After amassing a sizable collection of vintage jewelry and clutches, Jill Garland decided it was time to share the goods with her fellow Angelenos. So when she saw a space available on Canon Drive across the street from Porta Via, the Beverly Hills restaurant she co-owns, she jumped. The result is V Vintage, a by-appointment-only shop that offers a stellar selection of Chanel, YSL, Christian Dior, Kenneth Jay Lane, Lanvin, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and more, with some pieces starting at a very reasonable $75. "Everything that I have is a reflection of me and what I would wear," says Garland. "My inventory is always changing, because with vintage everything is one of a kind."
V Vintage, 427 Canon Dr., Suite 216, Beverly Hills, (310) 279-6800.

Bored with the usual swimwear? Try these patterns on for size.

The brand: Hotel Bondi, designed by the husband-and-wife team of Damion Fuller and Fern Levack

The lowdown: The Bondi Beach-inspired prints are cheeky interpretations oflocal icons. "From a distance, it's a bold print," says Fuller of the Valley Boys design. "But upon closer inspection, each of the polka dots is actually an illustration of a Bondi Boardrider club member."

The quote: "We just want to invest in a car, an inflatable mattress, and drive across the east and west coasts of America selling bikinis," says Fuller. More power to you, Damion. For more information, see www.hotelbondiswim.com.

Mother's Day is one of those holidays for which you're duty-bound to give a present, but with all the cheesy gift sets, predictable flowers, and fattening chocolate that make up the usual range of possibilities, you're faced with a dearth of interesting options. For one that won't wilt or melt, present Mom with a luxurious robe from Jo Malone, new in stores this month. The full-length wrapper is made of semi-sheer, breezy Irish linen—perfect for lounging by the pool, taking breakfast in bed, or looking polished while getting ready for a night on the town—or, depending on the lady, all of the above. They're available for $245 at Jo Malone flagship stores, www.jomalone.com.

Little-known fact: Before there was Mickey Mouse, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?). Oswald was Walt Disney's first character, but the animator lost the rights to the rabbit when he neglected a clause in a contract, thus relegating him to obscurity. Now Oswald, a bunny doppelgänger of Mickey's, is being revived in the most unlikely of ways: on a jelly shoe by the blockbuster Brazilian brand Melissa (which has previously teamed up with Vivienne Westwood and Zaha Hadid). The style just hit Colette in Paris and is due to arrive at London's Harvey Nichols and Browns next week. Will Oswald be able to muscle in on the territory Mickey has staked out with fashionistas? Only sales will tell.

Considering a little Botox, or perhaps some lipo or a face-lift? Don't even think about it without Heal, a new cream from London that's just hit the shelves and is already causing a frenzy across the pond. Developed by five cosmetic surgeons who call themselves the Firm, Heal is meant to speed up post-op healing. According to Firm member Dr. Peter Butler, most other products on the market "do not contain enough of the active ingredients needed to have an effect. The difference with Heal is that the key ingredients are present in the right formulations to ensure they penetrate the skin's surface and actually have a dramatic effect on the end result." Two more benefits: Heal makes the skin glow and is great for cuts and bruises, making it a sort of holy grail for beauty junkies and mothers alike. Yet it's a strangely affordable £28 (about $55), which is no doubt why it's selling out. Order yours at www.healgel.com.

Don't call Edward Bess a makeup artist--he's a makeup designer, thank you very much, and though a mere 22, he's eager to preach his color gospel. His collection, now in its second season, is, in his words, "very much my vision of how women should look, whether impeccably groomed or naturally seductive." Fans of Edwards' lacquered boxes of lip gloss include Bianca Jagger, Marisa Berenson, and Farrah Fawcett. Since the disco era is a major source of inspiration for him—"My favorite architecture is from that time, as are the fashion images that have most inspired me"—that makes a nice parallel. Edwards recently added eye shadow to the line and, come fall, his products will be available at the new spa at the Carlyle Hotel, which just happens to be he and partner Ruven Afanador's favorite watering hole. Another nice parallel.

Joining the slew of other designers (Proenza Schouler, Erickson Beamon, Theory) who've launched eyewear collections this season is Alberta Ferretti, whose colorful shades hit stores this month, priced from $250 to $1,000.

With lines at the baggage claim getting worse daily, it sure pays to have distinctive luggage. There's no way you can miss Alexander McQueen's latest bag for Samsonite Black Label, two styles of which now come in a striking mirror-finish silver. Our favorite is the Hero, above, which was perfectly ghostly when it came out in white last year, but now the chrome-like exterior really makes the bag a rolling sculpture. The best part is that while the cases have the look, strength, and durability of metal, the chrome finish is actually the result of a high-tech paint, keeping the bag ultra-light—so while people are checking out the spine on your suitcase, you won't be breaking your own. The bags retail for about $4,600 each and are available at Samsonite Black Label boutiques, www.samsoniteblacklabel.com.

Working as the artistic director for a store such as Colette comes with a plethora of perks. Not least of all being a personal pre-delivery of a limited-edition sneaker, which isn't slated to arrive in stores across the Atlantic until a fortnight later. No wonder Sarah Lerfel, from the famed Parisian concept store, diverted the attention spans of serious sneaker-heads last weekend at Coachella. On her feet were the new Nike x Liberty Wilshire Dunk trainers in a red, white, and black signature floral print inspired by the retail hot spot founded in London in 1875. "The crossover between a sporting brand recognized for innovation and a quintessentially British brand name is so fresh," mused Sarah. "I absolutely love this classic design with its touch of spring moodiness." Completing the collaboration is a second design model named Pepper, which comes in a classic purple, navy, and white print. Both models will be released exclusively next week at Opening Ceremony in New York on May 6 and Los Angeles on May 8.

Obama. Clinton. The really old guy. Yawn. We're so very tired of the elections already. (Is it really not November yet?) Still, an e-mail in our inbox caught our eye: Voting for Undies. It seems that if lingerie e-tailer HerRoom.com can get 100,000 people to vote for their fave unmentionables, they'll donate $25,000 to the National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign—that would be 25 cents a voter. Before you get your, ahem, panties in a twist…yes, the Web site's second annual Undies Award is a marketing tool. But if you're anything like us, you'll appreciate the irony of buying a sports bra without having to get up from your chair. And hey, it's for charity. Hurry, though! You have one day left to vote at theundies.com before the "awards ceremony" is posted on HerRoom.com.

The famed Malibu Country Mart got a serious injection of style this week with Sigerson Morrison's new flagship. The 1,500-square-foot space—the West Coast's largest SM outpost—is brimming with this season's selling-like-hotcakes gladiator sandals, chic little heels, and the label's signature flats. "Malibu is a symbolic location both on a personal and professional level," says footwear maven Kari Sigerson.

23410 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA, (310) 317-6868, www.sigersonmorrison.com.

Chinatown is just around the corner, but wanderers down Lafayette Street in New York City may be surprised to find that the Special Administrative Region has set up its own shop on Manhattan island. Pop-up boutique Made in HK opens tomorrow, and for the next month—or until they sell out—the store will be retailing clothing and accessories by Hong Kong designers. The brainchild of Eugenia Lai, an art-world expat and Hong Kong native, Made in HK takes a guerrilla approach to the kind of project typically sponsored by national trade commissions. Lai handpicked the boutique's wares from a few emerging and established brands that she's made a habit of bringing back to New York. "G.O.D. is like the Muji of Hong Kong," she explained, showing off one of the company's graphic aprons printed with Chinese Art Deco design. As Lai notes, the G.O.D. aesthetic, like that of many Hong Kong brands, owes something to the island's split personality—part ex-British colony, part Chinese territory. Another label, ING, however, takes a more deconstructionist quasi-Japanese angle. Still other pieces at Made in HK speak the international language of style, like jewelry designer Muse. "An amazing necklace is pretty universal," says Lai.

Surfers and the social set aren't the only ones heading out to Montauk this season. The NYC vintage emporium Screaming Mimi's, which turns 30 this fall, is setting up a seasonal outpost at the outer reaches of the Hamptons, due to open Memorial Day. Exclusive to the store (in town and out) is an Opening Ceremony for Screaming Mimi's collection featuring preppy-esque separates with rope trim and a beach towel by illustrator Fawn Gehweiler. Both are something to make noise about.

Screaming Mimi's, 662 Montauk Highway, Montauk, (631) 668-1631.

Over lunch with a group of online editors at Brasserie 44, Net-a-Porter's Natalie Massenet spilled the beans on one of the company's many forthcoming ventures: TheOutnet.com, which will feature discounted merchandise, is set to launch in about a year. Start saving now.

Whole Foods shoppers probably noticed the store's countdown to Earth Day, when the chain's 270 stores stopped offering its customers plastic bags. The plan's a no-brainer for the grocers—they get green cred and endless retail opportunities (remember the Anya Hindmarch mania?) Lauren Bush, she of the ubiquitous burlap red-carpet accessory, is providing one such opportunity in the form of a (soon to be really ubiquitous) collapsible cotton-and-burlap (what else?) Feed 100 tote, available May 1. Bags are $29.99, which may seem steep, but each one sold buys 100 school meals for kids through the UN World Food Program. Now as long as Ms. Bush stops carrying her other feed bag everywhere, we'll all benefit.

The previous 11 consecutive rain-free days may have lulled you into complacency, but as anyone who tried (and failed) to get a cab this morning rudely discovered, April showers in New York City require the right gear. Still, no matter how waterproof a raincoat is, it can't keep you dry if you don't have it with you. That's one reason we love the new "packables" jackets from Mackage. The toppers, which come in a short motorcycle version and a longer, knee-length iteration, roll up and fit into a tiny pouch concealed inside the jacket, so you can keep it tucked in your handbag for when the need arises. And unlike most other foul-weather gear, form is not sacrificed to function. Both styles are made of a high-tech fabric that bears no resemblance to those icky plastic ponchos, and each has dainty puffed sleeves, linear stitching, and subtle leather accents at the wrists. Plus, their sleek fit won't water down a girl's figure. The city slickers are available now at Saks Fifth Avenue for $286 to $330, so pick one up and don't get left out in the rain: It's here for most of the week.

While the Gap is featuring crisp white shirting separates by emerging designers, Anthropologie has fallen under the spell of Nathalie Lété's colorful, whimsical world. The retailer has commissioned bedding, drawer pulls (both currently on their Web site), and plates from the Parisian artist, who has a cult following in Japan. In addition, Lété's (much more expensive) fine art is celebrated in an exhibition at the Rockefeller Center flagship. At yesteday's opening, Lété said she's already hard at work on her next big project: a Little Red Riding Hood book that will come out next year. Fans will be happy to know that it's already launched numerous related product lines.

Phillips de Pury and Company's Saturday at Phillips series returns this weekend with a new addition to its auction block: contemporary fashion. Curator Phoebe Stephens is launching the category with a group of one-off dresses from emerging New York label Electric Feathers, as well as jewelry made in collaboration by Alyssa Norton and Electric Feathers designer Leana Zuniga. "It's a great platform," notes Zuniga, whose apparel has heretofore been available only at downtown boutique No.6 and by special order. "When you work on a one-of-a-kind dress, you can really invest in the creative process. There's not that pressure of, oh God, how do I manufacture 100 more just like this?" Potential bidders—and the merely curious—can get a sneak peek of Zuniga's creations at tonight's cocktail party preview of the Saturday at Phillips auction slate, which will also include art toys, contemporary photography, and vintage watches. "I'm really trying to develop the idea of current fashion as a collectible item," says Stephens, "the same way an amazing vintage dress will become collectible, years later. Eventually, I'd like to be commissioning exclusive pieces from more established designers, people who already work at the place where relevant fashion meets art. I mean, the two things are already so intermixed, I figure, why not mix it up a bit more?"

The affection that fashion types have for dolls is no secret; from anime-inspired Dunnys and designer-customized Bearbricks to Lanvin Barbie and the Kaiser's own plastic effigy, the professionally chic have no qualms about indulging their inner children. Recently, though, we've been loving a slightly more grown-up iteration: Servane Gaxotte's doll necklaces. The pendants have been around for a few seasons, and have recently gained must-have status in the designer's native Paris, where she has a boutique on the rue Saint Germain des Prés. They're pretty, but with a delightfully goth edge, and every season Gaxotte's girls have different outfits and accessories, from python minidresses and evil-eye charms to frothy tulle skirts and crystal-encrusted torsos. "I first created the dolls while I was pregnant…I was dreaming of dolls!" says Gaxotte, who makes around 80 different versions each season. "And with each one, I seek to create my own dream wardrobe." They're available stateside for around $300 at Henri Bendel in New York (which even has its own custom doll, above) and Bird in L.A.

Going green, while worthy, responsible, and admirable, isn't always aesthetically pleasing. So we were thrilled to come across Clark's Botanicals, a brand-new skincare line that combines botanical ingredients and a homeopathic philosophy with gorgeous green—literally AND figuratively speaking—packaging. "I never understood why there had to be trade-offs: If it's botanical, make sure it smells like cardboard or throw it in a drab bottle. Not my cup of tea," says Francesco Clark, who developed the line with his father, a doctor trained in homeopathic medicine, after a diving accident in 2002 left him paralyzed. The damage to Clark's central nervous system kept him from sweating, which led to chronic breakouts. When neither over-the-counter products nor Western medication were able to heal his skin, he decided to create his own all-natural line. "Clark's Botanicals is based around the idea of rebalancing skin and making it look the healthiest it can be," he says. All of the products contain jasmine absolute, an extract that rebalances skin and boosts collagen production. And they're all paraben-free. The kudos are starting to pour in: Not only is Madonna a fan, but Clark recently won a Rising Star award from the Fashion Group International. And he's got still more up his sleeve—though he's not giving out the details just yet, a Clark's Botanicals facial will be on the menu at a new spa that's launching soon in New York. Clark's Botanicals is available at Henri Bendel, C.O. Bigelow, Studio at Fred Segal, and www.clarksbotanicals.com.

Tomorrow, in the incredible unlikelihood that anyone has forgotten, is tax day. If you'll be joining the queue at the post office that night or already know that you'll be writing Uncle Sam a hefty check, you can stop reading now. If, on the other hand, you're wondering what to do with your windfall ($600! woohoo!), we have a couple of suggestions. On the very date that America's taxes are due, Christie's will be auctioning off $60 million worth of Belle Époque and Art Deco-era jewels (like this lapis lazuli, diamond, and enamel vanity case, above). If, in your post form-filling-out state, that number doesn't stupefy you, the next day, the auction house is putting author Danielle Steele's collection of baubles on the block. Considering she's sold about a billion books, we're guessing she's assembled one impressive jewelry box.

I've spent the better part of the winter in a pair of dark-rinse, trouser-cut McKenzie jeans by Raven, and despite their cold-weather associations, had no plans on giving them up for spring. Then I realized that the company makes the same brilliant cut—lean, ever-so-slightly slouchy, and with a leg that's chicly flared rather than clownishly flapping—in a lighter rinse that's perfect for the warmer days ahead. Voilà, transition dressing solved.

For anyone who's ever breathed a sigh of relief upon spotting a Starbucks while traveling abroad, Citizen:Citizen is onto you. The design collective famous for its 18K gold-dipped coke spoons and "shoplifter"-emblazoned tote bags has debuted its latest subversive piece, the American Comfort Quilt. Screen-printed with the logos of 58 mass-market retailers, the limited-edition blanket aims to examine "the problematic balance between familiarity and alienation." At $4,900 apiece, it could be your most expensive chain-store purchase ever.

If eBay ever had a couture section, it would probably look something like the Daphne Guinness auction that will take place at La Galleria in London on April 29. The people at Kerry Taylor Auctions, in association with Sotheby's, have just put the lots—and there's a lot of them—on their Web site, and we've already heard reports of mouths watering over Dolce & Gabbana snakeskin boots and Hermès wedge sandals, Yves Saint Laurent evening gowns and original Roland Mouret Galaxy dresses, Lanvin coats, and Tom Ford-era Gucci trousers. One has to wonder what Guinness is keeping if she's getting rid of this stuff. All the lots will be available to view on April 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. But after that, it's auction time—let the fashion mayhem begin!

For half a century, the popular conception of Italians has been inextricably linked to zippy little scooters on cobblestone streets. Credit for part of that image goes to Lambretta, the Italian company that created several of the most popular models of the motorbikes that swept that country (and others) after World War II. Their relatively affordable two-wheelers, developed around the same time as the Vespa, became almost omnipresent in the fifties and sixties—a Lambretta even makes a cameo in Ruth Orkin's iconic 1951 photograph, "American Girl in Italy." This year, for the brand's 60th anniversary, Lambretta is relaunching the motor scooters after a 35-year hiatus with the Pato, a sleek silver model covered with 5,000 crystals. The Pato, which also boasts an ultra-fuel-efficient engine, will retail for around $6,300 and is making its debut at the Milan Furniture Fair this month and at Motom dealers in Italy.

A girl can never have too many sunglasses. At least, that seems to be the prevailing mentality of fashion labels, who are keen to emblazon their logos on anything wearable. The newest shade convert, Theory, is (unsurprisingly) not about flash but about function. Cool function, of course, with aviators and Audrey-approved shapes in gray, blue, black, and tortoiseshell. They will be available in Theory stores nationwide from April 15. Prices run from $200 to $240.

I have a three weeks and one day to go until my due date, and I've officially outgrown my Bella Band, the nifty tube of black nylon and spandex that has kept my now unbuttonable Citizens of Humanity jeans securely at my hips even as my waistline expanded. Gravity is really working against me these days, which is why the invisible suspenders my stylist friend Natasha Federal produces and sells on her Web site, www.nivacollection.com, are a necessity now. I wear them over tank tops and under turtlenecks, but I can imagine skipping the turtleneck and tossing on a narrow blazer over a T-shirt and maternity jeans as the weather gets warmer. The suspenders, which key into spring's boy-for-girl trend, will pull the look together in more ways than one.

I'm not usually a fan of the across-the-body bag—the straps tend to be too long or too short, neither of which is satisfactory, and they're uncomfortably reminiscent of wearing a seat belt. But this green leather style from Hayden-Harnett has me rethinking my stance on the whole issue. The strap is in proportion, the size is perfect, and the color is the saturated hue of a well-tended lawn in mid-summer. Sold.

Recession, what recession? Suits and social swans swarmed Hermès' financial district boutique last night to test-drive (OK, test-sit) the house's newest accessory: an auto built for two designed in collaboration with Bugatti. "It's very snug," Waris Ahluwalia said of the $2.3 million coupe. "You feel like you're wrapped in steel and Hermès leather, which is never a bad thing." Snug is right. The car's exposed engine is in the back (think Batmobile with less rubber); there's room in the up-front trunk for an attaché case. Autophile Melissa George—her first car was an old Porsche—was unfazed by the lack of storage space. "I turned it on, revved it up," she said of her time behind the wheel. "It's amazing. I love fast cars."

About a month ago, white, black, and navy oxfords by Michael Pasinkoff were stealthily added to shelves at Steven Alan's Franklin Street store in Tribeca. Since then, those oxfords have just as stealthily been going like hotcakes; likewise, the heretofore unknown Pasinkoff has been doing a steady business at the Steven Alan storefront online, and at the newly opened Steven Alan store on North Robertson in Beverly Hills. So who is Michael Pasinkoff? And how did he come up with the perfect shoe for sidewalk-hoofing girls looking for something sturdy and androgynous to anchor springtime's floral looks? Google him and you're sent back to Steven Alan. Is Michael Pasinkoff really Steven Alan? "No," says Alan, "and it's not really a big secret, it's just all pretty new and hard to explain." Speaking from L.A., where he's busy setting up two more of his eponymous shops (in Brentwood and in Venice), Alan went on to say that Michael Pasinkoff is the son of an established, albeit under-the-radar maker of similar oxfords for boys, a pair of which one Steven Alan staffer happened to wear to work one day. Intrigued because "They looked so cute on a girl," Alan sought out the elder Pasinkoff and asked him about launching a capsule collection of the shoes for women. The project was turned over to the son, Michael, with manufacturing happening at the original factory in Italy. "They're made like men's shoes—great quality and great support," Alan elaborates. "We've been doing so well with them, we're now repping them out of our showroom and working with Michael to expand the collection for next season. There'll be patent leather for Fall." Mystery solved.

I've had this A.P.C. bag on my wish list since we got the lookbook in December. It's available in yellow or blue, but I think I have to go with the former, as it's easier for me to indulge my love of color with accessories than with clothing.

7 For All Mankind's new line of handbags (it's bigger and better than their first collection in 2007) caught the eye of several editors around the office, particularly the roomy Verona tote (pictured). The luxe Italian leather elevates this from normal tote territory, and we like the long and short strap options, along with the subtle hardware bling. The collection, available in stores and online at www.7forallmankind.com, retails from $300 to $1,200; the Verona tote, available in taupe, burnt orange, chocolate brown, and black, is $795.

Christopher Bailey gave Burberry's Spring 2008 collection the name Luxury Warrior, and as any mercenary in the cause of luxe ought to know, the key front in this war is jewelry. General Bailey, no fool, has come prepared—this season marks the launch of Burberry's first-ever jewelry range, the better for the Burberry girl to armor herself in tribal-inspired bangles and chunky, flak-resistant necklaces, all of which have just recently arrived in stores. "I had in mind this English rose, growing thorns," explains Bailey of his inspiration. "And the jewelry synced up perfectly with that—chic but bold. We'd played with bits and pieces of jewelry before, but Luxury Warrior really felt like the right season to introduce a more extensive collection." The Burberry jewelry range will be yet more extensive for Fall, and to judge by the pieces previewed on the catwalk in Milan, the Luxury Warrior will be fighting the good fight through next winter, at least: Jagged gem necklaces worn over Burberry's signature trench-tested outerwear send sure "don't mess with me" signals, and spiked bangles could, if necessary, quite literally drive home the point. "She's a tougher girl, the Burberry girl," Bailey notes. "But the nice thing about having the full jewelry range is that she can be really pulled together, too." Charge!

With its cool associations—Henry James chose it as the first name of his most charmingly headstrong heroine, Mary Quant used it as her logo, Marc Jacobs christened a fragrance for it—the daisy is a flower with perennial appeal. The latest design house to mine its symbolism is Copenhagen-based Georg Jensen—turns out the flower also has a long association with the Danish royal family. The label's Daisy Collection hits stores at the beginning of April. Our, er, pick? The "Love Me, Love Me Not" pendant/brooch, with its single diamond-studded petal.

For those of us who love designer Araks Yeramyan's eponymous intimates line, including stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Chloë Sevigny, the relationship with our underthings is about to get even healthier—Araks' new Organics line will arrive at Barneys this week. The collection includes eight silhouettes, from delicate bras and breezy shorts to an adorable romper, all of which are made from organic cotton that Yeramyan spent years sourcing. "I love color, and have been searching for a source of luxurious organic fabrics that don't just come in the usual boring 'earthy' tones," she says. "There's a much better selection now than in the past. I look forward to incorporating organic fabrics into my ready-to-wear collections as well." The line ranges in price from $60 to $165, and the packaging is the most earth-friendly we've seen—there is none.

With stores worldwide, Club Monaco knows that great (read: affordable) basics have universal appeal. As part of an effort to get back to their French-influenced roots this fall, the retailer is launching a limited-edition capsule collection based around the fleur-de-lis. The symbol appears on crystal-encrusted gold cuffs, as a chunky pendant on necklaces and charm bracelets, and on buttons and belt buckles. Certain French luxury brands—Givenchy, YSL, Lanvin—showed similarly chunky, iconographic jewelry on their Fall runways, so Club Monaco couldn't be more on point (but still within our budget). The collection hits flagship boutiques in New York, Hong Kong, and Toronto in August.