Ins and Outlets of Designer Duds : Orange County residents say its worth the trip to Commerce to get deals on fashions by big names.
A dark-haired woman in her 30s had the Jones New York skirt by the hanger and was holding on tightly.
“I’m just having a fit,” she said happily, looking around for more bargains to snap up. The skirt, her first conquest, was marked down from $54 to $33 at the Designer Labels for Less store in the Citadel Outlet Collection.
The Citadel in Commerce is the closest outlet center to Orange County, less than 20 minutes from the county line. Once a tire factory, the castle-like structure just off the Santa Ana Freeway is now an open-air shopping center whose tenants are mostly manufacturers selling their goods directly to the public.
Are the deals worth the drive?
Deann Burch of Fullerton thought so.
“I found a couple of items I’ve seen in (retail) stores, so I’m happy,” Burch said. In her shopping bag were her spoils: a floral skirt by Carole Little for $58 and matching blouse for $48, roughly half of their retail price.
Her companion, Mary Hutain of Westminster, bought a black and tan striped knit top marked down from $86 to $30.
“I would have never paid $86 to begin with,” she says.
When it first opened in November, the Citadel was only half full with outlet stores. Now 39 of the center’s 44 spaces are occupied, making it possible for a shopper to put together a complete wardrobe by going from outlet to outlet.
Among the best-known clothing outlets: the Gap Outlet and Eddie Bauer Outlet for casual sportswear, Ann Taylor Clearance Center, Joan & David Shoes, L. Bates Contemporary Clothing and Benetton.
In addition, outlets with generic names often sell recognizable labels inside. Designer’s Own carries Nancy Johnsons’s antique-looking lace-trimmed dresses and Designer Labels for Less has an impressive selection of Carole Little’s free-flowing separates.
Recent additions to the Citadel have made it an attractive destination for bargain hunters.
When the Ann Taylor Clearance Center opened its doors several weeks ago, a line of shoppers stood waiting before 9 a.m. for the doors to open. By morning the store was packed. The reason: This is the only West Coast outlet for Ann Taylor and it offers the same high-quality career wear for women sold in the chain’s retail stores.
Racks of straight skirts, blazers and dresses fill the outlet. A little black dress, so basic to a woman’s wardrobe, is marked down to $70 from a high of $172. Cream-colored plaid blazers, originally $188, also go for $70.
Women who want more cutting-edge fashion can find contemporary separates by Los Angeles designer Leon Max at Max Studio. The outlet’s inventory lags just two months behind its stores.
The outlet has a large array of full and flowing skirts, shifts, blouses and baby dolls in muted floral prints and solids. One pleated chiffon skirt was selling for $66, cut from $132, and a matching blouse with a shawl collar went for $78 from $156.
For men wanting contemporary clothes, Politix sells racks of loose-fitting blazers and pleated pants, shirts with funky prints and assorted ties left over from its retail stores.
“They’re the baggy things my father would never wear,” said Ara Jil-Agopian, assistant manager at Politix.
The outlet’s baggy pants are marked down from $59 to $38, and Italian silk shirts in jewel tones that originally sold for $89 are $49.
Those looking for more conservative styles can find classic career clothes at Harve Benard. The outlet, which is as smartly decorated as any retail store, has suits for both men and women.
Recently a career woman could find an olive-colored wool blazer with contrasting black trim and a matching black skirt for $215, reduced from $320. For men, there were navy wool suits for $179 reduced from $295, racks of shirts for $30 and silk ties for $12.
The Gap Outlet offered the greatest selection of casual wear for men, women and children. The chain’s trademark pocket T-shirts in out-of-season colors sell for $4.99 to $6.99 instead of $10.50, a pair of black jeans sell for $19.99, and walking shorts are out the door for $20 or less. Racks are crammed with merchandise, most of it first quality with some irregulars that often have no visible defects.
There’s no shortage of shoes at the center. Sbicca, Perry Ellis, Capezio and Joan & David all carry them, and Socks Galore carries more than 60,000 pair of socks to wear them with.
Experienced bargain hunters say there’s a strategy to shopping outlets successfully.
“You do have to know your prices,” Burch said. “I didn’t get a purse because the price was too high.”
Many outlet prices are no better than those found at a department store sale. In addition, selection can be spotty.
“I don’t think you come down to an outlet center if you’re looking for certain things. You can’t be looking for a pair of black pants,” said Ann Sellers of La Palma.
Outlets offer discounts of about 30% to 70% off the normal retail price. Most outlets sell manufacturers’ overruns, last season’s merchandise that didn’t sell and irregular items, according to Wendy Pitre, marketing associate for Trammell Crow Co. in Dallas that owns the Citadel.
“A lot of the merchandise is one season behind, but the styles don’t change much,” Pitre said. “It won’t be 10 seasons behind.”
That doesn’t deter hard-core outlet shoppers.
“It may be out of season, but I’d rather buy it here for less and wait a season to wear it,” says Julie Heimler, who made the half-hour drive to the center from her home in Beverly Hills.
“Last time I came here I found a blouse at Ann Taylor reduced 80%. I had wanted it when I saw it in the store, but I found it here for $24. I didn’t have to think twice about it.”
