Eccentric shop offers eclectic antiques

La Vie en Rose is a great antiques store, and super-nice Heather

Di Pettrillo is one of my favorite store owners. I especially liked

her huge warehouse store in the Cannery Village in the mid-1990s. The

Corona del Mar location is still great, but Di Pettrillo admits you

have to know what you’re looking for here. “I can’t do vignettes at

this store,” Di Pettrillo says. “There isn’t room for that.” There

are a lot of signature pieces for designers and an eclectic mix of

art and antiques. Its specialty is 17th to early 20th century French,

Italian, American and Chinese antiques. Most of the antiques look

like they came out of a French chateau or an English country home.

Everything in the store comes from private estates and other dealers

from San Diego to San Francisco. The store hours are tricky. Di

Pettrillo has to close shop when she participates in antiques shows

almost every month in Los Angeles, Pasadena and San Francisco. 2515

E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. (949) 723-6088.

Expect it, mom

Blue Springs, Ala. for antiques and home furnishings is now

selling one of the best maternity lines called Naissance. Expectant

celebrity moms wear this sexy and stylish line that’s been available

for a few years. Blue Springs, Ala. also has wonderful baby bedding

from Bella Notte and House Inc. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through

Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. two Sundays a month. 369 E. 17th St.

in Costa Mesa. (949) 642-3632.

A mix of designers

Flora Hills says her whole life is “eat, drink, sleep, hair and

fashion.” Hills’ ladies clothing boutique/hair salon is all beautiful

clothes and hair. She’s known for the way she styles people who come

from Florence, Alabama, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Hills like

to mix and match designers, and she carries clothing in sizes two to

unlimited. Hills offers wardrobe consultations, and even gives

seminars on how to pack for a trip. An international mix of designers

from Tokyo, Paris, Italy and Spain are featured like Comme des

Garcons, Francois Girbaud, Gaspari and Ghost. Exclusives to the store

are Garage, stretch leather from Italy; Harari, a Los Angeles

designer who manufactures and designs prints; and Shirine Guild, a

famous designer from London, who specializes in larger sizes. Hills

carries one of my favorite designers, Rozae Nichols -- she carried

her line before anyone back in 1991. Rozae Nichols is known for her

combination of hard and soft fabrics and mixtures of textures. Hills

also carries a lot of vintage jewelry and well-known jewelry

designers like Sage, Elyssa B. and Beth Orenda. Shoes are from Robert

Clergerie, Sebastian and she has a lot of handmade shoes. Flora Hills

says there are two sales a year, one after Christmas and usually one

in the summer. The salon also offers facials, massage, and makeup

application. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including 10

a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, and by appointment. 3519 E. Coast Highway in

Corona del Mar. (949) 675-4516.

* 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.