Boutiques

Local jewelry designer Mimi Kim first started creating modern and stylish jewelry for herself and friends. Her classic and chic designs caught the attention of boutique owners. Now her jewelry line has exploded. Kim designs beautiful handmade necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, bridal jewelry and even Mini-Mimi designs for girls. Her delicate designs of natural gemstones, mother-of-pearl and coin pearls are hand-wrapped in sterling silver or 14-carat rolled gold. Mimi's passion for design is apparent in her eye-catching teardrop earrings, multi-faceted briolette dangle necklace and hand-wrapped pretty pink freshwater pearl ring (prices vary from $58 for earrings to $196 for a necklace)

Located on Pacific Coast Highway across from picturesque Crystal Cove State Beach, Crystal Cove Promenade has an unmatched panoramic view of the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Shoppers stroll along the promenade experiencing a unique mix of exclusive designer boutiques and well-known national retailers. Crystal Cove Promenade is also one of the hottest dining spots along the coast. Bluefin exudes an intimate ambience, with an innovative menu of Japanese cuisine and a sushi bar. Tempting diners with distinct Northern Italian fare is Modo Mio Cucina Rustica.

As the Irvine Co. begins demolition on the former Macy's women's store building in Fashion Island, the developer continues to make the Newport Beach shopping center even more attractive to shoppers. Irvine Co. spokesman Bill Rams said the company expects demolition on the 30-year-old building, which was the oldest building at the center, to take about two weeks. It began Tuesday. The construction shouldn't hinder parking or access to other shops. Construction on a new, oval-shaped piazza shopping area is expected to be finished late next year, he said.

Location: 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, at the San Diego (405) Freeway and Bristol Street. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday Known for: The largest shopping center in California, South Coast Plaza is the Rodeo Drive of Orange County, with nearly every luxury brand in the universe under one roof. The mall has 250 boutiques and 30 restaurants. What you'll find: Almost everything you could ever want or need.

The designers at St. John Knits have been busy. Exclusive pieces designed to celebrate the company’s 45th anniversary have been shown in boutiques from New York to Costa Mesa, and its 2008 Resort/Spring collection premiered in a runway show at the Orange County Performing Arts center Tuesday. Honoring the life and achievements of founders Robert and Marie Gray, who started the company in their Newport Beach home, the show opened with a slide presentation featuring a nostalgic look back at St. John’s beginnings.

Located off Pacific Coast Highway and Avocado Ave., Corona del Mar Plaza features a splashing fountain, olive trees and Mediterranean architecture, setting the scene for a unique offering of upscale stores and restaurants that cater to the Southern California lifestyle. For a true OC experience, visit the new Jack's Surfboards, an Orange County surf institution with the hottest gear and accessories; and don't miss the hot boutiques, such as Diane's Beachwear and Bikini. Other popular stores include Three Dog Bakery, for pampered pets and their owners, and White House/Black Market, with designer fashions and looks from casual to eveningwear.

A screening of the hot new film "Chocolat" served as a benefit for the Orangewood Children's Foundation recently hosted by El Portal in honor of the opening of its new boutiques at South Coast Plaza. A crowd of about 400 guests attended the grand opening event, which began with the screening of the film at Edward's South Coast Village Cinema and followed by an El Portal in-store soiree featuring French hors d'oeuvres prepared and served by the staff of Pinot Provence, decadent chocolate martinis delivered by Skyy Vodka and an overflowing dessert table laden with Bodega chocolates -- just in case the guests had not had enough of the chocolate theme.

South Coast Plaza founder Henry Segerstrom said Thursday that he expected brisk business at the Costa Mesa shopping center this holiday season, despite nationwide predictions of slow sales in the weeks before the new year. The National Retail Federation predicted last month that the 2007 holiday season would have the slowest growth in five years because of a credit crunch and a weak housing market. The federation, however, said luxury retailers would be least affected by the slowdown — which would be good news for South Coast Plaza, since the mall specializes in fine jewelers and high-end boutiques.

It was a moment that almost slipped by, unnoticed by all but one eyewitness. With the click of his camera shutter - a twin lens reflex Rolleiflex being his tool of choice at the time - an 18-year-old Jerry Muller caught the image of two well-dressed men gazing after a young woman as she walked down a New York sidewalk in 1951. "Those two guys looking at this girl - that's the decisive moment," said Muller, 77, of Costa Mesa, citing a style of photography coined byHenri Cartier-Bresson, while studying the 24-by-25-inch black-and-white image.

Location: 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, at the San Diego (405) Freeway and Bristol Street. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday Known for: The largest shopping center in California, South Coast Plaza is the Rodeo Drive of Orange County, with nearly every luxury brand in the universe under one roof. The mall has 250 boutiques and 30 restaurants. What you'll find: Almost everything you could ever want or need.

COSTA MESA - Hotelier Donald Sodaro ran a successful Holiday Inn in the South Coast Metro area for 10 years before deciding that the market deserved more than just another chain hotel. So he took a risk just as the economy started to decline. In 2008, he discontinued his contract with the franchise hotel chain and launched plans to reopen the facility as an upscale "boutique" hotel. The Hotel Hanford, on Bristol Street near the southbound San Diego Freeway offramp, has 228 rooms and markets itself as an "unexpected boutique experience.

Newport Beach boutique salon and spa Ergonique on Tuesday night will celebrate the grand opening of a new "CosMed" concept in the Corona del Mar Plaza, according to a news release. The spa, at 978 Avocado Ave., offers both cosmetic and medical treatments, including Botox, liposuction, body treatments, massage and manicure. "Our goal was to create a chic, luxurious retreat where discriminating people can come to relax and socialize, while receiving the most advanced spa treatments custom tailored to address their particular needs," said DeAnn Mix, the company's chief executive.

COSTA MESA — On the eve of the wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William, Carrie von Hemert-Eyre will pull off her own event of royal proportions. Von Hemert Interiors, a 25,000-square-foot Costa Mesa interior design store will host a Royal Wedding event April 28 with music, food, prizes and designs from local fashion and jewelry designers inspired by the royal nuptials, said Hemert-Eyre. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

NEWPORT BEACH — Every pocket of affluence in this country seems to have one stellar independent designer boutique, and in Newport Beach it's A'Maree's. Over the last 35 years, the family-owned business has grown into an international fashion force, showcasing cutting-edge labels such as Celine, Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaia, Dries Van Noten and the Row. And now that it has moved to a new location at Newport Harbor, a waterfront space inviting comparisons to Peggy Guggenheim's palazzo in Venice, Italy, A'Maree's is also one of the most beautiful boutiques in the retail universe.

Two conspicuously vacant properties along Mariner's Mile in Newport Beach may get a breath of life when a high-end boutique and a trendy Los Angeles restaurant move in soon. A'Maree's, a women's dress shop on Westcliff Drive, plans to move to the large white building with sweeping arches at 2241 W. Coast Hwy. It most recently housed Windows on the Bay, a restaurant that opened in the late 1990s and closed around 2000. Before that, two other restaurants were at the location: Stuft Shirt and Cano's.

Studies show that shoe shopping can be a viable (and fun) form of therapy. Darlene Gardner and Debbie Johnson, co-owners of Antonia, A Shoe Boutique, heartily agree. The pair have spent decades helping women satisfy their shoe fetishes; their beachy-keen shop in Corona del Mar brings hand-selected designer rarities to the lucky ladies who buy them. What’s your background in the industry? DG: I’ve been in the business for 27 years — always shoes.

As all ladies know, shopping is an intensely individual experience. Finding a store or designer that dovetails perfectly with one’s own personality can be the highlight of a day (or week). Enter Boutiquing.com , a Costa Mesa-based blog that seeks to pre-evaluate area stores for their devoted readers. Co-founder April Madigan and her crew separate the wheat from the chaff — and give away tons of goodies during their popular Facebook Friday giveaways. What made you decide to found Boutiquing.

It’s a great time for bargains! We’re very, very excited about Boutiquing.com Boutiquing.com ’s blowout sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 13 at Park Privé, 1570 Scenic Ave., Costa Mesa. The addictive boutique review site has assembled 30 Orange County boutiques for a one-stop shopping experience with major — did we mention major? — discounts. Bonuses include swag bags for the first 50 shoppers, lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., giveaways every hour, a cash bar and a deejay.