[modernista]: Alley of Treasures

   This week was INSANE. Busy, I love. Hectic, not so much. I pride myself on my time management and prioritization skills, but no matter how much you plan, you can't help those last minute projects and meetings that pop up at the eleventh hour. Ah well, that's why you have to be flexible in this industry, right?
   Speaking of flexible, I was asked to interview candidates at the Company job fair today (on a precious Saturday morning, no less). It turned out to be a lot of fun and it didn't hurt to brush up on my interviewing technique. We were looking for buyers and designers. There were some "interesting" characters to say the least, but I couldn't help but feel bad when it came time to turn some of them away. But it really takes drive and determination to pull yourself out of bed on a Saturday morning and battle it out with hundreds of other applicants, so I admire all who came out today.
   After the job fair I decided to make an impromptu trip to Santee alley, also known as the LA Fashion District. It was only 5 minutes away from where I work. Comprising of cheap little shops lining both sides of Santee alley and its surrounding streets, the fashion district can be a little goldmine if you have a good eye and know what you're looking for.
   The majority of the shops sell to wholesale buyers, but are open to the public on weekends. Many of them sell to fancier boutiques on Melrose or Robertson, but at a fraction of the price. Saturdays are the best days to go, as some of the shops are closed on Sundays. If knock-offs are your thing (not mine, I have to say), you can find everything from sunglasses to DVDs of movies that are still currently in theatres...naughty naughty. And then there are the fruit stands that look so mouth-wateringingly good and the hot dog stands that smell so divine - neither of which I will ever eat from for fear of getting severe food poisoning!
   I have a few little gems - diamond-in-the-rough shops - that never fail to deliver when it comes to unique pieces of jewelry, cool shoes, bags and clothes. For less than 90 bucks I found some real treasures. Mission accomplished.