Catherine Ledner Striking a pose at Marc by Marc Jacobs in L.A.
Melrose Heights—a shopper's mecca since the eighties—has turned high-end, thanks in part to Marc Jacobs. Here, a door-to-door guide to the area's top 10 stores.
Carolina Herrera 8441 Melrose Place; 323/782-9090. THE VIBE Just one month old, Herrera's space is 3,800 square feet of pure refinement—with zebra-wood finishes and seating draped in the designer's signature brown-and-beige satin stripes. BEST FINDS Fall's richly colored jacquard coat ($4,690); a lace-trimmed satin cocktail dress ($2,990).
Delia 8438 Melrose Place; 323/658- 8685. THE VIBE Shoppers (many of them local starlets) usually find this year-old emporium of lesser-known European designers—hidden away on the second floor above a breezy courtyard—through word of mouth. Among the labels to be discovered are Angelos Frentzos, Antonio Marras (Italy), and J & M Davidson (U.K.). BEST FINDS A long Empire-waist dress by Kristensen Du Nord ($285); a deconstructed silk skirt by Gardem ($435).
Diane von Furstenberg 8411 Melrose Ave.; 323/951-1947. THE VIBE DVF uses frosted-glass panels and mirrored ceilings to create a glam Hollywood backdrop for her updated classics and fine jewelry collection—a collaboration with H.Stern—sold here exclusively. BEST FINDS Leopard-print three-way convertible bag ($1,190); suede wrap dress ($750); and DVF/H.Stern's large crystal Power Ring ($3,000).
Duncan Quinn 8380 Melrose Ave.; www.duncanquinn.com. THE VIBE This lawyer-turned-fashionista's menswear atelier brings Savile Row tailoring and a rock 'n' roll edge to West Hollywood. BEST FINDS Limited-run silk dragon and unicorn ties ($125 each); the color-and-print-saturated "Urban Warrior" collection, with a three-piece Prince of Wales checked suit ($2,950); and—what DQ does best—bespoke suits (price upon request).
Marc Jacobs 8400 Melrose Place; 323/653-5100. Marc by Marc Jacobs 8410 Melrose Ave.; 323/653-0100. THE VIBE Jacobs's main-label ready-to-wear boutique—the neighborhood's beacon of chic—sits at the intersection of Melrose Place and Melrose Avenue. Marc by Marc Jacobs, the outlet for his less-pricey diffusion label, with its playful, L.A.-friendly looks for women and men, is just across the street. BEST FINDS Marc by Marc Jacobs women's black silk-satin jumpsuit ($368); men's midnight-blue tuxedo vest ($228). Launching this month: the designer's digital watches ($150 to $300).
Me & Ro 8405 Melrose Place; 323/ 782-1071. THE VIBE Twice the size of its petite outpost in downtown Manhattan, Me & Ro's Melrose shop has a spare, simplified look, in which Buddhist-inspired jewelry is displayed in unembellished metal cases. BEST FINDS Lotus Mandala Pendant ($2,300); silver Fearlessness bead bracelet ($120).
Paul Smith 8221 Melrose Ave.; 323/ 951-4800. THE VIBE The cleanliness and bright pink hue of Smith's 5,000-square- foot loftlike L.A. flagship pay homage to Mexican architect Luis Barragán. Inside the shop, you'll find the first comprehensive collection of the British designer's signature cheeky aesthetic in the United States—with décor to match. BEST FINDS The small selection of customized furniture, like the Union Jackupholstered chairs (from $6,500); a funky forties-inspired pleated polka-dot clutch ($500); and a Navajo carry-all ($325).
RetroSpecs 8458 Melrose Place; 323/ 951-4925. THE VIBE This bare, sunlit boutique has an impeccable archive of vintage sunglasses (with a specialty in perennially chic aviators) from the thirties through the seventies. BEST FINDS The shop's own line of frames made from south Indian buffalo horn accented with pieces of antique gold inlay (from $595); vintage forties Ray-Bans made by Bausch & Lomb ($1,395).
Suzanne Felsen 8332 Melrose Ave.; 323/653-5400. THE VIBE Felsen collaborated with KoningEizenberg Architecture to create this Modernist space with a glowing white façade—a perfect complement to the gemstone jewelry the shop stocks. BEST FINDS A sparkling 18-karat white-gold ring with peridot and tanzanite ($6,500); 18-karat yellow-gold hoops with fire opals ($1,600); and the money shot—a platinum ring with five marquis-cut diamonds ($12,500).
Temperley London 8452 Melrose Place; 323/782-8000. THE VIBE Fans of British It Girl Alice Temperley slip past a canopy of trees to enter her boudoir-style oasis. Inside, animal-print rugs and a shimmering antique chandelier set the mood for romance while you shop. BEST FINDS The Carole cowl-neck knit dress ($1,135) and camouflage intarsia cashmere tunic ($1,245)—to be seen on the likes of Uma Thurman and Sienna Miller, both clients you may run into while browsing. After all, this is Hollywood.
