BARGAINS : FOR VALUE, SACKS SACKS COMPETITION.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Men and women ready to enhance their wardrobes would be smart to begin shopping at Sacks SFO. Fashionable clothing, most with high-end labels, is discounted 40 percent to 80 percent below retail.

For women, long-sleeve blouses made of washable ``mummy'' silk that normally retail for $60 or more are priced at $16.99. These classic-style blouses are available in at least 15 colors.

Women can match the silk blouses with famous-maker suits (single-breasted jacket with skirt) in black or off-white, 100 percent wool crepe, for $99 rather than $160 retail.

Sacks SFO's inventory is in constant motion. In fact, we heard several customers talking about making more than one visit per week just so they don't miss anything. It doesn't hurt either that all Sacks SFO stores are staffed with knowledgeable people who are genuinely friendly.

Men will find plenty of bargains such as famous-maker corduroy jeans for $6.99 and $13.99 (up to $40 retail), or soft flannel shirts that retail at $60 or more for $13.99. Long-sleeve, three-button golf shirts made of interlock cotton that sell for $52 in sport boutiques are $20 here.

Leather bomber jackets were priced at $80 and $150 ($180 to $250 retail). While comparison shopping, we priced leather jackets at a warehouse store for $110 - at Sacks SFO the $80 jackets were not only less expensive, but the quality was far superior.

In addition to regular bargains, Sacks SFO runs specials - for example, through Sept. 30, all women's cotton ribbed poor boys are $9.99 (up to $55 retail). Deeper discounts can be found on markdowns. A long, collared dress in leather was dropped from $80 to $50 ($240 retail), and a men's sportcoat in lightweight gabardine wool was marked down from $130 to $90 ($300 or more retail).

Sacks SFO is at 12021 Ventura Blvd. (east of Laurel Canyon Boulevard), Studio City; [phone]. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Other Sacks SFO stores are in Burbank (818-972-2797), Culver City (310-559-5448), Hollywood (213-939-3993), West Hollywood (310-659-1771) and West Los Angeles (310-312-0388). MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Exchanges only, no returns, within seven days with sales receipt. All sales are final on sale, promotional and markdown items.

Inside info

Just thinking about sitting in a rocking chair makes me relax. At 100% Rocking Chair you can choose from more than 250 gliders and rockers with the lowest price on in-stock merchandise guaranteed. Prices start at $80 for a classic porch rocker in unfinished hardwood. The store assembles your chair for free and delivers it for an additional charge of $25 to $35 (depending on location) The 100% Rocking Chair location is at 30 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; [phone]. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Whether you're 3 years old or a senior citizen, you can take advantage of Minds 'n Motion's special introductory computer class. Any level of student (novice to advanced) will be placed in a hands-on class with no more than six students. The introductory special is $140 for eight hourlong classes. (Programs similar to this cost $199 elsewhere). Adults can request classes in word processing, accounting, graphics, data bases, spreadsheets or any other computer needs. Youngsters can learn basic computer skills while being introduced to prereading and math. Mind 'n Motion is at 16101 Ventura Blvd., second floor (Encino Place Mall), Encino; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

MEMO: Trisha King and Deborah Newmark are co-authors of ``Buying Retail Is Stupid.'' Bargains appears Saturdays. Please send suggestions of stores to Bargains, Daily News Features Department, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200.

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Photo

Photo: Customer Kathy Yerdosin tries on some of the fashion s at Sacks SFO in Studio City. Fashionable clothing, most with high-end labels, is discounted 40 percent to 80 percent below retail at Sacks stores.

John McCoy/Daily News