The great place for photos

The Used Camera Store is a great find for all photography

equipment. Owner David Moore is very particular about the quality of

the equipment he sells.

“I don’t sell anything that looks used,” says Moore. “And we don’t

buy anything as is. It has to be in perfect condition.” The store

carries a large array of cameras, lenses and accessories, including

Nikon, Minolta, Leica, Contax, medium format cameras and rare

cameras. Photographers ranging from students to professionals love

the selection. It’s constantly changing, since new equipment arrives

daily. Prices are fair. Moore competes with East Coast mailorder

prices. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s at 545 A

W. 18th St. in Costa Mesa.(949)645-9161.

FINE FOOTWEAR

Cole Haan, known for being an American luxury footwear and

accessories store, is having a summer sale. Everything from the

summer collection is on sale, including men’s and women’s shoes,

belts and handbags. Cole Haan offers classic and contemporary styles,

and all of the shoes are handmade and hand stitched. Many of its

styles are now built with a Nike Air technology for comfort. It’s on

the second level of South Coast Plaza, across from the Espresso Bar.

(714) 751-7370.

CUSTOM COMFORT

Families and dog owners love custom sofas at Quatrine Washable

Fabrics. All of the sofas can be purchased off the floor, or custom

made. Sofas start at $1,200. There are more than 500 washable fabrics

to choose from, and the price of the fabrics is determined by the

mills not by Quatrine. You’ll see a lot of the fabrics in other

stores, and it will be carrying Ralph Lauren fabrics soon. There is

also a Quatrine furniture line that comes in five finishes consisting

of armoires, dining, coffee and side tables. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. It’s at 3636 E. Coast

Highway in Newport Beach. (949) 723-7435.

CLOTHING, HERE ALONE

A’Maree’s is a modern elegant clothing boutique in Newport Beach

for people who love clothes. The owners, Dawn Klohs and Denise

Schaeffer, are sisters, who travel to New York, Milan and Paris four

times a year to buy special and unique designer pieces that you won’t

see everywhere else. Designers available are Loro Piani, Marni, Prada

Sport, Dries Van Noten, Dosa, Chloe, Helmut Lang, Michael Kors,

Celine and Peter Cohen. For men there is Commes des Garcon and Loro

Piana. The boutique attracts all ages.

“We have teenagers to 80-year-olds shopping here,” Schaeffer said.

“And they come from all over -- Chicago, New York, Long Beach and

L.A.”

A’Maree’s also has jewelry from Los Angeles-based Cathy Waterman

and other popular designers shoes, bags, belts and accessories. The

high-end store has two sales a year -- a summer sale in June and a

winter sale in January, with unbelievable bargains. Open 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s at 1649 Westcliff Drive in Newport

Beach. 949.642.4423.

FOREIGN FURNISHINGS

Les Interieurs is Newport’s most popular home furnishings store.

Owners Dan Marty and Brenda Eastman frequently go on buying trips to

Europe, New York and the South, and you wouldn’t believe how fast

their containers sell out.

“We take pictures of items we buy in Europe, and a lot of it’s

sold before it arrives home,” Eastman said.

The store has a British colonial look combined with elegant beach

living. There are Asian antiques, Moroccan lanterns, sofas, beds,

armoires, dining sets, garden accessories, vintage fabrics, specialty

china from England and France, wicker furniture, candles and interior

design books. Some of its most popular items are the Barbara

Barry-style furniture, Jamie Young lamps and dining tables made from

French 18th century wood floors. Les Interieurs also offers interior

design. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It’s at 1701

Westcliff Drive in Newport Beach. (949) 650-7603.

ITALIAN ACCESSORIES

Tod’s is an Italian luxury footwear and accessories store for men

and women that’s originally known for its signature driver’s shoe

that Princess Diana helped make popular. Their driver’s shoe has been

copied by just about every designer you can think of. Tod’s carries

an extensive line of conservative and classic shoes, handbags and a

collection of wallets, key chains and makeup bags. Its most popular

seller is the “miky bag” at $1,100. The bag is available in every

color, and in leather, suede and pony hair. Tod’s renamed a classic

tote bag that Princess Diana carried, after her death, now called the

D. Bag. It’s available in three sizes and ranges in price from $1,200

to $1,400 depending on the size and leather. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,

Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday. (714) 556-0239.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com or 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa,

CA 92627, or via fax at (949) 646-4170.