You have to love the holiday season. What other time of year do you actually have an excuse to shop? Those of you looking for a new twist on gift-buying, marshal your buddies and pilot the car north to experience Christine Silvestri's L.A. Urban Shopping Adventures.

Silvestri offers personally guided tours of both the Los Angeles.fashion district and Melrose Heights shopping district. Los Angeles' yin and yang of the shopping scene. Her Holiday Shopping Tour puts the "ho, ho, ho" into the topsy-turvy world of selecting the "perfect gift." Buttressed with a provided list of shopping tips, district map, shopping bag, water and snack, the host navigates clients through the labyrinth of tinseltown.

L.A'.s fashion district is touted as a buyer's paradise. The 90-square-block treasure trove of deals is jam-packed with guilt-free purchases. Don't blink, for fear you may miss something. Only in existence for 15 years, this area houses the largest number of fashion-related business in the western United States. Everything from clothing, accessories, housewares, textiles and flowers can be found at extraordinary prices.

Under the tutelage of Silvestri, you can complete your gift list without rendering yourself penniless. She has personally combed the neighborhood for gifts under $50. And she'll point out these locations. With over 1,000 stores to browse, you're sure to find lots of goodies. 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. The saleswoman's French accent adds to the atmosphere. New labels are showcased, allowing for exclusive purchases.

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. A menagerie of stocking stuffers. It offers a great mix of trendy pieces and styles that are a real hit with the 20-something crew. But the 30-through 70-something gang loves it too.

Clustered on the Eastern side of the district are a myriad of textile shops housing miles of fabric. In the 1920s, this area was known as the Garment District. Many family businesses started here. Stores such as Michael Levine have persevered through the generations, and are still selling yard goods today. Popularity has kept the quarter alive. Everyone from neophytes to well-know designers purchase materials here for their latest creations.

For those who want to rub elbows with the interminably chic, join Silvestri for the Melrose Heights tour. Aesthetics trump practicality on this fiercely trendy avenue. Jonathan Adler's store sign sums-up the locale —— "Enter Our Groovy World." This savvy designer's home furnishings and other nearby high-end boutiques are raising the bar on Melrose's funky, vintage scene. Chic resides west of Fairfax Avenue. Trendy is now a lifestyle. It is furnishings, clothing and what you eat that determines if you're on the cutting edge. In a city of one-upsmanship, Melrose is a necessity.

Names like Xin and Fornarina adorn entryways. Clothing racks are decorated with exceptional pieces. Check out Fitsu Society's ultra modern kitchen paraphernalia or Tarina Tarantino's marvelous candy-colored, costume jewelry. If you're lucky, you may catch a Christmas sale at Fred Segal. Silvestri will educate you on the good, the bad and the ugly.

Customer service is paramount in these pricey boutiques. Fewer patrons are vying for the sales clerk's attention, allowing one-on-one assistance. Many merchants offer courtesies to Urban Adventure's tour participants, as well as incentives and discounts not available to the general public. Her affable personality has deemed her a friend to many shop owners. By the end of the tour, you, too, will fill like you've forged a wonderful friendship with Silvestri.

If you go …

LA Urban Shopping Adventures

117 West 9th St.

Suite 511

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: (213) 683-9715

www.urbanshoppingadventures.com

Five different tour selections. The Walking Tour, Mini-Shuttle Adventure, Elite Luxury Van Adventure, Luxury Coach Adventure, and the Custom Concierge Adventure. The group size determines which is best. Call for prices.

Where to eat:

Biltmore Hotel

506 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: (213) 612-1504

www.millenniumhotels.com

Treat yourself to lunch or high tea at this elegant masterpiece. Located one mile from the L.A. fashion district.

DIRECTIONS TO L.A. URBAN SHOPPING ADVENTURE'S OFFICE:

Take to I-5 North to the I-10. Merge onto the I-10 West toward Santa Monica. Take the Los Angeles Street exit toward the Convention Center. Stay straight and proceed onto East 17th Street. Turn right onto South Main Street. Turn left onto West Olympic Boulevard. Turn right onto West 9th Street.