Divine Design

The wait to check out was about two hours and getting in was about an hour. My only solace is that the proceeds go to a good cause. Otherwise it is not worth competing with a huge crowd to mine a giant Goodwill pile. Most of the stuff is excess inventory they couldn’t sell at retail. I wouldn’t want it even if it were free. People told me they saw some of the same stuff from last year.

I have volunteered several times for Project Angel food’s Divine Design and I have enjoyed the experience every time. There’s nothing better than getting your holiday shopping done and getting 50−90% off discounts while also knowing that 100% of the profits are going to charity to feed individuals with meals that they can not provide themselves during the holiday season.
Each year hundreds of designers donate items to the shopping event and during each day of the event the prices are stashed from 50% on the first day to 90% off on the last day. You can get some seriously awesome deals from brands such as True Religion, Guess, Marciano, Smashbox, Kiehls, Tadashi Shoji, Tokidoki, Paul Frank etc. Parking is also free! Check website for discount coupons for the shopping days!

SO FUN!
A great opportunity to contribute to charity while shopping your heart out! I was lucky enough to get there early as they were opening to score a lot of my fav facial products, especially from Kiehls, not to mention tons of cute womenswear! Elizabeth and James items for 70% OFF? YES PLEASE!

Pricing — $ 25. $ 15 if you buy online; $ 15 at the door if you show the email/​flyer (it’s on the website). Each day the percentage off goes down. By the time I went on Sunday, it was 80% off and HIGHLY picked over. I was a bit sad about that, but I still found one item and had a lovely time picking over racks.
What I enjoyed:
Free parking
Highly discounted goods
$$ going to a great cause!
What I didn’t:
Picked over racks
Crowds of pushy women
Long checkout line (although I give them credit, it did move fast!)
I’ll be back next year for an earlier day.

Divine Design 2012! (
) is the largest charity shopping event on the West Coast, connecting leading companies with devoted shoppers and major press, all while doing good. For 21 years, top designers such as Black Halo, Brooks Brothers, Buddha Butts, Elizabeth and James, Jones Apparel Group, Kate Somerville, Kay Celine, Kiehl’s since 1851, LA Eyeworks, Laura Gambucci, Macy’s, Marc Jacobs, Mattel, Puma, Tadashi Shoji, Toki Doki, Trina Turk, and Tulle have donated new Fashion & Beauty merchandise, all of which is sold to 7,500 Divine Design shoppers at charity prices. The Marketplace also includes robust Home & Gift Departments.
100% of Divine Design sales benefit Project Angel Food which nourishes the body and spirit of women, men and children struggling with HIV/​AIDS, Cancer, and other life-​threatening illnesses. Project Angel Food is the only free meal-​delivery program serving all of Los Angeles County. More than 13,000 meals are lovingly prepared and delivered weekly.
Event Schedule
Opening Night Rock & Roll Party — Thursday, November 29
VIP Shopping Cocktail Party — Friday, November 30
General Shopping Days –Saturday, December 1 to Monday, December 3
Advanced Online General Shopping Day Tickets are $ 15 or $ 25 at the door

Going today… this is an AMAZING program… they are helping so many of us with illnesses.

A great place to get some holiday gifts at good prices plus all the money goes to charity so you are supporting a great cause. I was most intrigued by the Khiels and Kate Sommerville products. The clothes were kind of hit and miss. I didn’t find anything personally but several people were leaving with full bags.
The volunteers were all excellent. Very friendly and helpful. It’s definitely worth checking out — perhaps on the last day when everything is 90% off!

I started volunteering for Project Angel Food right after cooking school in 1997, helping out in the kitchen. They now prepare over 1600 meals a day delivered to those living with HIV, diabetes, cancer and other life threatening illnesses. Divine Design is their biggest fundraising event with ALL proceeds benefiting the charity. Every $ 5 raised feeds one person.
My first time volunteering for Divine Design was 2008. It was so much fun! I was a cashier and would feel the thrill of the shoppers saving 50−90% depending which day they shopped.
For 2009 I attended the opening VIP event and bought a shirt, polo and hoodie for 50% off suggested retail. The men’s department is limited and I learned from 2008 you have to get it when you see it or it may be gone.
If you are reading this before December 7, 2009 you can still shop for great bargains on all kinds of merchandise, just like at a department store. Read Joy B’s review for more details. And the best part is you will see my smiling face at the cashiers station. But please be patient as we are not professional cashiers but volunteers helping a worthy cause.
If you are reading this after December 7 and want to come next year, get on the email list at
.

I discovered this event when I saw a small outdoor billboard while waiting at a stoplight on my commute to work. That was quite possibly the best advertisement that has crossed my eyes all year.
This is an annual 4 day event that takes place at the former Robinson’s May building in Beverly Hills. They sell designer fashion, home furniture/​accessories, gifts, and cosmetics at 50%-90% off (depending on the day). All proceeds benefit Project Angel Food.
The admission is $ 25 but if you print the coupon from their website, it’s $ 15. They accept cash and credit; parking is free.
My friend and I walked in, got a large reusable shopping bag handed to us by a smiling volunteer who welcomed us to the sale, and when she told me that today is 70% off day, I nearly peed in my pants! Oh what fun it is to shop on a 70% off day!
The event is well organized and the volunteer staff are so helpful and nice. They kept the sales floor clean, stocked, and well organized. I was surprised to see furniture up for sale as well! Starbucks was on site to give out complimentary Starbucks brew and a free coupon for a holiday drink. They had lots of great brands — Evisu, Trina Turk, DNKY, Kasil, etc. There were even couture style dresses that I would have bought if I had more discretionary money to spend! I overheard that the last day of the event is the 90% off day (each day of the event has a scheduled % off), which calls for knock your socks off deals. I’d go again on the last day to take advantage, but I’d have no restraint and would most likely break the bank, so I’ll refrain this year. Maybe next time though!
Here is a list of my 70% off come ups! Just in time for the holidays (and at these prices, a few somethin somethins for me, too!)
*Kasil jeans (devious fit) retail: $ 220; my price $ 66
*Kritik hoodie retail: $ 120; my price $ 36
*TokiDoki tees retail: $ 28; my price $ 8.40
*Blue Q «Get Real» lotion retail: $ 11; my price $ 3.30
*Smashbox blush retail: $ 19; my price $ 5.70
*OPI nail polish retail: $ 8.50; my price $ 2.55
*Kangaroo sneakers retail: $ 75; my price $ 22.50
*MBT shoes retail: $ 265; my price $ 79 (I’ve NEVER seen these on sale anywhere!)
I spent about $ 290; the overall savings listed at the end of my receipt was $ 627! Money that was doubly well spent! I plan to come next year and each year thereafter. I am eternally a DD devout! See you next year!