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SHOPPING IN
LOS ANGELES STORY ALISON DU PRAS
In a metropolis that so many celebrities and power players call home, it’s not a huge surprise that Los Angeles has one of the best shopping scenes in the world. Occupied with luxury cars and lavish lifestyles, the City of Angels has the best to offer anyone seeking therapy in the form of a great purchase. Los Angeles is revered for its world-famous shopping areas, such as Rodeo Drive and Third Street Promenade, but the size and diversity of the city means there are stores almost everywhere you go. Planning where to spend your limited time is crucial to having the best possible experience and not miss out on anything. If you don’t feel like you’ve left LA with some of the best purchases of your life, you probably didn’t try the right spots.
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A great place to start is one of the established shopping centers, which offer an organized method to the madness. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is a must for anyone who has never been and offers the most luxurious experience to its shoppers. The top names in high fashion line both sides of the pristine street where Lamborghinis and Maseratis casually drive through on a regular basis. The shops are limited to the highest caliber, which include Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, Celine, Dior and many more. You can shop at Tiffany’s or Versace on Two Rodeo Drive, which is a cobblestone walkway at the end of Rodeo with a European aesthetic. There are plenty of restaurants that match the quality level of the shops as well, all within walking distance. Il Fornaio is an excellent, but relaxed restaurant right off of Beverly that is always open and has a nice café vibe. If you’re looking for something a bit more exclusive, you might try booking Urasawa, which is an intimate Japanese restaurant that takes limited reservations per night and is hidden right off of Rodeo. Another top tourist destination that shouldn’t be missed is Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, where you’ll find a higher variety of retailers and more street entertainment. The road is blocked off to traffic, which makes it pleasant to walk around. There are tons of restaurant options when you need a break from all of the shops, which span three blocks from Wilshire Boulevard to Broadway. Some top shopping destinations on this street include Allsaints, Burberry, Fred Segal, Madewell, and Nordstrom. The street has a great ambiance and is decorated with over-the-top, life-size topiaries in the shape of various animals, making it a great spot to take the family. It’s also within walking distance from the Santa Monica Pier. Westfield Century City is a popular outdoor mall, which is three levels and has almost every retailer you can imagine. From luxury retailers like Louis Vuitton and Armani Exchange to more practical options like Free People and Zara, you’ll find a little bit of everything here. Shopping outside in the consistently beautiful weather will make you wonder why anyone would want to shop indoors with less-than-fresh air and fluorescent lighting. The food options at this mall are surprisingly great, housing the must-try restaurant Breadbar that will restore your faith in eating at the mall again. Other shopping complexes include The Grove, Hollywood & Highland, The Americana at Brand, The Beverly Center, Santa Monica Place and Westside Pavilion. Westside Pavilion is frequently used as a location when filming various shows and is the mall used in the famous ‘90s movie Clueless. All of these malls have a fairly similar lineup of stores including Nordstrom, J. Crew, BCBG Max Azria and Anthropologie. The main perk of shopping in the third largest city in the world is the diversity of options you have outside of malls, which can sometimes feel like you’re just shopping back at home. Los Angeles has many streets that are lined with independent shops and boutiques filled with character. For a more unique shopping experience, you might try some of Los Angeles’ shopping neighborhoods listed below which have come about somewhat organically and give you a more authentic taste of the city’s shopping landscape. Robertson Boulevard is one of the most elite shopping areas in LA, and is well known for being frequented by celebrities and paparazzi on a regular basis. Some of the best boutiques are Intermix, Zimmermann, Madison and Les Pommettes, which neighbor luxury retail giants like Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Nanette Lepore. After you’ve emptied a few accounts, you can relax and have lunch at the world-famous restaurant The Ivy, which serves contemporary American cuisine and has a small cottage-like ambiance despite the regular celebrity visits. La Brea Boulevard (between Beverly and West Third) is the perfect 38 CV LUXURY
place to shop if you’re looking for something completely unique. The street is filled with eclectic and high-end shops that will keep people asking, “Where did you find that?” Some notable shops include What Goes Around Comes Around (a luxury vintage store that has an evolving collection of Chanel and Hermes pieces any woman would drool over) and the contemporary/streetwear centered shop American Rag Cie. Parking is typically easy to find in this area and if you like sushi, then Sugarfish by celebrity sushi chef Sushi Nozawa is the place to go. Melrose Avenue is another shopping area that is a must-see for those with a high shopping endurance! There are tons of shops up and down Melrose that vary from Kitson and Urban Outfitters to high-end options like Herve Leger, Vivienne Westwood, Marni and Alexander McQueen. The boutique scene is definitely in full swing on Melrose with some highly respected names such as Tenoversix, Creatures of Comfort and Resurrection calling the popular street home. If you get tired of shopping for your closet, Melrose also offers a great variety of stores for the home such as Adam Hunter, Mogul and Dedon. Blu Jam Cafe is a popular place to sit down and take a rest with gourmet global cuisine and a double espresso to get you through to the next destination. Abbott Kinney Boulevard is heaven for shoppers with a fashion forward, but unique style. Among contemporary designers such as IRO and Rag + Bone, you’ll find just about every other quirky genre of shopping that you can imagine in some of the most respected boutiques in LA. Guild is a high-end shop with a distinctive mix of designer pieces and an impressive collection of vintage Rolex’s. Satine is another boutique with luxury pieces that you likely won’t find in any Barney’s or Saks. They specialize in up-and-coming designers like Ksubi, but still have a few classic favorites, such as Valentino, in stock and the environment is very relaxed, just like the rest of Venice Beach.
An underrated shopping area that’s on the rise is Downtown Los Angeles. The main shopping attraction used to be the Fashion District, but other high-end retailers have moved in like Acne Studios, which has been praised for revitalizing the run-down area. Brigade is a great boutique to check out on Seventh Street, which carries a great variety of contemporary brands that are high-end, but wearable. Austere is another must-visit when in downtown, which is a lifestyle store featuring Scandinavian products that are artfully arranged and correspond with how the product would naturally be used… a bit like a luxury Ikea. Of course, if you’re in downtown, you also have to stop at Bottega Louie, a restaurant/pastry shop that will make you want to move in next door. Shopping in LA is exciting because things are constantly in a state of change. Downtown is expected to flourish in the near future as a thriving community to live, shop and dine in, evidenced already by certain successful businesses in the area. Rodeo Drive is also constantly shifting around with designers improving their stores and making extreme changes. Louis Vuitton just recently unveiled a three-story store they’ve been renovating over the past year, and features a made-to-order service for women’s and men’s leather goods—which is more of a reason than I need to justify a shopping trip to LA. With the weather picking up and Fashion Week passing by, it’s time to take shopping to the next level and explore your options for a stylish spring.
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STATEMENT STORY ASHER COREY PHOTOGRAPHER EDDIE MELIKIAN ITEMS PROVIDED BY RSVP PLEASE AT THE PALATINE
Whenever I decorate a room, I always try and find one piece of furniture or décor that creates a “wow” moment. I have always been fond of a statement chair or an exceedingly spectacular table. A statement piece has the power to draw your focus to a room and define your personal style, whether with a pop of color or pattern and, of course, the unexpected mixture of color, texture and shape. This one item can set the tone for an entire room with maximum impact—something your guests will continue to chat about even after they have left your home.
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STORY DONNA KACZMARSKI • PHOTOGRAPHER MATTHEW MITCHELL• STYLIST MARCO RODRIQUEZ FASHION EDITOR LAUREN K.T. WILSON • LOCATION VILLA ROSA, BEVERLY HILLS CA
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LISA VANDERPUMP LUXURIOUS
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has done more in the past five years than most people can hope to accomplish in a lifetime. The multi-talented businesswoman not only appeared on three reality shows (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules and Dancing with the Stars), but also wrote her own book, opened three restaurants, started two new companies (Vanderpump Pets and LVP Sangria), designed a tableware set, created a skincare line named Epione and writes for Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine. Aside from her remarkable resume, Vanderpump boasts impressive personal accomplishments, as well. Her marriage has been going strong for 30 years, she’s maintained an amazing appearance and reputation, and supports multiple charities simply as a personal hobby. What will the Vanderpump powerhouse choose to dominate next this year?
“There is so much I love writing about, and I have found myself doing it more and more.�
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you were asked to join the RHOBH? Is it what you expected? Why or why not? I was approached and asked to test for it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but now I am so glad I did, as it afforded me many opportunities. What is your favorite reality show? Vanderpump Rules!
What countries have you lived in? Which one is your favorite? Why? I have lived in London, the countryside of England, Monte Carlo, the South of France, LA and Beverly Hills. Even though America has captured my heart, my favorite place to live has to be France. Who sent you the last text message you received and what did it say?
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I was in Miami, judging the Miss Universe pageant and my last text received was from Robert Greenblatt of NBC saying, “Wow! Thank you!”
I brush my teeth, eat breakfast, feed Giggy and exercise.
Any new shows, books or plans for 2015?
To look as fabulous as you do, we would all like to know your workout routine. How do you fit that into your schedule?
Besides the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules, I am also going to be showcasing my new jewelry line on Evine Live, which will have access to the 87 million television homes that the ShopHQ network has built.
I walk for 45 minutes on the treadmill and listen to the news, answer emails… I’m always multi-tasking. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I am quite happy with myself— with both the positive and the negative. Who is your celebrity crush? Oh, I have more than one: George Clooney, Colin Firth and Ralph Lauren. What made you decide to create LVP Sangria? Where can we find it? Our sangria has been successful for years at both our restaurants, Sur and Pump. Creating the LVP Sangria was my husband Ken’s and my daughter Pandora’s idea. It is 100% Spanish wine with no sugar added. It is available in the traditional red and, because it’s my signature color, also in pink. You can find it at lvpsangria.com, Gelson’s and Ralphs markets. How would you compare Sur to Pump? What is each of their signature dish? How about a signature drink? At Sur, the Crispy Chicken or the Meatloaf are definitely the signature dishes. Of course, the sangria is the most popular drink on the menu at both restaurants, especially after Jennifer Lawrence recreated a Vanderpump Rules intro showing it. How do you keep Vanderpump Rules fresh and exciting? Will you be adding more cast members next season? Will we see more of your daughter, Pandora? Well, Vanderpump Rules will always be fresh and exciting when you have 20-somethings coming and going with new story lines. We will be adding new people to the show in the future, but I won’t say whom! What was it like appearing in Lady Gaga’s video? What was your favorite part? At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but when Lady Gaga called herself to ask me, I just couldn’t turn it down. However, there was one stipulation: Giggy had to be in it. Lady Gaga said yes and the rest is history. I found her to be brilliant!
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Reading through your Twitter feed, it’s very apparent that dogs are a large part of your everyday life. Did you have a childhood dog that inspired your love for them or is it because of your current dog, Giggy? I had cats growing up, not dogs, but I have always been passionate about them. Giggy is on my lap right now going home from Miami. You’ve been married to your husband for over 30 years and have done things that would break up most marriages, such as reality television and working together, particularly in the restaurant business. What are your secrets to a happy and successful marriage? Simple: laughter and respect. What made you decide to pursue writing and why did you choose Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine? What is your favorite topic to write about? There is so much I love writing about, and I have found myself doing it more and more. Travel and hotels would be fun to write about. When hanging out with your daughter, what is your favorite thing to do together? It truly doesn’t matter what we are doing, we just love being together. Would you ever consider designing clothing or accessories lines for fans who love your style? I don’t see myself designing clothing… for right now, it is all about the jewelry—real and costume. As a successful businesswoman, what is your biggest tip for managing your time wisely? I don’t really plan, I just go where I am needed. Because I am passionate about my work, it never seems like work. However, I would like some more down time in the future.