Functional, fashionable and flags, too

GREER WYLDER

ZARA opens its first West Coast store today at South Coast Plaza.

The Spanish-based retailer offers affordable, ultra-hip men’s and

women’s apparel. ZARA is a major international name in fashion; it

has more than 600 stores in 44 countries. The store’s staff plays

close attention to its shoppers’ style, and cares about their

comments and questions.

The constant feedback allows ZARA’s creative team to cater to the

needs of people throughout the world who share cultural differences,

yet common fashion sensitivities. Level 2, Robinsons-May wing. Call

(714) 668-1660 or visit https://www.zara.com.

An ‘asset’ to the

fashion inclined

Tight Assets specializes in functional, fashionable active and

everyday wear. It just received new workout wear from Mari Dade, a

hot new Brazilian line featuring three-piece sets, jackets, bootleg

pants and workout tops in bright colors. Tight Assets also carries

the must-have Yoga pant “Be Present.” It has two styles in four

colors. Yoga enthusiasts favor this pant. “It stretches with you, no

matter what position you’re in,” says owner Heidi Miller. “It’s a

comfortable pant that can go from shopping to the gym and back -- a

classic look and fit!” It’s available in five sizes from extra small

to extra large. Other great lines available include AMMA, Body

Language, Bia Brazil, F Brazil, Juliette Michelle, Blue Fish and Mia.

Choose from more than 400 pants and 500 tops. New summer dresses and

skirts just arrived from Kamellia. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to

Saturday. 488 E. 17th St. A 101 (next to Bruegger’s Bagels) in Costa

Mesa. (949) 646-8200.

Funky, frou-frou

and handmade

Paris to the Moon, a fun and funky home-and-accessories boutique,

just moved a few doors away from its former location, on Santa Ana

Avenue in Costa Mesa. The great gift boutique now has a fun frou-frou

look, complete with pink walls and chocolate brown and gold accents.

Its owner, Darren Calkins, carved out a “Madame Butterfly section”

featuring Asian- themed items: dragonfly bookmarks, jeweled butterfly

frames, hanging glass lanterns, fortune cookie coin purses and pink

chopsticks. A seashell section features seashell boxes with silver

tops and pot beads, popular from the 1960s. Paper artist Denise Sharp

hand-makes wonderful paper creations, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc

de Triomphe, crowns and more. Plus, the business offers unusual party

hats, jewelry, soaps, art, chandeliers, music, vintage toys, and

uncommon baby gifts. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 1720 Santa Ana Ave., Suite B in Costa

Mesa. (949) 642-0942.

European tours for

students and scholars

Doreen Adams from Worldview Travel recommends a guided trip to

Italy and France for an educational, cultural and historical tour of

art that departs June 15 to 30. The group is led by professors Joseph

Hannibal and Luisa Cohrs, who have directed 19 European tours. The

tour focuses on art from every great period from ancient to modern.

Attendees will travel in Italy to Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan,

and then to France, visiting Nice and the French Riviera (Monte Carlo

and Monaco.) The tour package includes a round-trip flight on Delta

Airlines, 14 nights, hotels and taxes, all breakfasts, 11 dinners,

some lunches, private deluxe motor coach and portage of one piece of

luggage. Cost is $3,788 per person sharing a room. Contact Adams at

Worldview Travel: (800) 627-8726 ext. 258 or Hannibal at (714)

840-9559.

Flags for all occasions

Nikki’s Flags offers a 10%-off summer special on signature series

U.S. flags. The Annin & Company signature flag features extra-large,

ultra-bright stars that sparkle in sunlight. And it’s treated to

resist UV damage from the sun. Colors guaranteed fade resistant and

colorfast for one year. Available flag sizes include 2 1/2 feet by 4

feet, 3 feet by 5 feet and 4 feet by 6 feet. Other sizes are expected

to arrive. Nikki’s Flags specializes in an array of flags for the

home, boats or businesses. The selection includes red, white and blue

flags, fans, banners, bunting, garlands and more. Open 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. Monday to Friday. 475 Old Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach. (949)

646-5166.

Household and gardening words will never hurt it

Stix and Stones just received new consignments of furniture,

including “many wonderful Chinese pieces,” says owner Marietta Vise.

Stix and Stones also has home and garden accessories, as well as

jewelry. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3

p.m. Saturday. 333 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa (behind IHOP.) (949)

646-7233.

Flattering and affordable

Shopgirls by Lisa & Helen just opened on East 17th Street in Costa

Mesa. Friends Lisa Moore and Helen Platt offer a destination boutique

for fashion-conscious women. They carry different designers than

you’ll find at other Eastside Costa Mesa boutiques. And they can help

with creating flattering looks for women. Price ranges are for all

budgets. Sizes range from 0 to 10. Shoes and accessories are carried,

too. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday. 369 E. 17th St. No. 4 in Costa Mesa. (949) 574-9622.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays. Send information to Greer Wylder at

greerwylder@yahoo.com; at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; or by

fax at (949) 646-4170.