Fashions That Flow
Next to one of the city’s best shoe sources, Shoe Explosion, there is an excellent spot for women who like loose-fitting tops and dresses.
The first rack I spotted at Epoka was filled with what they call sarongs, but that term didn’t fit the design in my mind. These were not wraparounds--the kind Dorothy Lamour wore--but short caftans, loose, full-sleeved dresses that hide a million flaws. And the price was just $12. I’ve never seen comparable garments at this low price. Actually, one could wear these just about anywhere--on the street, the beach or in the bedroom.
Most of the apparel is from Indonesia and seems to be fairly well made. Some sharp kimono jackets were budget priced at $30-$45, but the best deals were the handmade cotton sweaters in pastel colors that ranged in price from $15 to $30. According to owner Ellen Spitz, these sweaters wholesale for $65, which should make them retail for around $120.
The accessories and handicrafts, mostly from South America, are generally priced under $10. And if you’re a hat lover, you may not be able to resist the straw hats from Ecuador in vibrant colors that are tagged at $12-$15.
* Epoka, 2251 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles. (310) 312-1215 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Weekend Super Sale
Collectors, designers, decorators and textile junkies emerge from their haunts when Texuba stages its biannual sale of more than 4,000 kimonos and 1,000 obis collected from the cities and countryside of Japan. The garments are from the 1920s through the 1970s, and the majority are silk or rayon, with a few in polyester, cotton or linen. Collectors buy them for clothing; designers cut them into wearable art, pillows, screens, chairs, hangings, jewelry, belts and quilts.
Comparison shopping is all but impossible. What may sell for $50 in one store could fetch $500 at another. Huge price discrepancies exist in vintage clothing, and a practiced eye is the best gauge.
The sale is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; unless you’re only interested in a kimono, I suggest you hit this sale on Sunday, when obi selections will be added to the offerings.
* Texuba, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. (310) 827-8535.
