Go Shopping
By Ryan Thomas

As many women know, and most men lament, shopping is much more than the cursory acquisition of items for the sake of necessity. It is indeed the sport of queens. (She who dies with the most shoes and matching purses wins.) While the local malls and boutiques offer excellent opportunities to hone one’s skills, it is the destinations within a short jet charter’s reach that beckon seasoned shoppers in search of a total shopping experience.

From coastal destinations just north of the designer Mecca that is South Coast Plaza — Santa Monica and Beverly Hills — to those that provide an oasis for shoppers in more desert environs — Las Vegas, Scottsdale, and Palm Desert — a spontaneous, whirlwind round-trip shopping extravaganza can be had in as little as a day.

Santa Monica
Montana Avenue is to Santa Monica what Fifth Avenue is to New York City — but the street is more chic, hipper, and filled with movie star sightings.

When it comes to clothing stores, there are three definte can’t-misses. With stores also in New York and Rome, Only Hearts Inner Outerwear’s underwear, t-shirts, and more are known far and wide. Gift items with themes are great fun, as are their pricey nighties, undies, shoes, and trendy jewelry. Harari is a truly wonderful clothing store — a throwback for baby boomers who remember the ’60s and ’70s. But hippie- and Gypsy-chic never were so glamorous. Very pricey, these items carry an ethnic feel with rich, embroidered flowing skirts and velvet jackets.

Like that celeb’s award’s show look? A.B.S. Allen Schwartz Clothing Store probably has a more accessible version of it. You, too, can have a Nicole Kidman gown without the requisite level of investment in endless fittings and finances.

Now, for the miscellaneous: Yoga Works is a yoga studio that is famous around the country. It’s a nice place in which to Zen out after a day of heavy shopping (this is, afterall, hard work). They also sell yoga mats and clothing. Waggin’ Tail is a funny store, with high-end doggie treats and carriers, not to mention wardrobes and jewelry that far surpass those seen on many human counterparts. They make what look like wonderful French fries that appear to be as good as McDonalds. Their hamburgers are works of art, and they even make birthday cakes that Karen Krasne might be tempted to bite into, yet they are actually dog biscuits. The street is full of trendy optical boutiques with sunglasses that sometimes cost more than a Volkswagen. (Don’t want to lose these babies.)

On Montana Avenue, once you get started, you won’t want to stop ’till you drop.

Beverly Hills
Breathes there a soul who doesn’t long to stroll down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with someone else’s American Express at their disposal? Borrowed credit card or not, start a Pretty Woman-style experience at Bijan, reported to be the most expensive store in the world. On a typical visit, Bijan’s average customer spends in the neighborhood of $100,000. Oh, and you’ll need to make an appointment to shop.

The most celebrated clothing designers in the world have boutiques on this rue: Armani, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Valentino. It’s especially fun to shop at Gucci these days, because unlike the rest of us, it looks younger and fresher than it used to. Rodeo’s jewelry stores boast names like Cartier and Tiffany. The shoppers boast names like Angelina Jolie, Bill and Melinda Gates, and of course, the pretty woman herself, Julia Roberts.

Especially don’t miss Two Rodeo. This theatrical venue manages to create the illusion of freestanding storefronts, variously faced with brick, stone, and marble. There is a sidewalk café, two pricey restaurants, and tenants such as Tiffany, Cartier, Charles Jourdan, Valentino, Christian Dior, and Jose Eber. These days, visitors pose next to the Spanish steps and sparkling fountains of Two Rodeo for the Beverly Hills images that they will take home to show friends.

Palm Desert
It wasn’t all that long ago when Palm Springs was a small desert resort area. Now the desert allure has extended — and extended. One town unfolds into another, Palm Springs, La Quinta, 29 Palms, and Indio, the list goes on and each community is more upscale than the next. At present, the chic-est of them all is Palm Desert. And the place to go shopping there is El Paseo. This is the right time of year to strut your stuff along the avenue, shop, and slurp margaritas in open-air cafes. Soon it will become too hot for most people’s tastes, so many of the shops will close for the sizzling season. Tip: Many stores are having sales now.

Black linen dress with white accents by David Meister
with black and white checked and hot pink bag by
Julie Feldman, and hot pink hat by Eric Javits
from Edith Morré in Palm Desert

Of course you will instantly recognize the grand names on El Paseo, such as Escada, Tiffany & Co., and Tommy Bahama. But there are scores of interesting boutiques to explore as well. Fe Zande Haute Couture has sleek pantsuits and evening dresses with great design, made of the most beautiful fabrics. The Pink Club has everything for both child and grown-up princesses — as long as you love pink. Joy! Maternity tempts even those with no plans for family expansion in the near future to buy a dress or two. And there’s the sizeable store (5,000 square feet) that has been the Grande Dame of El Paseo since it opened in the late ’50s, Edith Morré. They carry everything from casual attire and accessories to evening gowns.

Las Vegas
A favorite way to spend a day (or two or three) is in The Forum Shops at Caesars and the Appian Way. The collection of stores covers the gamut from exquisite designer boutiques to knockout shoe stores. There are more jewelry stores than you can believe, undoubtedly just waiting for big winners to come in and make their day.

Dolce & Gabbana offers the kind of sexy, slinky things that are ideal for a night on the Strip. For men in vogue, an outfit from Gianni Versace or Emporio Armani is a prerequisite.

Lavender and cream lace hand-crocheted tank
and skirt with lavender polka dot Chat X shoes,
both designed by Betsey Johnson, and crystal necklace
by Stony Designs from the Betsey Johnson Boutique at
Fashion Show Mall and Desert Passage in Las Vegas

Feet are well adorned in strappy little things that you’ll find at Shoooz at the Forum, Stuart Weitzman, and Bally. But speaking of feet, after you have strolled the Appian Way and the rest of the Forum, you’ll welcome a chance to sit and have refreshments. There are so many delicious restaurants where you can cool your heels that your only problem will be deciding on which type of cuisine to choose.

Should you want to wander a bit further, check out Betsey Johnson. Think of part Flashdance, part Out of Africa with sexy, flowing skirts with ruffles, uneven hems, beads, and lace. Dresses, pants, and blouses pop with bright, fanciful patterns like animal prints and florals. Accessories include handbags, shoes, and jewelry.

Scottsdale
Scottsdale has a special southwestern flare — plenty of tribal one-of-kind pieces of jewelry can be found in many of the stores. For lovers of all things equestrian, The Pampered Horse and Rider offers great accessories and apparel. In the historical center of the city, Scottsdale downtown, you’ll find must-haves like handcrafted boots and great turquoise jewelry in Saba’s Western Stores, Atkinson’s Indian Trading Post, and Gilbert Ortega Indian Jewelry.

In the shopper’s dream that is this locale, precious outfits that make standout gifts for the little ones in your life can be found in Baby Couture and Caviar Kids, located in the Shops at Gainey Village; both have beautiful European-style ensembles. And don’t miss The Borgata, an Old World destination unto itself, with 50 boutiques in which to indulge heretofore undiscovered whims.
Bon voyage — and bon shopping. — S.K. Tiger.