Greer Wylder -- Best Buys

One of the best local shops for women’s apparel, shoes, jewelry and

handbags is The Muse Boutique. It carries a lot of great young L.A. based

designers. The better contemporary women’s store has 50 lines of apparel

in price ranges for all budgets. There’s a strong local clientele, as

well as customers from all over who love their unique pieces and their

great knockoffs of Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu. A lot of customers do a lot

of cross shopping, and like to mix high-end pieces with lower priced

items says Adrie Patterson, buyer at The Muse Boutique. The store has

great lines including: Earl Jeans; Petro Zillia line of silk collection

with fabrics that are “insane” says Patterson; paper denim + cloth --

jean for jeans that keep shape and don’t shrink. They come in extra low

and classic low. “Everyone can find a pair they like,” says Patterson.

Corey Lynn Calter’s eyelet collection of dresses as seen in In Style

Magazine. There’s lounge wear and undies by So low -- including g-things

in terry cloth. The Muse Boutique is at 300 Forest Ave. Information:

497-7026.

Down the street from The Muse Boutique, you’ll find The Randy

Boutique, the little sister to The Muse. It carries trendy, lower priced

clothing appealing to juniors. Randy is filled with contemporary apparel,

and its currently having a 50% off sale. It’s at 265 Forest Ave.

Information: 497-5822.

Cloudwalk is a home furnishings and clothing store that’s been in

business for three years in Laguna. It has great gifts and casual men’s,

women’s and baby apparel. Popular items in the store are its Juicy

Couture line, Blue Marlin sweatshirts and Ts with big city names sewn on

the front, darling diaper covers, blankets, lighting, pajamas, thongs and

pet gifts. Casual clothing lines carries at Cloudwalk are Ella Moss,

Illia Leisure and G-ypsy. It’s at 240 South Coast Highway. Information:

494-8212.

The Sawdust Art Festival features art for all ages, live entertainment

and great food. A lot of the 168 participating artists are working on

their art during the festival, and you can make purchases from any of the

booths. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Sawdust Art Festival

is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road through Sept. 1. Information: 494-3030.

X is one of the most unique apparel and accessory boutiques in Laguna

Beach. The owners Kat Story and Vladimer Prodanovich decided to use their

artistic talents to create their own line of clothing and accessories

that can’t be found elsewhere. They design 90% of their merchandise, and

Prodanovich, a local established artist, does all of the hand painting

and silk screening on the apparel. There are hand-painted dresses,

T-shirts, jeans and one-of-a kind belts. There’s a large rack of T-shirts

that the two have created from T-shirts they’ve cut up and re-sewn

together. Story says people are really starting to “get it” as far as

what art they’re creating, and customers love the eclectic designs. X is

at 226 Ocean Ave. Information: 497-7097.

One of my favorite book stores, Latitude 33 Bookshop, is wonderful in

its rare independent and non-franchised way. The store is more of a

literary book store, and caters to scholarly books, as well as

bestsellers. It has an extensive travel section, a great cook book

section, art, religion, children’s, fiction, history, psychology and

philosophy. Special book orders are its specialty, and they ship

worldwide. You can also search for and buy books online at o7

www.latitude33books.comf7 . It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9

a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you join the

Booklovers Club, you’ll earn credit toward future purchases. It’s at 311

Ocean Ave. Information: 494-5403.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to Greer

Wylder at o7 greerwylder@yahoo.comf7 or P.O. Box 248 Laguna Beach, CA

92652, or via fax at 494-8979.