Fashion Treasure Hunt Meets Downtown LA Guide

Happy Wednesday, Team! Last week, my sister Carla and I swapped palm trees for palm-lined boulevards and hopped from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles on our annual pilgrimage: the Fashion District treasure hunt. Think racks on racks of the freshest trends that’ll be filling up The Fashion Lounge shelves before you know it.

Stay tuned—because next season’s It-girl pieces are already in our suitcases—but today, we’re spilling the tea on how to actually do Downtown LA. Where to stay. Where to eat. And where to skip (trust me). Today’s newsletter is powered by Home Buddy . You know I love real estate as much as fashion—and this is the service that keeps the headaches out of home maintenance.

👇 Scroll down for all the deets. Martinis & Cheers, Frances GalOffDuty

TRAVEL

Always in Fashion Lounge Easy, comfy, and chic Whenever we’re in LA for work, we like to mix comfort with discovery — where we stay is just as important as where we eat.

Where We Stayed 🛏️

Usually, we’re Intercontinental girls — the rooms are plush, super comfy, and blissfully quiet (no city chaos sneaking in), plus it’s right by the Fashion District. But this trip, we gave the Proper Hotel Downtown LA a try.

And wow.

Morning coffee = perfection.

The interiors and design = impeccable.

The rooms = our first night we had a city view (a little noisy), but the staff immediately moved us the next day to a quieter room. Zero noise, amazing sleep.

Hospitality = 10/10. We felt truly taken care of.

Where We Ate

Food is always part of the LA ritual for us. Our forever go-to spots:

Maccheroni Republic → Comfort pasta heaven. This cozy spot always makes us feel at home after a long day.

Bottega Louie → We love their pasta and steaks, but honestly, the chocolate soufflé is the real star.

Sushi Enya (Little Tokyo) → Hands down the best sushi ever. Every bite feels like a treat we look forward to trip after trip.

Garçon de Café → Our favorite after-work wine bar. The French wines are unmatched — it’s like a little slice of Paris in downtown LA.

Why We Love LA

We’ve been going to Los Angeles for so many years now that it almost feels like our second home. Between the hotels we’ve tried, the restaurants that have become traditions, and the little rituals we’ve created, every trip is a mix of work and comfort — and that’s why LA will always have a special place in our hearts.

So if you’re ever in Downtown Los Angeles, now you know exactly where to go.

Xx, Frances @GalOffDuty

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