Christine Silvestri's LA Urban Shopping Adventures offers personally guided tours of both the LA Fashion District and Melrose Heights shopping district, Los Angeles' yin and yang of the shopping scene.

The fashion district is a buyer's paradise. The 90-square-block treasure trove of deals is jam-packed with guilt-free purchases. Only in existence for 15 years, this area houses the largest number of fashion-related businesses in the western states. Everything from clothing, accessories, housewares, textiles and flowers can be found at extraordinary prices.

Under the tutelage of Silvestri, you can add unusual items to your wardrobe without rendering yourself penniless. She has combed the neighborhood for gifts under $50. "With over 1,000 stores to browse, you're sure to find lots of goodies," guarantees Silvestri, pledging to decode the topsy-turvy world of selecting the best deal.

The walls of Mi Mundo accessory store are bathed in faux bling. Long, rhinestone necklaces, which are so vogue now, sell for $7. Affordable European designer clothes fill racks at Marc Laurent, with price tags that won't fracture your budget. Drop-waist dresses can be found for $19. French-style lacy tops will set you back $25.

Santee Alley lies in the heart of the fashion district. Three blocks of loud, crowded excitement put you into a shopping stupor. Louis Vuitton knockoffs, baseball caps, shoes, CDs and cell-phone covers burst the seams of every storefront. Silvestri maintains that everyone can find some treasure for $5 here. T-shirts in various styles go for $10 and up. Wedge shoes with ribbon ties run $25. Sizes are available to fit petite to extra-large. The Alley offers a great mix of trendy pieces and styles that are a real hit with the twentysomething crew. But the thirty- to seventysomething gang loves it too.

For those who want to rub elbows with the interminably chic, join Silvestri for the Melrose Heights tour. Aesthetics trumps practicality on this fiercely trendy avenue. Jonathan Adler's store sign sums up the locale: "Enter Our Groovy World." With $165 throw pillows, $295 umbrella stands, and $350 vases, this savvy designer's home furnishings and other nearby high-end boutiques have raised the bar on Melrose's funky, vintage scene. Chic resides west of Fairfax Avenue. Trendy is now a lifestyle. Furnishings, clothing and cuisine determine whether you're on the cutting edge. In a city of oneupmanship, Melrose is a necessity. "There is no better place for people to find new ways to express their style," said Silvestri. "The shops strive to be unique."

Check out Fitsu Society's ultra-modern kitchen paraphernalia. Their objective is to streamline the clutter of customers lives, with 21st-century modern designs for everyday kitchenware: Italian-made Alessi stainless-steel creamers for $70, and a set of six stainless coasters for $80 take the froufrou out of the home.

If it's possible to fall in love with a store, Tarina Tarantino's will be the one for me. Marvelous candy-colored, Lucite baubles mingle with crystal beads to create wearable art. Whimsical silk flower hair clips are worth every penny of the $38 cost for the fun factor alone! More expensive pieces, such as the $385 hand-painted Russian wood medallion bracelet, may have to be resisted.

Many merchants offer courtesies to Urban Adventure's tour participants, as well as incentives not available to the general public. Silvestri educates clients on the good, the bad and the ugly.

Lynn Chisnell, a recent tour customer, came away from the tour better informed. "I learned about the upcoming and current fashions, and that shopping can be fun. It was interesting to see the variety of people that enjoy shopping on Melrose."

Maggie Espinosa is a freelance travel writer.