JEP’s New Leader
La Jolla’s JEP Boutique recently held a celebration to ring in the store’s new ownership. Original founder, Elise Purcell, has passed the torch to her assistant, Kristina Bodal, who is also the founder of her own skin care studio, In Skin, in Mission Valley. Guests enjoyed an eco-friendly fashion show featuring socially conscious lines including Quiet Hero and Sustainable Collective, cuisine from nearby Lean and Green, and 15 percent off merchandise and the option of donating their discount to Heal The Bay. Down the line, Bodal will add skin care, a brow bar, and even waxing to the store. "For the movers and shakers on the go, to the fashionistas and style savvy on tight deadlines, it’s inevitable that the new JEP will cater to all, and have more services available under the same roof," she affirms. (858/551-0600, www.jepboutique.com)
— Jane Shiomi

Indah and Little Indah fashions

Baby Boom
Bayley of Del Mar Plaza is saying goodbye to men’s clothing and welcoming in a line of baby and toddlers clothes, newborn to size six. "As I started to figure out the men’s had to go, I realized that there was no children’s store in the Plaza or in the Del Mar village itself... so I decided to become that store," says owner Bayley Overland. Open since 2006, the boutique will offer children’s products from brands including Tea Collection, Little Indah, Noodle and Boo, and OiOi diaper bags, as well as products from the local company Hopscotch Designs. Prices for these new products will range from $20 to just over $100 for the most elaborate baby gear. Bayley will continue to sell women’s apparel from brands including Revolver LA, Indah, French Connection, and Frenzii. (858/792-9002, www.shopbayley.com) — Rina Van Orden

John Prosen with Kiran and Haresh Melwani

Just Say Cavalli
Designer Roberto Cavalli has long been synonymous with animal prints and oh-so-sexy fashions that celebrate a woman’s curves. Now his diffusion collection, Just Cavalli, is available at a cool boutique in Fashion Valley, offering cutting-edge clothes and accessories for "a new generation of free-spirited" men and women. The store’s recent grand opening drew a hip crowd, raising money for Mama’s Kitchen, which provides meals for those with critical illnesses. The Just Cavalli line, launched in 2001, initially focused on younger denim pieces but has since evolved into a full-fledged ready-to-wear collection. Its spring/summer collection is inspired by the culture and colors of Africa, featuring layering, exotic accessories, and materials from croc-printed leather to gold lamé. The futuristic boutique, designed by Italian architect Italo Rota, is as edgy as the fashions, featuring backlit glass, mirrored walls, silver mannequins, and a light show on the ceiling. Beam us up. — Andrea Naversen

Precious Pieces
From Hollywood celebrities to Rancho Santa Fe housewives, H. Stern is bejeweling — and bedazzling — some of the most stylish women around. Latin America’s largest jeweler recently presented its latest collection at Neiman Marcus in Fashion Valley. While the company has been in business since 1945, its designs are anything but staid. There were dazzling diamonds the color of cognac, chunky cocktail rings, and cuffs studded with jewels the size of cobblestones. The company’s late founder Hans Stern was dubbed "the king of colored stones" by Time magazine, and credited with popularizing such gems as amethyst and aquamarine, tourmaline, and topaz. H. Stern was the first jeweler to unveil collections inspired by celebrities beginning with actress Catherine Deneuve in the ‘80s. More recent muses have included fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai. H. Stern has shown that when it comes to jewelry, diamonds aren’t a girl’s only best friend.
— Andrea Naversen