From the Los Angeles Times

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
Clothes and jewelry are in season at Southern California's farmers markets

The best buys at farmers markets may be frocks, shoes and jewelry.
By Erin Weinger
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

April 20, 2008

EVERY SINGLE DAY, it's effortless to find locally grown produce at farmers markets throughout the city. But edibles aren't the only assets that markets bring to the table.

Hidden among columns of cucumbers and rows of radishes is some amazing fashion. Elizabeth Sayles' line of antique jeweled pendants and bracelets -- now sold at Fred Segal Santa Monica and Barneys New York -- was discovered at an L.A. farmers market. And Sayles is still here, for those who know where to look.

Not every farmers market find is a prize. Many sellers bring clothes that even Santee Alley wouldn't sell. But the same inexpensive hippie handicrafts and global accessories that have been sold at markets for years are now perfectly aligned with spring's biggest trends. And that makes for some very delicious shopping indeed.

The following markets are where we found our favorite treasures. And we found that the rules for buying produce at farmers markets also apply when buying fashion.

Bring cash, come early for the best selection and attempt a better deal by negotiating. Most important, make sure the goods are ripe and in season. Because nobody wants to look rotten.

Barneys and broccoli

On Sunday mornings, the stylish stretch that's home to Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta becomes an equally chic open-air market. Mingling alongside the blooming bouquets, colossal eggplants and a creperie that fills the air with sweetness is Elizabeth Sayle's line of reworked antique jewelry called Harlow. Well-to-do Sunday strollers aren't the only ones enjoying these goods. Harlow is now stocked at Barneys New York, Fred Segal Santa Monica and Roseark after being discovered here. Sayles traipses the globe to find Victorian mourning lockets, Art Nouveau pendants and vintage etched pocket watches that become the centerpieces of her designs. They hang from ornate Edwardian chains or crocheted ropes that the self-taught designer makes by hand. Is that bracelet too big? Brennan will re-size it on the spot. Having second thoughts on the 178-year-old Argentine religious necklace you just picked up last week? Return it for a full refund. Market shoppers enjoy another perk: a sizable discount. Prices aren't set, but a piece that retails for $600 in a swanky store may go for as little as $290 at Sayles' sidewalk stand. "What I charge on the street is what I feel is fair," she says. "I want people to be happy."

Melrose Place, between Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.