Outlet Near Vegas Makes Drive Worthwhile Gamble

If you’re planning to visit Las Vegas any time soon, you may want to arrange a side trip to the Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas, which is about to celebrate its first anniversary.

There are four particularly good reasons to make the drive from Vegas or even the San Fernando Valley to the outlet in Primm, Nev.: St. John, Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic and the Neiman Marcus Last Call.

This is as close as outlets with these names get to Los Angeles.

The St. John Outlet, (702) 874-1009, carries last season’s leftovers. And at 40% to 50% off retail, that’s just fine with devotees of this line.

You would have to go to New York for the only other Williams-Sonoma outlet store. Here, (702) 874-1780, you will find from 20% to 75% off the original price on about 70% of the inventory. The store carries discontinued items and overstocks, as well as slow movers from Williams-Sonoma catalogs.

Special purchases constitute the remaining 30% of stock, nearly all first quality. There are no irregulars, a few seconds and some refurbished electronic items, such as Dualit toasters and bread makers and plenty of Allclad cookware.

The Banana Republic, (702) 874-1295, has its only outlet in the Western U.S. at the outlet, and the Neiman Marcus Last Call, (702) 874-2100, is the nearest such store to Los Angeles. There is another in Phoenix. Last season’s merchandise constitutes the inventory, not only from Neiman’s but also from Bergdorf-Goodman and the Horchow catalog.

Catalog items are usually 40% to 60% off, and the apparel lines from Neiman’s and Bergdorf run about 65% less than the original price.

If all this isn’t enough to tempt you to the outlet mall, there are also Versace, Burberry, Escada, Brooks Bros., Bally, DKNY, Eddie Bauer, Nine West, Polo Ralph Lauren, LaCoste, Kenneth Cole, Jhane Barnes, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.

The Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas is just off Interstate 15, 220 miles from Los Angeles and 36 miles from Las Vegas. Get off the freeway at Exit 1 in Primm. Shuttle service is available from Las Vegas hotels and casinos. Mall hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas, Primm, Nev. (702) 874-1400.

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WEEKEND SUPER SALES: Dressed Up has its biggest sale ever starting Sunday with names such as En Francais, Bari Jay, Tadashi and the J.F. Collection. Everything is reduced 60% to 80% off the original retail price for special occasion outfits.

Dressed Up, 6000 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana. (818) 708-7238.

Saturday only, the Cinema Glamour Shop is holding its monthly sale of apparel and some furnishings that have been donated by members of the motion picture industry. Proceeds go to the Motion Picture and Television Home in Woodland Hills.

Cinema Glamour Shop, 343 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 933-5289.

For more bargains, see www.LAbestbargains.com.