Cotton to Great Buys in Quality Casual Clothes

Any sharp shopper will tell you that a bona fide manufacturer’s outlet is one of the best sources for a good buy, and the Cotton USA Outlet in Woodland Hills is a perfect example.

This label is sold to retailers across the country, and the inventory in the outlet is just what one would expect: what’s left over.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t choice or first quality; it is. What you find on the racks are overruns (every manufacturer has some in case of reorders) and the prices are wholesale and below. This is the only outlet store for this local manufacturer.

As the name states, it’s mostly cotton fabrics, lightweight and a heavier version, dresses or separates for matching or mixing. Basic cotton pants with an elastic band and two pockets retail for around $35 and sell here for $17. Matching tops run from $13 for a tank to $35 for a button-down shirt that retails for $70.

Most of the inventory is for women, although a few shirts are for men, such as the new Coconut Cove line of silk and rayon imports with a Polynesian flavor.

The shirts retail for $65, but the outlet price is $29. Also check out their line of linens, both in separates and dresses. I loved the sarongs for $10--great for patio lounging or as a wraparound for the beach.

Every few weeks during the summer they have a parking lot sale. The next one is Sunday. Seconds and irregulars are set up on racks and sell for rock-bottom prices: For cotton separates, it’s $5; dresses $10. Plan on $10 for the linen separates and $15 for a linen dress. There may be a “flub” or a slight separation of a seam, so check carefully.

If there’s no match in the lot, there’s a good chance you can complete the outfit in the store, which is open Sunday for the sale only. On sale day, you can deduct an additional 30% off the Coconut Cove line, making a shirt that retails for $65 yours for $21. Sizes run from small to extra large.

Cotton USA Factory Outlet, 22559 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (818) 225-8725.

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