Rodeo Drive Shopping

Clear that schedule, whip out those credit cards and think Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” or Cher Horowitz and her friends in “Clueless.” It's time to go shopping on Rodeo Drive.

Given an obscene amount of money or a limitless credit card, hitting all those upscale shops one by one is bound to be an enjoyable and literally well-spent day. From Louis Vuitton suitcases, Coach handbags, Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, Omega watches, Chanel perfume, Bulgari bracelets, Prada jeans, Hermes scarves and Cartier diamonds, wardrobes and jewelry boxes will be seriously padded up.

Shops on Rodeo Drive may look modest from the outside, but inside is a different story. The atmosphere maintained is one of luxury, with features such as plush waiting areas and spacious fitting rooms where shop attendants are never far behind a customer. Some specific stores include some very classy stuff like champagne or martinis being served to the waiting clientèle. A few shops have unique features that make them stand out and scream “high-end,” like the Prada Epicenter where walls go from clear to opaque at a touch, and Dolce & Gabbana that has a private wet bar for its VIP clients.

A few select stores like Bijan require an appointment to be able to get in, but most are just walk-in shops. For those who don't care to spend 50 dollars on a pair of designer socks however, but would love to check out Rodeo Drive's fame anyway, there's a store called Clothes Minded. It's a shop that sells cheaper items, perfect for a few token “Rodeo Drive buys.”

Rodeo Drive is a pretty straightforward walk, but if shopping gets rather tiring, there are a few places to eat and relax at. One is Cafe Rodeo, with a patio and sidewalk dining area, De Mori at the Rodeo Collection, and two restaurants at Via Rodeo: The Fish House, a seafood restaurant and Urusawa restaurant. There's also the well-known Cheesecake Factory that serves excellent...well, cheesecake. On a last note, though Rodeo Drive is a pretty straightforward shopping district, it is recommended for anyone visiting to do so with comfortable shoes and lots of time to kill.