Santa in L.A. / Think snow-globally, shop locally. But don’t wander the malls aimlessly! You need a plan. Here, we break down four prime shopping districts for holiday gift givers, be they happy or harried.
Shopping Beverly Hills is not for the faint of foot. Sure, you can easily cover the luxury department store troika -- Barneys, Saks and Neiman Marcus -- on Wilshire Boulevard or hemorrhage money along Rodeo Drive. (FYI: That tender blue Tiffany & Co. box raises elephantine expectations, along with the adrenaline.) But to truly plumb the 5.7-square-mile hamlet for awesome gifts, you have to be willing to hoof it.
Let’s start on Little Santa Monica Boulevard at Sequels, an under-the-radar consignment shop that’s cluttered in an endearing way with Ferragamo purses, Chanel flats and other finds, including a signed YSL python cuff at more than 50% off. Thirsty already? Hit the Club Bar at the Peninsula Hotel for a martini -- hey, you’re walking -- that comes with a copious serving of taro chips and almonds.
Now, head to South Beverly Drive, where shops such as the Shave for men’s grooming products and Lisa Kline for day frocks and designer denim await. Nearby Harmony Lane caters to starlets, with oversized Dita sunglasses and CC Skye jewelry. Just a few doors down, on Charleville Boulevard, you’ll spot Paulette and realize that French macaroons are the new cupcakes. The meringue and ganache wonders -- in flavors that include Madagascar vanilla and New Orleans praline -- can be custom stacked in a chic sleeve of one dozen.
Time to wend your way back up to the top of Beverly Drive to hit the Paley Center for Media for some culture. Er, make that a visit to the gift shop. Here, amid campy TV lunchboxes and tees, you’ll find a series of numbered, limited edition giclee prints of interpretive artworks inspired by “Family Guy” ($125 each). Take that, LACMA.
For your last stop, either drive the mile to the storied Beverly Hills Hotel or work off those macaroons. Saunter in like you own the place and then hit the adorable gift shop downstairs. The pink signature towels, pajamas, mugs and tennis balls make perfect presents for logo addicts. And the palm frond shopping bag trumps that blue box any day.
Sequels 9905 1/2 Little Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 843-9100; Peninsula Hotel, 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 551-2888; The Shave, 230 S. Beverly Drive (310) 888-2898; Harmony Lane, 189 S. Beverly Drive, (310) 777-8888; Paulette, 9466 Charleville Blvd., (310) 275-0023; Paley Center for Media, 465 N. Beverly Drive, (310) 786-1000; Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., (310) 276-2251.
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