadel is on the left. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Jodie Newbery, Los Angeles CES”