Plug Into Outlet Deals

Find designer quality at a discount

David Lee Shopping

Desert Hills Premium Outlets

Few things delight more than finding quality merchandise at a great price, especially in holiday gift-buying season. Consider two side-by-side outlet complexes only 20 miles from Palm Springs.

Outlet shopping is big business, with more than 180 destinations in the United States bringing in an estimated $22 billion in sales in 2011 and more than 40 percent of the national population shopping at an outlet center at least once a year.

On Interstate 10, just west of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, you will find a tantalizing collection of discounted items at Desert Hills Premium Outlets and Cabazon Outlets.

Desert Hills Premium Outlets
48400 Seminole Dr., Cabazon
951-849-6641;
www.premiumoutlets.com

Desert Hills Premium Outlets is the larger of the separately owned shopping centers on Seminole Drive, with 130 stores catering to all styles and tastes. Premium is no misnomer here, where the caliber of stores is of the highest quality.

Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH carries a selection of designer clothing and accessories that reflect the Saks name and reputation of its flagship store in New York City. No longer dealing only in overstock and post-sale goods, this spacious, loft-style store offers up-to-the-minute trends in men’s and women’s wear, shoes, and accessories, as well as an extensive line of baby and children’s clothing. 

Desert Hills boasts a Versace store — one of only three in the country. Beautifully designed, this showroom appears to be just like its sister boutiques in major cities — until you look at the prices. Other luxury designers abound, including Calvin Klein, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Tahari, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Loro Piana, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod’s, Yves Saint Laurent, and Zegna.

If designer labels are not your thing, a long list of fun, family-friendly names may attract you with 20 to 65 percent savings every day. The GAP Outlet is the perfect place for sporty clothing for the entire clan. Directly across from GAP, find all your denim needs at the Levi’s store. Nearby is Bass, offering quality footwear for babies to grannies. Also look for Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Carter’s, Claire’s Accessories, Coldwater Creek, Easy Spirit, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew, Maidenform, Skechers, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Wilsons Leather, and Zales.

Customers can look forward to a covered parking structure with a projected opening date in 2013 and a major expansion of stores in 2014.

Cabazon Outlets Palm Springs Shopping
Cabazon Outlets

Cabazon Outlets
48750 Seminole Dr., Cabazon
951-922-3000;
www.cabazonoutlets.com

With 19 stores and a second phase with more retailers planned, Cabazon Outlets offers a collection of lifestyle stores that offer merchandise for active consumers. Its Puma store carries a range of sports shoes and clothing and is well known for its footwear clearance wall that offers savings of up to 60 percent.

Cabazon Outlets also features the only hard-goods store, with Le Creuset’s famous cast-iron cookware, plus a selection of stainless steel pots and pans, kitchen gadgets, and even stemware available at discounted prices.

The biggest news is the center’s newest store, GoLite. With more than 4,000 square feet, this retailer offers durable, ecofriendly goods that include men’s and women’s clothing, as well as backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents that support their “less is more” philosophy of less weight, less fuss, less waste, and more fun.

Other stores in the center include adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Karen Kane, Reebok, Rockport, and Under Armour.