‘Tis the season to be shopping.  Los Angeles.  Orange County.  San Diego.  SoCal is home to the hippest, hottest home-grown brands.  There’s no better place to do your holiday shopping.  So scan our ideas of the sweetest, locally-crafted must-haves and pick up a piece or two for that special someone back home.

Los Angeles
SoCal’s known for it’s sunny coast.  But cruise around downtown LA and check out the urban landscapes.  You’ll see a whole other side of California.  The texture of a brick building.  Splashes of street art color.  The thick, bold stripes of the towering skyline.  Why not bring a little of that simple, bohemian design back home?  Here, men, women, young and old alike all scoop up as much LA-local American Apparel as they can handle.  Their soft cotton pieces range from classic t-shirts, to lightweight striped scarves, to vintage-inspired unmentionables.  Plus, AA’s even got gift options for babies and pets.

Orange County
If you want to strike a chord in someone’s rock-n-roll heart this season, check out OC native Fender guitars – the same instruments of choice for guitar gods Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton.  And for items that scream SoCal for absolutely everyone on your holiday shopping list, just stop by any Paul Frank store throughout SoCal.  This OC-local designer creates some of the most unique clothing, accessories and playthings on the planet.

San Diego
Think tasty while shopping for goodies in SD.  A local favorite for anyone with a sweet tooth is the exceptional Extraordinary Desserts, where the menu changes daily and the presentation is awe-inspiring.  Grab a cake to-go, or browse their online store for Extraordinary Gourmet items that’ll please any palate.  And for some authentic San Diego flavor for the beer aficionados on your
list, up-and-coming Stone Brewing Co. not only crafts some of the hippest local brews, but also the tastiest.

Where to Shop
For all locations throughout the SoCal area, log on to:

American Apparel    www.americanapparel.net
Extraordinary Desserts    www.extraordinarydesserts.com
Fender    www.fender.com
Paul Frank    www.paulfrank.com
Stone Brewing Co.    www.stonebrew.com