Jeweler Vram Minassian in his art-filled Robertson office.

Situated on trendy Robertson Boulevard, Vram Minassian’s new boutique is filled with beautiful things, from the fine art, rare fossils, and iron sculptures adorning the walls to the exquisite jewelry artfully displayed throughout. “Classic lines and timeless styles define my work,” says the renowned LA jeweler. “I try to say the most with the least, which to me, is the best challenge. My father and grandfather were watchmakers so precision is in my blood. I refine every piece so that each one makes a pure statement.”

Though praised for his assortment of eye-catching gemstones, Minassian offers an impressive selection of men’s accessories as well, including vintage timepieces, cuff links, pocket watches, and bespoke pieces that would please even the most discerning tastemakers.

“My personal taste is influenced by the 1950s dapper gentleman—a Cary Grant kind of guy.” Adds the jeweler: “I am intrigued by unusual timepieces like a super-thin Vacheron Constantin or a 1970s Jaeger- LeCoultre with a mechanical-bell alarm,” both of which are among the standout pieces available at the shop. 122 S. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-859-9545

Brocade hourglass blazer, Chagoury ($1,100).

Studying under legendary French designer Christian Dior before launching his eponymous label, Gilbert A. Chagoury inherited a deep appreciation for traditional couture techniques. It follows that exquisite paneling, tailored pleating, and intricate beadwork are just a few of the hallmarks that appear throughout the Los Angeles designer’s garments. “I design for real women, with real curves. The dress has to be worn by everyone from celebrities to real people in the street,” Chagoury explains.

Hoping to bring a true European atelier to Southern California, the designer is unveiling a brand-new boutique this spring, complete with a bespoke service for his most discerning clientele. “My boutique is a unique blend of warm intimacy and free-spiritedness,” Chagoury adds. “My one-on-one consultations are the first step to custom masterpieces tailored to perfection.”

In addition to his signature couture collection, Chagoury is launching a ready-to-wear line exclusive to the location. “My goal was to convey the ability of adapting a look from day to night, which is very important to the modern LA woman,” he says. Standouts include a pair of cigarillo trousers, an assortment of sheer blouses, and a sleek iteration of the woman’s tuxedo in bold shades of black, white, and red. 8378 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-782-9008

Privé founder Laurent Dufourg and his new Vanishing Oil Blend #39.

LA-based stylist to the stars, Laurent Dufourg recently unveiled his latest product, Privé Vanishing Oil Blend #39 ($36), a high-performing styling and treatment oil. The breakthrough formulation is enriched with argan, maracuja, and Brazilian nut oils, which absorb into the hair without any residue and provide all types of tresses with shine, smoothness, hydration, and manageability.

“I worked on this product for two years because I wanted it to be absolutely perfect,” says Dufourg. “I really wanted it to be a hybrid product, so it is three-in-one and is great for conditioning, styling, and finishing. I love the versatility of it.” While other oils can leave hair weighed down—or even discolored or dried out—Privé Vanishing Oil’s formula disappears deep into the hair’s shaft to help transform the health of your strands. Plus, it cuts blow-drying time significantly since hair is better hydrated. Privé Salon Los Angeles, 7373 Beverly Blvd., 323-931-5559

Inside the new Brentwood location of Tracy Anderson Method.

Earlier this month, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow teamed up to open the members-only Tracy Anderson Flagship Studio in Brentwood. The space offers state-of-the-art workout facilities, as well as a David Babaii Blow Dry Bar so that members can look and feel their best when they leave the studio.

Babaii, a celebrity hairstylist (his clients include the likes of Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Paltrow) whom Anderson helped lose over 100 pounds, is personally training the hairstyling team in order to ensure that members receive the ultimate styling experience. Services include blowouts, red-carpet-ready looks, ponytails, braids, and boho-beach waves. One-on-one appointments with Babaii himself are available through special request.

The 8,500-square-foot, Windsor Smith-designed studio features VIP training rooms, luxe shower facilities stocked with Ila skin and body care products, and on-site nutrition consultations. The first phase of the launch comprises a center with five studio rooms boasting advanced sound systems and temperature and humidity controls, along with the newest versions of Anderson’s custom apparatuses, like the Men’s Hybrid machine that Anderson invented for her male members.

In conjunction with the studio, The Food Program by Tracy Anderson and The Liquid Program by Tracy Anderson are also launching. The Food Program is a convenient, delivery-based meal service, and The Liquid Program boasts 100 percent raw and organic juices and smoothies perfect for everyday or cleanses. Both are being launched locally now.

The second phase of the launch is still under construction, but will add a restaurant, apparel store, and a filming studio for Anderson to create DVD video programs and online content. 11918 San Vicente Blvd.,818-762-3133 or tracyandersonmethod.com. E-mail brentwood@tracyandersonmethod.com for membership inquiries.

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Sephora + Pantone’s new Color IQ program uses a compact spectro-colorimeter to capture your exact skin tone hue and will tailor a selection of the store’s more than 1,500 foundation options in order for you to select the perfect match.

 

Your Pantone SkinTone number will accurately match your complexion color and identify which foundations at Sephora are best suited for you, depending on coverage, brand, skin type, SPF, and even ingredients.

 

Using your unique Sephora + Pantone SkinTone number, the Sephora website will display a custom-curated selection of foundations

 

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Angeleno women of all skin tones can rejoice: the search for the perfect foundation shade is over with the new Sephora + Pantone Color IQ foundation matching program. “The biggest foundation faux-pas I’ve found women in LA committing is that they choose colors too dark for their skin tone!” says Helen Phillips, a Los Angeles-based Sephora PRO Team Artist. To combat this, the Color IQ system eliminates variables that typically affect shade selection, including pigment challenges, skin undertones, and ambient lighting.

The revolutionary service employs the technology behind Pantone’s Capsure—a compact spectro-colorimeter used in the design industry to identify color—into a hand-held device that takes an image of the skin, analyzes its pigment, and assigns it an official Pantone SkinTone number. From there, the number is accurately matched with perfect shades from Sephora’s Universal SkinTone Library, which consists of 1,000 foundation products that can be sorted on an in-store iPad by brand, skin type, formulation, and SPF. “Angelenos are particularly attuned to their skin and have been so excited to come in, take advantage of this quick, free, and effective service, and find their perfect foundation,” explains Phillips. “They love being able to leave confident in their purchase and know that they are putting their best face forward.”

The Color IQ program is currently available at six Sephora stores in the Los Angeles region—Beverly Center, Sherman Oaks (Fashion Square), Pasadena, Hollywood & Highland, Century City, and Santa Monica—with no appointment necessary.

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The Zipped Up Top Knot

 

The All Wrapped Up Braid

 

The Crown Braid

 

The Fishtail

 

The Modern Twist

 

The Power Pony

 

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Assembly, a salon with a twist, opens March 27 in Beverly Hills as the first braid and ponytail bar in Los Angeles. The style menu features braids and pulled-back looks for everyday and special events, as well as makeup, nail, and blowout services.

Lead stylist Jacqueline Bush weaves inspiration from street styles, the runway, and celebrity clients into the handful of available updos. Customers can choose from styles like Sienna Miller’s signature Crown Braid, or the professional yet playful Zipped Up Top Knot that Bush created.

Owner Jessica Jekkel says the laid-back California culture is the root of casual, trendy braids that are in high-demand now. “When I think of a braided hairstyle, I think of a woman who is playful, cheeky, and has a great sense of personal style. To me, that is the LA girl,” she says. “We love that artfully undone look, and that was born on the beaches of Southern California.”

A wash plus a braid or pony costs $45, while a braid or fancy pony done on dry hair is $30, and both options take less than 50 minutes. Other services are tailored for special events like the red carpet or date nights, but clients can also purchase memberships for scheduled weekly sessions.

Although Assembly’s signature service is the braid, Jekkel says the salon’s six stylists will continue to update the offerings for whatever seasonal trends come next. “Right now, a braid, fun pony, or messy updo is what makes a woman feel gorgeous. When the style changes, so will we,” she says. “But I know I will be rocking my braids for a long time. I love having my hair pulled back, and a hair tie alone won’t cut it.” 250 S. Robertson Blvd., Ste. B, 424-278-1567

Beach-worthy shorts and shirt from Solid & Striped’s Spring/ Summer collection.

Launched by former William Morris Endeavor talent agent Isaac Ross this past fall, Solid & Striped caters to both men and boys, offering versatile swimwear with a superior fit. “As someone who spends a lot of time in beautiful climates, I was always looking for a pair of trunks that worked at the beach, pool, tennis court, and lunch table. Solid & Striped is exactly that,” Ross explains. Featuring a unique, quick-dry fabric, the tailored shorts are woven in Italy and come in a variety of solid, striped, and patterned options.

“The line is perfect for the LA man. He’s active, constantly on the move, and lucky enough to live in a climate that allows him to go for a swim—or at least a Jacuzzi—year-round,” says the designer. Drawing inspiration from vintage shirting fabrics and the work of lifestyle photographer Slim Aarons, the Spring/Summer collection features lively shades of ice blue, coral, and lilac, as well as introduces a preppy new gingham print that effortlessly combines classic style with current trends. Confederacy, 4661 Hollywood Blvd., LA, 323-913-3040.

A sample of GOLDSIGN jeans for J.Crew.

GOLDSIGN, the luxe Los Angeles denim company by Adriano Goldschmied, has partnered with J.Crew to present an exclusive collection of denim in three distinct lines ($198-$288). The collaboration pays tribute to the fresh-faced, ambitious young starlets of old Hollywood, particularly Norma Jeane Baker before she was known as Marilyn Monroe.

Shoppers can choose from denim pants in two different fits—the “Jeane,” a vintage style with a high waist and cropped tapered leg, and the “Jenny,” which has a more classic fit, sits lower on the hips, and features five-pocket construction. The collaboration also includes the “Holly,” a series of high-waisted pencil skirts. With vintage-worn washes and light colors like ecru and peach, the entire collection is perfect for the upcoming spring and summer months.

GOLDSIGN and J.Crew’s recent teamwork is part of J.Crew’s “In Good Company” series—collaborations with hip brands that boast quality craftsmanship. Each pair of GOLDSIGN jeans for J.Crew is manufactured in the brand’s Los Angeles studio and monitored for quality every step of the way. Crafted from premium selvedge denim, GOLDSIGN’s innovative collections have garnered a celebrity following from the likes of Katie Holmes, Naomi Watts, Rachel Bilson, and Kate Middleton. The new pieces are available at jcrew.com and the J.Crew store at The Grove. 189 The Grove Dr., West Hollywood, 323-939-1070

Two looks from Mulberry’s Spring 2013 collection.

Certainly no stranger to the Hollywood set, Mulberry, the British label known to name its handbags after stylish celebrities such as Lana Del Rey and Alexa Chung, outfitted the likes of Kate Mara, Elisabeth Moss, Kirsty Hume, and Liz Goldwyn at an intimate dinner at Chateau Marmont. The event proved the perfect backdrop for the new collection of pastel florals and vintage flared silhouettes.

Now available in stores, the pantsuits, playsuits, and carwash-hemmed skirts come in shades of mint green, peach, mustard, and poppy, and when paired with daisy-shaped buttons and hardware, take on an alluring 1970s California vibe. The collection’s handbags update signature Mulberry styles with scalloped edges, floral cutouts, gecko prints, and gold daisy clasps. Capturing the best of West Coast style, both past and present, this spring line is at the top of our list. Parashu, 928 S. Western Ave., LA, 213-703-8697