 
Way: the notoriously style-challenged San Fernando Valley is getting an infusion of chic, thanks to a bunch of groovy new spots along Ventura Boulevard.
Leave it to Melanie Shatner (daughter of William) to explore a strange new world. Her four-year-old boutique Dari (Marc by Marc Jacobs, Paper Denim & Cloth), was one of the first to make the Valley a destination for something other than Krispy Kremes (and, ahem, "adult" films).
Actually, yes—this is L.A., after all. The hard-to-find labels at tiny shoe store Debout (Avril Gau, Emma Hope) pull stars like Annette Bening and Angela Bassett north of the 405, while Gisele Tune's laid-back mix of lines like Cosabella, James Perse, and—natch—Juicy Couture, attracts shoppers like Tara Reid, Jessica Simpson and Ashton Kutcher.
Absolutely not: other reasons to visit include Jeffrey Best's popular Firefly restaurant and the Laemmle indie/art house cinema.
Ventura isn't about to replace Rodeo Drive, but opinion is shifting. "People thought I was crazy to open here," said Stacey Feldman, owner of Stacey Todd, another chic new arrival. "But the Valley is totally hip now."
—Victoria Namkung
Debout, 13023 Ventura Blvd., (818) 906-7761; Stacey Todd, 13025 Ventura Blvd., (818) 981-7567; Dari, 12184 Ventura Blvd., (818) 762-3274; Gisele Tune, 12660 Ventura Blvd., (818) 980-1196.
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