Rebecca Taylor arrives on Robertson

“I’ve always loved the concept of a city being right by the ocean—the mixture of the forced relaxed lifestyle of the beach juxtaposed with hard work,” says Rebecca Taylor of her love for Los Angeles. The New Zealandbred designer, who opens not one, but two, Southern California stores this spring (at Fashion Island and on Robertson), blends the low-key style Angelenos are known for with dressed-up, party-worthy fashions season after season. “We’ve had our sights on the West Coast for a while,” says Taylor, “and finally, the spaces just felt right.”

Taylor’s collections always include a bit of romance. From this spring’s ethereal, glacial shades of gray to her constant use of beautiful floral prints and soft silks, her combination of cool-girl style and feminine charm suits the SoCal customer. “LA is very glamorous,” says Taylor. “With the store on Robertson, we’ve already had requests for more fancy clothing than in New York. When women dress up here, they really dress up—be it during Oscar season or for a cocktail party.” Playing off the laid-back atmosphere of the West Coast, her new outposts are lighter and brighter than her New York boutiques, featuring shining metals and sun-washed wood accents in airy spaces.

“The shapes and shades we create work well [in California],” says Taylor of her Spring 2012 collection, which is filled with neon knits and chiffon layers. 107 S. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-734-0599; Fashion Island, Newport Beach, 949-610-0922

Streets of Beverly Hills carries clothing curated especially for West Coast men

A gentleman’s life in LA can easily go from the golf course to the boardroom to the red carpet all in the span of hours, requiring more than one wardrobe change. Now, thanks to HMX Group (the parent company of brands including Hickey Freeman, Hart Schaffner Marx, and Bobby Jones), dressing for every occasion is a one-stop, 2,000-square-foot shop. Streets of Beverly Hills, HMX Group’s concept shop, arrived late last year with a selection of clothing and accessories specifically curated for West Coast men.

The outpost is the inaugural shop in a nationwide program of Streets stores, each designed to reflect the city they are in—something HMX Group creative director Joseph Abboud (who joined the company in 2011) says stemmed from his dismay at watching the demise of local specialty stores. “We are excited about having a personal presence on the West Coast,” says Abboud. “The more we learn about the [Beverly Hills] resident, the more we can do for him.”

But Abboud is most excited about the store’s made-to-measure services. With a price point competitive with custom-tailor shops, Streets of Beverly Hills boasts endless opportunities for experimenting thanks to its strong relationships with both American and foreign mills. Says Abboud, “[Streets] is a special place for guys to experience made-tomeasure in a fun way.” 310 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-5013

Le Posh Salon’s relaxing nail bar on Sunset

Chi Nail Bar & Organic Spa
With customers from Emily Deschanel to Diddy, Chi is a retreat where manicurists can do virtually anything you can dream up. One of the first LA spots to offer gel manicures, they also apply Minx, custom-mix glitters, and hand-paint patterns (tribal- to holiday- inspired) for a totally bespoke result. Chi’s new Downtown sister location, Ki Nail Bar & Organic Spa, opened last month. 9390 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-858-8803

Jessica Nail Clinic Inc.
A Beverly Hills institution, founder Jessica Vartoughian (the “First Lady of Nails”) has kept the hands of such VIPs as Nancy Reagan and Jodie Foster perfect for more than 30 years with her signature Natural Nail Cultivation System. Newly renovated, the spot offers serious nail TLC, followed by a brilliant polish with Vartoughian’s signature line of lacquers. 8627 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-659-9292; jessicacosmetics.com

Kleur
For the ultimate of-the-moment nail art, Kleur—which consists of three übertalented young Angelenos with serious creative skills—is the go-to spot every Wednesday through Sunday at Space15Twenty in Hollywood. With a name stemming from the Afrikaans word for “color,” the girls mix vibrant tones, crazy prints, and fashion-forward inspirations (tribal designs are their most requested) to customized perfection. 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., LA, 213-986-6245

Le Posh Salon
Bringing serenity to Sunset, Le Posh boasts birch trees, beaded curtains, and a live weekend DJ, which all set the stage for nail treatments using Tasha & Co. Organics products with Essie, CND, and vegan SpaRitual lacquers. Nail styles range from traditional to runway-inspired (two-tone half-moon, reverse French). To enjoy your treatment in complete privacy, book the VIP Room. 7551 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 323-851-5558

Marie Nails
It’s tough to get an appointment at this tiny nail-centric bungalow on West 3rd (which has two equally sought-after sister locations in LA), where the options seem to be endless. Ombré, rubyred slipper-inspired glitter, and handmade 3-D charms are among Marie’s überpopular avant-garde manicures. 8616 W. 3rd St., LA, 310-550- 5925; marienails.com

Nail Garden
A celebrity favorite, Nail Garden opened its vast Zen den in Brentwood this summer. Book an Indulgent Bliss Spa Combo, which includes a mani/pedi, hotparaffin hand and foot treatment, sea-salt scrub, therapeutic massage, mint cooling masque, and callus removal. They also offer Minx application and shellac and gel polishes from Gelish, O.P.I Axxium, and CND. 11677 San Vicente Blvd., LA, 310-979-0808

Nail Service
This Little Tokyo cult favorite for LA’s nail art-obsessed set offers super-glittery “rock star nails,” rhinestone-studded designs, and artsy works that reference Mondrian, YSL, or even Barbie’s Dream House. The sky’s the limit for these nail geniuses, who also excel at authentic Japanese 3-D styles. 244 E. 1st St., LA, 213-626-0315; nailserviceusa.com

The Nail Bar
Tucked inside the legendary Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel, this intimate, months-old nail bar is perhaps the chicest place in town for an indestructible Shellac Deluxe Manicure or a Coconut Pearl Deluxe Pedicure. White leather couches and chairs, Champagne, and Pretty Woman playing on loop combine for a lavishly indulgent experience. Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-385-7023; fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/ spa/the_nail_bar

	A look for the Eres swimwear collection

Listing the celebrity fans of French swimwear and lingerie company Eres could take ages. Reese Witherspoon, Uma Thurman, and Penélope Cruz have all been known to tread water wearing the label, and they’ll surely visit the brand’s newly relocated boutique, which opened in October on Dayton Way in Beverly Hills.

When it comes to swimsuit design, Eres’s creative director, Valérie Delafosse, takes the female form into serious consideration, keeping in mind what makes the brand stand out from the crowd. “Eres has a very unique approach to swimwear,” says Delafosse of the label’s dedication to creating a perfect final product. “[It’s] rigorous design combined with the softness of the Eres fabrics that enhance feminine curves and bodies. [With our] endless study of fit and function, Eres has an architectural approach that embraces the body.”

Morocco, Egypt, Syria, and the Greek Islands were the inspirations for Collection Plage Été 2012, the first swim collection to grace the new boutique’s shelves. The classic, sporty one-pieces and bandeau bikinis flaunt splashes of saffron, purple, and turquoise, and are the perfect complement to the blue waters of the Pacific Coast. 9566 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-246-1008

Maybe it’s the attitude, but I love LA,” says fashion designer Monika Chiang, who considers the City of Angels her home away from home (she lives in New York City) and the ideal place to open her first boutique. A world traveler and self-professed handbag snob, Chiang started her eponymous label with a mission to create the ideal everyday bag. “I’m drawn to the effortless style of the LA woman. I use her as my daily inspiration,” says the designer, whose gloriously slouchy bags and covetable tassel loafers (with and without heels) are this season’s staples. “I live in loafers right now,” she says. “They’re the perfect variation of the flat for the coming season.” But don’t imagine Chiang’s line to be conservative. The spike jewelry, gold crocodile cuff, and ladylike handbags adorned with whipstitches or horn handles are the must-have accessories for LA’s fashion set. And Chiang doesn’t stop there. The collection also features perfectly sheer tissue-soft tees with draping backlines, leather miniskirts, and the quintessential boyfriend sweater. With her killer fashion instincts and hot new real estate, we can’t wait to see what Chiang has in store next. 108 S. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-786-8200; monikachiang.com

Oliver Ifergan Atelier features makeup applications and lessons

B2V Salon
Remember the Vanity Fair cover featuring a nude Demi Moore wearing a painted-on suit? It was the cocreation of makeup artist Deborah Esposito, who has also worked with Madonna and Salma Hayek, as well as legendary photographers Herb Ritts and Annie Leibovitz. Tuesday through Saturday she’s at B2V doing theatrical, glamour, and red-carpet makeup, as well as makeup tattooing and brow design. 646 N. Doheny Dr., West Hollywood, 310-777-0345; b2vsalon.com

Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge
Opened last month, this makeup and beauty lounge exudes old-Hollywood glamour and offers brow tweezing, faux-lash application, eyelash tinting, and a menu of several makeup looks. The ultrafeminine décor will make you want to lounge all day, but in a crunch the expert artists will have you out in 30. There is also a VIP section for private parties. 8591 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-5874; blushington.com

Byron & Tracey
It’s more than likely you’ll bump into an A-lister when visiting this Beverly Hills salon known for catering to LA’s most fabulous set in its clean, modern, and indulgently relaxing space. Byron Williams and Gina Veltri are the salon’s incredibly talented makeup artists, who beautify and transform their high-profile clientele. Be prepared to receive more compliments than you know what to do with. 9294 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4470; byronandtracey.com

Karen Scott
Her small but comfortable studio is housed inside the one-stop shop Salon Republic, where each room is dedicated to a specific primping specialty and Scott is the veteran makeup and brow expert. While she boasts her own makeup line, Scott is a purist at heart. Ask her for advice on home beauty remedies using items from your pantry. 9911 Pico Blvd., Ste. 200W, Studio 21, LA, 310-553-5126; karenscottcosmetics.com

Kimberley Bosso
For those seeking exclusivity and privacy, a visit to celebrity makeup artist Kimberley Bosso is a must. Her studio has no sign, but she’s built an impressive clientele—including Marisa Tomei and Justin Bieber—through word of mouth. Bosso offers traditional makeup, airbrushing, lessons, tattoo coverage, and even a four-day intensive makeup school for aspiring artists. 7510 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-415-4885; kbosso.com

Makeup & Go!
This full-service makeup studio is elegant, affordable, and hasslefree—it doesn’t sell makeup, so there’s no pressure to buy. The studio’s professional makeup artists will create any look—from basic to dramatic. All foundations are applied flawlessly using an airbrushing technique, which also works on your neck, arms, and legs. 13038 San Vicente Blvd., LA, 310-451-6253; makeupandgo.net

Make Up For Ever
If you’ve ever dreamed of going backstage during a photo shoot, this shop is for you. The Parisbased makeup brand opens its first freestanding West Coast boutique in LA this month, complete with professional lighting. Services include makeovers, faux-eyelash application, and lessons, which can be filmed in a glass-enclosed recording station and taken home on a USB drive for later reference. 132 S. Robertson Blvd., LA; makeupforever.com

Oliver Ifergan Atelier
Located in the posh Robertson shopping area, this salon offers both regular and airbrush makeup application. Furthermore, when you sign up for a makeup lesson, an extra $50 (plus the cost of products) gets you a professional-grade kit customized with everything you need to look beautiful at home. The salon also features a blow-dry bar Sundays and Mondays. 205 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-967-0100; oliverifergan.com
 

BY ELISE EDWARDS

Omega has long been involved in the conquest of space, and has been a part of all six lunar landings.

On March 1, 1965, Omega's Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions." That is because the Omega Speedmaster withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests under conditions of zero gravity and magnetic fields, extreme shocks, vibrations and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius. It is, to date, the only NASA flight-qualified watch.

Since 1965, Omega Speedmasters have been onboard Gemini missions, Apollo missions and even Skylab. Many recall one of the most significant moments in space history when, on July 21, 1969, the Omega Speedmaster recorded man’s first steps on the Moon during the Apollo 11 missions. Omega’s Speedmaster is the first and only watch to be worn on the moon. Hence, it has been nicknamed the Moonwatch.

Another significant moment in Omega Speedmaster space timing came in April 1970 with the Apollo 13 mission, when the watch was used to time the reentry and divert potential disaster when certain instruments malfunctioned. The Omega Speedmaster earned the Snoopy Award, the highest distinction awarded by NASA astronauts for that mission.

The Speedmaster was worn on the wrists of both the American astronaut Tom Stafford and the Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during the historic Apollo-Soyuz space rendezvous. This was the first time the cosmonauts also wore the OMEGA Speedmaster. Ever since, the Speedmaster has been the official chronograph of all Russian manned space missions.

Today, Omega continues to be involved in space exploration and discovery. In fact it recently released its new Apollo 15 watch that celebrates the 40th anniversary of that mission, the first in which the Moon Rover was used. The three red, white and blue rings on the dial echo the design of the Apollo 15 Official Mission patch. The 42mm cased chronometer chronograph is created in a limited edition of 1971 pieces (the year of the Apollo 15 mission), and retails for $6,800.

Read more about watches from our timepiece editor Roberta Naas at atimelyperspective.com.

Stylish LA handbag and accessories designer Kendall Conrad’s favorite bag from her fall line is the brass-adorned Gitana suede saddlebag ($960). “I like to wear it long and slinky on my shoulder with one of my cuffs and a great pair of sandals,” says Conrad, whose Abbot Kinney store has garnered a high-fashion following since opening last year. Take note: It’s the LA must-carry of the season. 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310-399-1333

Judith Ripka by Judith features her dazzling pieces and diverse clients such as Angie Harmon

Jeweler-to-the-stars Judith Ripka teamed up with Assouline to launch her first book, simply titled Judith Ripka by Judith ($65), hitting bookstores this fall. The coffee-table tome documents the fine jeweler’s inspirations, designs and production process, as well as her luxurious life and—perhaps most important—her love affair with Hollywood. “New York is my home,” says Ripka, whose stunning designs are filled with colorful precious and semiprecious stones on intricate beds of gold and silver, “but LA is where my jewelry shines on some of Hollywood’s most elite—from Kate Hudson to Vanessa Hudgens.” Judith Ripka, 234 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-3013

A leather dress from Bui’s Fall 2011 collection

Francophiles, the line forms now! We couldn’t be more thrilled that after two years of searching for the perfect space, famed French designer Barbara Bui recently opened her first Left Coast outpost on Rodeo Drive. With her sexy—but not too sexy—dresses, perfectly fitting trousers and to-die-for leather jackets, her luxurious collection is no longer just for the Parisian gamine. It’s almost as if Bui designs with Angelenos in mind: Her silky dresses and ideal-for-all-occasions heels and booties scream LA. “For me it was obvious we should be represented on the West Coast,” says Bui. “The LA woman [personifies] the core values of my brand. She can be cool and casual but also dressy, and she always remains glamorous—with a rocker’s edge. LA customers have chased our clothes all over the world.” Finally, the chase is over. 405 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4452

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCAS ZAREBINSKI